President's blog: Why questioning history should part of the curriculum

This blog by APC President Jenni Rickard puts the case for emphasising critical thinking in the Australian History Curriculum.

Jenni wrote in response to Education Minister Alan Tudge's criticism of proposed changes as part of the current Australian Curriculum Review arguing that students should be encouraged to question and evaluate history for themselves.

The blog was first published on our Facebook page last month, and prompted media coverage, including this article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

You can read about Minister Tudge's comments here.

Jenni's Blog

I am the daughter of a soldier who served 42 years in the Australian Army, enlisting to serve in the Vietnam War. I am the granddaughter of a soldier who served in Vietnam, I am the granddaughter of a soldier who served in WW2 and I am the great niece of the sailor Teddy Sheean VC, who made the ultimate heroic sacrifice in WW2 and has only just been recognized for his courage and bravery.

I am very proud of our military history and as the President of the Australian Parents Council believe in our education system and we strongly support the curriculum review amendments. We do so from a place of understanding that educating our children NOT indoctrinating our children is at the core of a quality education.

I am privileged to have experienced a full education where I learnt that the foundations of our nation can be built on the tears of First Nations people AND the pride of soldiers’ valiant efforts. I learnt that historic racist policies AND the melting pot of multiculturalism that we now celebrate co-exist in history and that we have grown from our history.

Intrinsically underpinning education ARE contested ideas and it beggars belief that the Education Minister, does not understand the skill and professionalism with which our teachers guide our young people to this understanding. Without harm to the nation’s identity. It is vital that the nations curriculum framework allows, encourages and empowers this discovery to occur. It does not dictate, nor should it dictate conclusions. That is only for the student to learn. I am only saddened by the fact I learnt this at university, at a level of education that not every child is given the opportunity to experience.

Studying war needs to be a contested idea. If we take it back to the shores of Turkey, the soldiers on the high ground of Gallipoli had a very different understanding to the soldiers in the water on the shores. Yet over 100 years later Australians and Turkish still stand together at dawn to commemorate.

Kill or be killed at its very nature is contested, this juxtaposed with law and religion, even further opposed. Whilst I would never advocate for year 9 and 10 students to understand what this feels like consideration to the moral dilemma this poses to humans is vitally important in raising empathetic kind humans.

As parents we teach our children that life can be tough and it is ok to make mistakes, life is about learning. We also teach them that the lesson is that we learn from this. Our curriculum should be no different.

I am still a proud Australian despite the resentment I feel that I attended a welcome home parade 10 years after my father and grandfather returned from war. I am still a proud Australian knowing that the fight to get Teddy Sheean’s Victoria Cross was not realized in his siblings’ lifetimes. I cannot speak to the pride of Indigenous Australians or immigrant Australians. But I am hopeful it is there. If not, I am sure that these adjustments will go some of the way to ensuring it starts.