[Greens-Media] Qld Greens media release: Greens Give Cautious Welcome to History Teaching Plans

[Ian Gittus]

*MEDIA RELEASE*
*Thursday 17th August 2006*

Greens Give Cautious Welcome to History Teaching Plans

The Queensland Greens have welcomed some outcomes of today’s National 
Summit on teaching Australian History in schools but warned of possible 
dangers and obstacles.
Greens lead spokesperson for the state election campaign Juanita Wheeler 
said that anything that helps young Australians develop an informed and 
critical awareness of their nation’s history was welcome as a vital 
foundation of effective democratic citizenship.
Ms Wheeler also felt there could be merit in a compulsory two-year 
course in Years 9 and 10, as recommended by the Summit.
“The proposed use of key questions such as ‘How have men and women 
related in Australia’s history?’ and ‘How has the Australian landscape 
been both used and abused ?’ should produce interesting lessons and 
valuable, balanced learning”, Ms Wheeler said.

Ms Wheeler warned, however, against any attempt by the Federal 
Government to shape the course to reflect the Prime Minister’s preferred 
view of Australian History – a celebratory tale that glosses over the 
negative effects on Indigenous people, cultural minorities and the 
environment.

“The Greens also hope that the implementation of any reforms will 
involve close cooperation between Canberra and the States,” Ms Wheeler 
said.
“School curriculum is a State’s responsibility. We don’t want to see 
Canberra use funding threats to force the States in undesirable 
directions.”
Ms Wheeler also pointed to the obvious problem of a lack of trained 
History teachers to teach the proposed compulsory course.
“Unless that is addressed, the project is doomed from the outset,” she 
warned.


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For further information please contact:
Juanita Wheeler

Candidate for Mount Coot-tha

Spokesperson, Queensland Greens

Mobile 0402 487 110

-- 
Ian Gittus
Election Campaign coordinator
Branch and member networker
Queensland Greens

Direct (07) 3846 0862
Office (07) 3844 4667
Fax; (07) 3844 4654			

PO Box 5763 
West End Qld  4101

www.qld.greens.org.au
To join the Queensland Greens:
www.qld.greens.org.au/public_downloads/membership.pdf

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