Government wants under-fives taught to be politically correct

[Miaow]

Government wants under-fives taught to be politically correct

By Susie O'Brien
Herald Sun
April 14, 2009 12:00am



Discrimination lessons for very young
Tackle reconciliation, exclusion issues
Divides early learning experts


BABIES, toddlers and preschoolers across the country are set to become political activists under controversial new Federal Government guidelines.

The April 2009 draft Early Years Learning Framework (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=421&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=Learning%20Framework) 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 (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=421&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=Kindergarten%20Parents%20Victoria%20CEO) 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.

The briefing paper notes that "such a society values Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures as a core part of the nation's history, present and future" and stresses this as a key tenet of early childhood education.

Less controversially, the guidelines also focus strongly on play-based learning, the importance of communication and language, the role of the family in children's lives, and social and emotional development.

But psychologist, author and speaker Evelyn Field questioned the need for role modelling using puppets and dolls, instead preferring teachers "keep it simple through encouraging children to play together".

Melbourne clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller agreed the emphasis should be on children playing and learning through play.

"If we overwhelm children with a sense of broader issues, we could make them anxious and confused," he said.

Welcoming the guidelines, Association for Children with a Disability CEO Elizabeth McGarry said the key was not to highlight negative differences between children, but positively promote diversity.

Community Childcare executive director Barbara Romeril also welcomed the focus on equity and getting children to challenge discrimination and disadvantage.

"Children are already dealing with these issues," she said.

If adopted, the Department of Education guidelines would cover all kinders, childcare centres and other early childhood settings, and would provide the basis for the education and care of all Australian preschoolers.

The guidelines have just been tested in 29 settings, including a range of childcare centres.

Online consultation is still taking place.

They are due to be implemented in July.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25331516-421,00.html

[Fuchsia!]

I can't see it being a bad thing, but i hope that kid won't be made to do it. I don't like forcing kids to believe in something.

[stellarella]

Sounds great to me.
Hopefully we can combat some of the discriminatory behavior that children may ( ;) ) be learning at home :thumbsup:

[~Bec~]

I was wondering when this story would make it to BH.

James goes to CC - he doesn't need to 'learn' about (and this term really gets on my goat) 'political correctness' from a text book (or the toddler equivalent). I am thrilled that at his CC and in his room there are children of a variety of cultural backgrounds. He plays with "J" who is of Vietnamese background in the sandpit, with "M" who is the daughter of African immigrants, with "B" who is of Aboriginal descent as well as a bunch of other children all with different nationalities and backgrounds. He learns about different cultures at CC and how to say hello in different languages (at the moment I'd be thrilled if he could say "Hello" in English but that's a whole different thread) :rolleyes: He will understand that the way we do things (ie the way we do things at home) is not 'the right way', it's just 'a way'. He will grow up having friends of different nationalities and (hopefully) not be conditioned to think that 'white male' = 'norm' and everything else is 'other'.

ETA: One of the things that I have issue with this is that it assumes that children will 'natually' be intollerant and need to be taught to be tollerance etc. I think this is really negative.

Apologies if I sound really grumpy and sh1tty - it's because I am. James had a near hour long tantrum this morning whilst we were trying to get ready for work and CC which included headbutting me in the teeth so hard my gums bled. "Thanks for everything Mum" :(

[MsMummy]

I think it's a great idea. Even if the implementation is a bit awkward or clunky, it's better than doing nothing. We're still so far on issues like reconcilation in Australia.

I had a lecturer at uni who used to say that people who are against political correctness are those who want to continue making racist/sexist etc jokes :laughing:. I don't think that applies to everybody but I think there's some truth in it.

[stellarella]

And since when has being a decent, accepting individual been termed "politically correct".

Isn't it just about being a kind, open minded human.

[~Bec~]

And since when has being a decent, accepting individual been termed "politically correct".

Isn't it just about being a kind, open minded human.

:iagree:

The term I prefer is "polite".

[dillydAlly]

This is very interesting to me.......

For starters the new "early years framework" they are talking about has already taken affect in the training of care givers. There is now a unit that is compulsory that covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders issues and promotes inclusion.....

