The IPAs National Curriculum research was mentioned in the editorial in The Australian this morning: Institute of Public Affairs research scholar Stephanie Forrest summed up the problem yesterday when she said the national English curriculum, like most state-based curriculums in recent years, was geared to shaping students’ attitudes and ethics. Overtly political content deserves no place in a sound English curriculum. English class is not the place, as an optional “content elaboration” in the Year 9 curriculum suggests, for “debating the reliability of the coverage in a range of news media of a contentious issue such as commercial logging of old-growth forests”. Such politicisation detracts from the foundational elements of English: reading, writing, spelling and grammar. It also deprives children of the opportunity to study classic literature at school. Postmodern educators profess a deep concern for social justice and equality. But, ironically, their approach to English entrenches disadvantage. When deprived of classic literature at school, children who are not encouraged to read at home and whose families have few books miss out the most. In revising the national curriculum, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Education Minister Christopher Pyne and his state colleagues must ensure our literary treasury is unlocked for all. theaustralian.au/opinion/editorials/restoring-classic-literature/story-e6frg71x-1227112695855
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:12:13 +0000
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