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 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.

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...16-421,00.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

[~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) 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 . 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.

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.

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.