ALREADY in centres they MUST:


Not use gender bias language such as "good boy" or "good girl". I teach all my staff and students this as they didn't do a good job because they are a girl they did it because THEY are good at it..... (yes I know it sounds silly) Eg... Well done timmy you did a great job with this.......
Have a selection of dolls (baby) that depict different culture as well as clothes for the babies which promote this as well.
Have a wide selection of different cultural stimuli. Whether this be books, posters, photos drawings and paintings.
Celebrate children's culture and background.
Promote non gender bias activities such as "Tiffany can play football too, even though she is a girl"
Centres should be doing all of these anyway and high quality ones should do it as second nature and promote it between staff as well *** families. I don't see anything wrong with what they are planning to implement but to a certain degree it is already present. I sincerely hope that they don't make too much more work for childcare workers.... They are already over worked and under paid.

[Nowhere]

And since when has being a decent, accepting individual been termed "politically correct".

Isn't it just about being a kind, open minded human.


I agree what is now called polictically corect, is what when I was growing up was just manners and common decentcy


I got called overly PC the other day because I corected someone for calling my Little girl a Midget, I said oh you mean Short stature yes does have that, the repply was oh if you wannt to be one of them overly PC people i guess but stil the same as a midget

MMMMMMMMMMMM

Well let me tel you I had an urge to be very very unpolite but restrained, This was a friend after all lol

[HousebumMum]

This is very interesting to me.......

For starters the new "early years framework" they are talking about has already taken affect in the training of care givers. There is now a unit that is compulsory that covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders issues and promotes inclusion.....

ALREADY in centres they MUST:


Not use gender bias language such as "good boy" or "good girl". I teach all my staff and students this as they didn't do a good job because they are a girl they did it because THEY are good at it..... (yes I know it sounds silly) Eg... Well done timmy you did a great job with this.......
Have a selection of dolls (baby) that depict different culture as well as clothes for the babies which promote this as well.
Have a wide selection of different cultural stimuli. Whether this be books, posters, photos drawings and paintings.
Celebrate children's culture and background.
Promote non gender bias activities such as "Tiffany can play football too, even though she is a girl"
Centres should be doing all of these anyway and high quality ones should do it as second nature and promote it between staff as well *** families. I don't see anything wrong with what they are planning to implement but to a certain degree it is already present. I sincerely hope that they don't make too much more work for childcare workers.... They are already over worked and under paid.

The centre my children go to are doing the above mentioned also and I think it is great that they have an opportunity at a young age to experience different cultures and their customs and I also like that my son can play with dolls and my daughter plays with trucks. :laughing:

I think the Government has the right idea in trying to make our children more socially aware at a young age, because often they don't get that at home, as someone else mentioned.

[Beany]

Good. It's a good initiative and I'm not at all sure where the opposition to it is coming from.

The "political correctness gone too far!!111!eleven!!" crowd should remember how very far social equity has to go. It's all very well sitting in a position of privilege and saying "oh lets do very very little, it'll right itself in the end" but that's countless generations of ingrained racism away, while Aboriginal communities continue to live in third world conditions, continue to die at the age of 40, continue to lack education and the gap between their society and our society grows wider.

What exactly is the problem with it?

[Jakois]

I think it's a good idea.

Manners, respect, Political Correctness.

I don't care what they call it, so long as they make positive steps toward teaching it:).

Goodness knows it is somewhat needed in todays society.

[Nowhere]

[quote=Beany;
What exactly is the problem with it?[/quote]


I wonder that to, I dont see how teaching the next generation to be more polite and excepting then our generation is a bad thing


After all we are in aa time where people seem too call one and other PC or over PC as an insult, Its should be seen as a complimennt

[mummeeto2]

ETA: One of the things that I have issue with this is that it assumes that children will 'natually' be intollerant and need to be taught to be tollerance etc. I think this is really negative.


That's what I was thinking. I remember when I was young I didn't really notice any differences between people & question it until I was maybe 7 or 8.

Having said that in some ways I think learning to accept different cultures, beliefs & appearances early is a good thing so in future it will be second nature to accept them & also have some knowledge about the different issues

[Beany]

The problem is that while kids may be naturally accepting, the likelihood of exposure to Aborignal people and culture is not equal across the country. Also, the attitudes of parents influence children from a young age - if they are ill-informed or out-and-out bigotted, that is what the child sponge will absorb, along with the social bigotry that can be seen in the media. Countrer those viewpoints with a positive message is surely a good thing?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

That's all well and good.. But more often than not kids pick up racist, sexist or generally just nasty views from adults like their parents.

