Standard School Curriculums

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday October 7, 2006

THE suggestion from the Federal Education Minister, Julie Bishop, of uniform national school curriculums has certainly created a storm. No doubt that was the intended effect given the accompanying jibes at feminists, Marxists, faddists and other ideologues allegedly hijacking what is taught in schools. However, strip away the atmospherics and Ms Bishop's words about curriculums are cautious, considered and generally commendable. The key word is "generally". The problem is a lack of detail.

The Education Minister set out her ideas yesterday in an address to history teachers. Like the Prime Minister, John Howard, Ms Bishop is not happy with history courses. Not systematic, not structured, she says. So the minister has commissioned a model history curriculum. It will be devised by leading historians in consultation with educators, education bureaucrats and parents. Ms Bishop does not suggest extending this approach to all subjects. She says only that the idea of a model curriculum for schools across the nation is worthy of debate. However, the speech makes it plain what side of the debate the minister is on.

What does Ms Bishop want? Certainly, she thinks literacy and numeracy need to be addressed. That is always a popular line. Ms Bishop is also unhappy with aspects of education in her own state of Western Australia, though she doesn't elaborate. Beyond that, her speech leaves a legacy of questions begging for answers. Which state syllabuses cause Ms Bishop most concern and why? What subjects does the minister think are being badly taught and where? In a nation of six states and two territories, her attack needs to be geographically precise. Does she, for example, dispute the NSW Government's claims of significant improvements in those very areas of literacy, numeracy and the teaching of history?

Everyone would support ending the duplication involved in setting curriculums in scores of subjects in each of eight education jurisdictions. Such streamlining will be all the more welcome if it means not only uniform standards but higher standards. However, there could as easily be losers in such a process; NSW parents would want to be assured that national standards would not mean any dumbing down of the curriculum in this state. And are curriculums really the central issue, or is it teaching standards? A good teacher may overcome a substandard curriculum. Substandard teachers remain just that.