Australian Curriculum Review: APC submission supports 'truth telling'
The Australian Parents Council has firmly backed the focus on 'truth telling' and accurate accounts of historical events of the colonisation of Australia in a submission to the current Australian Curriculum Review to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
“The changes proposed by the review are simply a move towards open and honest discussion of our history, and this is what education should be about,” explains Jenni Rickard, APC President.
"Australia’s history is as rich as it is problematic. Nevertheless, to achieve reconciliation we need to acknowledge the dark parts of our Nation’s past. Ignoring it is not going to make it go away. But when we know better, we do better. That is why it is imperative that accurate and truthful accounts of Australian history are learnt by all children at school. It takes nothing away from children and means everything to First Nations children.”
APC's submission also made the following main points:
- APC supports the 20% reduction in content across the curriculum as requested by teachers.
- APC supports the changes in the General Capabilities by refining of language throughout and embedding the capabilities, allowing for authentic engagement throughout the curriculum.
- APC understands that the refresh of the website for teachers to access the curriculum framework allows for teachers to better access and use the interface for the curriculum and is warmly welcomed.
Consultation on the current review of the Australian Curriculum closed on July 8. To find out more about the proposed changes go to www.australiancurriculum.edu.
Feedback from the consultation will be used by Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to develop final revisions, which will be provided to federal, state and territory education ministers to consider.
The Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum is our national
curriculum, which outlines the core content that all young people should
be taught regardless of where they live in Australia.
ACARA reviews the curriculum every six years and has consulted with
360 practising teachers and curriculum specialists to develop the
proposed changes across the whole of the curriculum. The aim is to make the content clearer and better organised, as well as more concise, more specific and less cluttered.
ACARA produced this video on what parents and parent groups, including APC, said they wanted from the Australian Curriculum - www.australiancurriculum.edu.