How about political correctness class for those people?

Ooh, similar thought there Beany!

[~Bec~]

The problem is that while kids may be naturally accepting, the likelihood of exposure to Aborignal people and culture is not equal across the country. Also, the attitudes of parents influence children from a young age - if they are ill-informed or out-and-out bigotted, that is what the child sponge will absorb, along with the social bigotry that can be seen in the media. Countrer those viewpoints with a positive message is surely a good thing?

I agree. I realise my initial post probably doesn't make my point very clear. My point is that James's CC (which I'm assumming is indicative of other quality CCs) does so much stuff already to promote kindness, tollerance, acceptance of other cultures etc that I'm not sure what the report/suggestion or whatever it is is trying to make. :confused:

[HousebumMum]

The problem is that while kids may be naturally accepting, the likelihood of exposure to Aborignal people and culture is not equal across the country. Also, the attitudes of parents influence children from a young age - if they are ill-informed or out-and-out bigotted, that is what the child sponge will absorb, along with the social bigotry that can be seen in the media. Countrer those viewpoints with a positive message is surely a good thing?

:iagree: Also, some children are not naturally accepting of people that look different to them. I went to a primary school that was the first in the State to introduce physically and mentally challenged children into the mainstream public schooling system. As a child without disability, I found it amazing to be around these other children, but whenever we had schools visit for sports days etc., some would tease and ridicule these 'different' children, because it was not the 'norm' for them.

I have seen first hand what a difference it can make introducing a positive thinking and social program into a primary school and I don't see why it can't work for preschoolers also.

[Beany]

The preschool my son will be starting at (I'm not yet quite able to accept that he's ready for such a thing! My baby's growing up :cry: ), though very inclusive and lovely and all of that, has no Aborignal kids in it. I'm sure it's because of where it is situated and the occupation of the parents that generally use the facility (it's an inner city facility and most of the children are those of parents that work in the immediate area). So the curriculum will benefit him.

Also, while I can speak to him about Aboriginal affairs, I don't find that it generally pops up in our day-to-day activity so having the preschool open up a means to discuss these matters in and out of the classroom is very beneficial to parents, too.

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

Imagine teaching children to be kind an inclusive:eek:.

I cannot understand why anyone would be opposed to it. In fact we need more not less of this sort of carriculum.

[Ffrenchknickers]

I think it is a good start :)

My sons year 4 class is 50% aboriginal. My younger sons PREP class is about 2/3 aboriginal plus a couple of Asian students...so things are a bit different....racism still exists HUGELY from alot of people though, unfortunatly, whether they be white, black or purple. This country has a long way to go.

[Benji]

And since when has being a decent, accepting individual been termed "politically correct".

Isn't it just about being a kind, open minded human.

Yup, couldn't agree more!!



Imagine teaching children to be kind an inclusive:eek:.

I cannot understand why anyone would be opposed to it. In fact we need more not less of this sort of carriculum.

:eek: what a shocking thing to happen!




I think it'd be great if children were taught more of this so-called political correctness (in other words, tolerance).

[SixtiesChild]

Some people have a problem with the government implementing it and not so much the idea of teaching this to kids.
These very things need to be taught to kids by parents in the home, rather than a sterile curriculum.
Too many parents simply aren't there for their kids time wise & have no parenting skills that are slowly developed through day to day hands on raising of children.
The kids are hurting badly and behave destructively, so the parents expect the school to raise their children.
DD attends an independant school & has a friend that stayed over during the holidays and during this stay, we were surprised to find her sadly neglected by her parents with many resulting social problems.
This young girl NEEDS her parents and not the school to raise her, which is what is happening in her life. She is filled with rage. :(

[Mrs Nietzsche]

I don't think there is anything new about this - schools have always had a hand in introducing morals etc to children.

It's just that times have changed, and these days, there are new 'morals' about not being discriminatory and taking care of the environment.

Parents in *many* cases are lagging behind here with what needs to change.

I personally would be grateful if my daughter's school tried to impart some great environmental principles.... it can be a hard job doing it in isolation from the home, when the rest of the world seems to be doing a different thing.

