The role of school education |
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Educating for a just and harmonious Australian society
Education must answer the question as to what for and why we live together and
give everyone, throughout life, the ability to play an active part in
envisioning the future of society. The education system has therefore the
explicit or implicit task of preparing everyone for this social role.
UNESCO, Learning: The Treasure Within, 1996, p. 61.
One of
education's essential tasks is to enable people to understand themselves
and others through better understanding of the world. Students must be equipped
with the knowledge and skills needed to participate effectively as members of
Australian society and to contribute towards the development of shared values
and a common Australian identity. As such, schools have a vital role to play in
assisting students to understand their own cultural identity, whilst providing
points of reference to recognise and value Australia's cultural diversity
and the place of Australia within the world.
To do this, teachers must teach fairly and accurately about Australian
society and history. They must assist students to critically examine the world
around them and to reflect on their own beliefs and ways of responding. If
racist beliefs are to be challenged in a significant way, students must be
assisted to understand different perspectives and contemporary issues and to
imagine how things might be different and better.
Stereotyped views about people from diverse cultural and linguistic
backgrounds must be challenged within education settings. Teachers must take
account of the cultural diversity that exists in their classrooms and avoid
making assumptions about the ability and behaviour of individuals or culturally
and linguistically diverse groups of students. They must confront the negative
ethnic stereotypes and attitudes that are conveyed through the media, in popular
culture and some curriculum materials and explain the historical, cultural or
religious background to the various views held in society.
Schools must be places that enable our children and young people to better
understand themselves, others and the world around them by developing
cross-cultural understanding and awareness of the attitudes that allow racism to
flourish. Ultimately, they must be places that assist children and young people
to develop informed opinions about contemporary Australian issues and prepare
them for effective participation in Australian society and the world at large.
For information on international approaches to countering racism in education,
click here.
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