Curriculum - teaching our children

As Christians, it is our responsibility to teach our children. Often parents give up that responsibility to the schools.

The question is - what are our children being taught?

Organised schooling is a relatively recent phenomenon, and it was only in the 1872 with the passing of the Education Act that the state of Victoria took over the teaching of the children. Prior to that this was mostly done by religious or private organisations.

Currently there is an ongoing controversy about the proposed 'national curriculum'.
The idea is that the federal government wants to have a school curriculum that is taught throughout Australia.

Education Minister Julia Gillard launched the draft curriculum for senior students (Years 11 to 12) on May 14, 2010. Read report.

Critics have since warned that the proposed curriculum would water down NSW Higher School Certificate subjects. Read report.

Now history teachers are calling for the curriculum to resist demands from various "lobby groups" who are demanding that their pet topics be included or modified in the proposed history curriculum - click here for media report.

Historians have now criticised the proposed history course for years 11 and 12:

The Herald Sun reported "HISTORIANS say the new national modern history curriculum for schools reads like a Marxist manifesto that ignores popular aspects of our past and neglects Australia's role in world politics and war. The course, designed for years 11 and 12, is heavily focused on revolutionary struggles, colonial oppression and women's struggle for equality.
It neglects Australia's British roots and institutions and its military history, with no mention of Gallipoli, Tobruk or Kokoda, the experts say."

Curriculum for Years 7 - 10

The draft curriculum for years 7 to 10 was launched earlier this year. Previously we have looked at the science curriculum for Years 7-10 which includes principles concerning 'evolution'.

The history curriculum for Years 7-10 is also a cause of concern. Senator Ron Boswell reviewed the draft curriculum back in March 2010 and said, "Julia Gillard's new curriculum reads like a learner manual for international socialism. This curriculum is an intrinsically socialist document that if implemented would indoctrinate Australian children with the socialist left view of science, the environment and history."

He pointed out "Year 9 history involves learning about 'the main features of the factory system and its effects on productivity, consumption, social structure, labour conditions and the division of labour' - this reads like a Marxist learner." He also said that in Year 10, history "students can learn all about international organisations and tribunals for human rights, and various forums for solidarity with other international socialists."

Hardly a balanced view of our history - what about our Christian roots, the Christian faith of many of the explorers and so on....? What about a classic view of history that proides an objective view of events?

Read about the new proposed curriculum - and have your say:

Click here for the portal for the Australian Curriculum consultation.