Government Wants 5-Year Olds To Be Taught To Be Politically Correct

The April 2009 draft Early Years Learning Framework wants teachers to make under-fives:

* Contribute in a meaningful way to reconciliation, including flying the Aboriginal flag and inviting elders to give talks.

* Use “social inclusion puppets” and “persona dolls” to explore exclusion and ethical issues.

* Challenge and resist bias and discrimination.

* Take action in unfair situations and learn to act when injustice occurs.

* Assess and act on power dynamics as they get older.

The political emphasis of the guidelines has divided early learning experts.

Some, such as leading Melbourne educational consultant Kathy Walker, have questioned the merits of such issues being “rammed down the throats” of two, three and four-year olds.

“Although I welcome the emphasis on play-based learning, there is an air of political correctness about the document overall,” she said.

Others, such as Kindergarten Parents Victoria CEO Meredith Carter, believe it is merely an attempt to “include and welcome all families to join in preschool and kinder”.

“It’s not as if children will be harmed for life by this focus on difference and commonality,” she said.

Under the $700,000 new approach to early childhood education, the goal will be to “promote children’s civic participation and nurture socially responsible citizens for a future world,” a Federal Government February 2009 briefing paper states.

“The early childhood years are a time when children are developing understandings of community and citizenship and learning about democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizens,” it says.

There is also a strong emphasis on caring for the environment and reconciliation.