industry & reform
It ’ s about open-mindedness , it ’ s about opportunities to learn and grow together .
Return of the history wars ?
Experts react to Education Minister ’ s comments on draft curriculum .
By Conor Burke
Education Minister Alan Tudge has opened a sore in the education system with his comments about the draft national curriculum which he believes “ paints an overly negative view of Australia ”.
In an interview with Triple J , the minister voiced concerns that the proposed changes to the way history is taught at schools is not patriotic enough , and said more focus should be placed on the “ great successes ” of the nation .
“ We want to make sure people come out [ of school ] with a love of our country , rather than a hate for it .”
Tudge is not the first politician to wade into the so-called “ history wars ”, with Paul Keating and John Howard differing over their interpretation of Australia ’ s history back in the 80s and 90s . Christopher Pyne , education minister in the Abbott government , had concerns similar to Tudge ’ s , and worried that history classes were “ not recognising the legacy of western civilisation and not giving important events in Australia ’ s history and culture the prominence they deserve , such as Anzac Day ”.
Academics , however , feel that these concerns are missing the point .
Professor Susanne Gannon from Western Sydney University says that contesting the ideas around ANZAC day are nothing new in education , and approaching history in a critical way produces well rounded students .
“ The idea that ANZAC , and the ANZAC legend have been contested , it ’ s not a new idea . In fact it ’ s really back as far as 1958 , The One Day Of The Year by Allen Seymour , which has been on school reading lists in English ,” she says .
Gannon doesn ’ t believe that teaching history in an honest way produces hatred as we all have an investment in our country ’ s history that ’ s complex and personal , and it can ’ t be approached in a simple way .
“ What democracy needs is critical , creative thinkers who look closely at multiple perspectives . And in schools , assisted to come to well-informed , robust understandings of all places in history . Professor John Fischetti from the University of Newcastle says that in our effort to become more open-minded we shouldn ’ t lose track of Australia ’ s “ great history ”, but says there is a place for more than one view of history .
“ Australia has a great history that does have a Western-centric , European-centric base . And a lot of the wealth of the country , a lot of the prestige , a lot of the capacity of the country is based on that culture ,” he says .
“ Where I disagree , is this notion of either / or . Because I don ’ t see that we can ’ t teach that Euro-centric past , along with the indigenous past or the past of all the different cultures .
Fischetti , who is the immediate Past President of the New South Wales Council of Deans of Education , says that he is encouraged when these types of conversations appear , because it reinforces what education is about .
“ It ’ s about open-mindedness , it ’ s about opportunities to learn and grow together ,” he says .
“ If we really look at educating our children well , we want to be really honest
and frank about the fact that developing a free country has not meant perfection . Whether you call it colonisation or invasion , we both know it was both .”
PRODUCING PATRIOTIC CITIZENS Sue Nichols , a teacher and an associate professor from the University of South Australia , argues that Tudge ’ s assertion that schools are not producing patriotic youngsters is a slight against teachers .
“ It is very saddening for teachers to have an implication that they are turning out graduates who hate the country ,” she tells Education Review .
“ For him to entertain that as a credible risk , is to completely sell out teachers .
“ What I think he ’ s trying to do is exercise influence on the people who are framing the national curriculum .”
She argues the history wars are polarising and comments such as Tudge ’ s are not constructive , but ultimately detrimental to students of diverse backgrounds .
“ What I ’ m hearing in the language ... is a polarising view , which creates a dividing line ,” she says .
“ I think that is not constructive , and it is particularly not constructive for our children , particularly those from immigrant backgrounds or who have arrived as refugees .
“ They maintain , really understandably , a love of their homeland that they ’ ve left ... they ’ re not asking to be disconnected from the Australian mainstream , it ’ s really the reverse . They want to be connected , to belong and to call Australia home .”
For Professor Gannon , Tudge ’ s comments are likely to matter little . What is important is that the curriculum is developed by ACARA and a range of experts .
“[ An education minister should ] try to avoid polarising language and try to avoid making a loyalty test for children , for families . It can ’ t create the sort of accepting tolerant society that I know Alan Tudge actually values .” ■
10 | educationreview . com . au