[Pippi Longstocking]

Some people have a problem with the government implementing it and not so much the idea of teaching this to kids.
These very things need to be taught to kids by parents in the home, rather than a sterile curriculum.
Too many parents simply aren't there for their kids time wise & have no parenting skills that are slowly developed through day to day hands on raising of children.
(

But if, as you say, parents are disinterested in the upbringing and education of their children, they're not going to be interested enough to object about the curriculum? I'm not sure I understand the point you're making here. I think that if parents aren't teaching this stuff at home, it is absolutely crucial that the school picks up the slack.

This idea isn't about being politically correct. It's about tolerance and respect and appreciating diversity. My children are taught this at home, and it'd be awesome to have that teaching backed up at school. :yelclap:

[stellarella]

My kids do and will learn it at home.
I still can't see anything wrong with it also being discussed at school or child care.

People who oppose this don't like the subject matter, I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the delivery.

I think adults need to sit through this curriculum too :yes:

[Ffrenchknickers]

But if, as you say, parents are disinterested in the upbringing and education of their children, they're not going to be interested enough to object about the curriculum? I'm not sure I understand the point you're making here. I think that if parents aren't teaching this stuff at home, it is absolutely crucial that the school picks up the slack.

This idea isn't about being politically correct. It's about tolerance and respect and appreciating diversity. My children are taught this at home, and it'd be awesome to have that teaching backed up at school. :yelclap:

I agree :eek:

I see so many wrong attitudes in this community and they are coming from home! At this point in time they are being backed up at school....this is where these attitudes are being put into practice :( It SURELY has to be a good thing for schools to implement this kind of thing, it just has to be, especially when kids are not being taught it at home.

It is very sad that tolerance isn't just something we can take for granted :rolleyes:

[Becteria]

After reading the readers comments on the article, I think your final point is very, very valid Stellarella!

[stellarella]

After reading the readers comments on the article, I think your final point is very, very valid Stellarella!


I know! Scary :eek:

[samsausage]

I think it's a fantastic idea, as we know children are extremely impressionable and what better time to introduce them to concepts of fairness, equity and respect which is essentially what this is.

I remember Mum giving me the 'sex' talk at, I don't know, 6-7yrs. She kept it all very basic, men and women do this etc etc and at the end explained that some women like to have that relationship with other women and some men like to have it with other men.

As I was still young that knowledge was taken on easily without the prejudice and stigma society often imposes on homosexuality. The result was I've always found it truly incomprehensible that people are targeted due to their sexual orientation, that child part of my brain just says 'but that's the way it is :confused:'.

It will never be anything other than perfectly normal to me, I'd love to think my son will take on that same attitude and not just about sexuality but about all kinds of diversity within society.

[lukaelmo]

I agree what is now called polictically corect, is what when I was growing up was just manners and common decentcy


I got called overly PC the other day because I corected someone for calling my Little girl a Midget, I said oh you mean Short stature yes does have that, the repply was oh if you wannt to be one of them overly PC people i guess but stil the same as a midget

MMMMMMMMMMMM

Well let me tel you I had an urge to be very very unpolite but restrained, This was a friend after all lol

My son Luka is extremely short and I am very sensitive to this... I would be very politically incorrect with anyone who called him a midget.

I'd deck 'em :D.

[SixtiesChild]

I think some kids would benefit from this more than others. Especially those kids that have no chance of ever learning it from home.

But I find it a sad and embarrasing :o day in this country if the government has to step in and instill BASIC VALUES due to mass parental laziness & incompetance. It isn't good that it's reached this point IYKWIM.
The government also needs to look at the cause of why common values have deteriorated and then encorage & even TEACH parents to take FULL responsibility for their own kids.

The kids need to know those values otherwise we will continue to have schools full of feral behavior, followed by feral adults at large in the community. Which I know we do already.
But I am always perplexed as to why some people even have kids at all, if they can't instill basic values THEMSELVES.

Sorry, I feel a little grumpy today...:banghead:
it's possibly hormonal ...lol.

[Beany]

It is sad and embarrassing but I don't think it's a reflection of this day at all. The problem of racism has been around for so very very long that it's actually a rather more sad and embarrassing the government didn't step in sooner, particularly as racism was so blatantly and tragically mired in policy by governments past. That it took them so long to rectify their ills is sad but heck, at least they finally are :)

[forbetoel]

It is sad and embarrassing but I don't think it's a reflection of this day at all. The problem of racism has been around for so very very long that it's actually a rather more sad and embarrassing the government didn't step in sooner.

Yup - :iagree: