AUSTRALIAN principals have hit-back at claims school curriculums have been hijacked by left-wing ideologues. Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA) president Andrew Blair said Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop was taking a populist position that would not help children.

He attacked suggestions there should be a greater emphasis on literacy and numeracy. “Is that going to prepare kids for the 21st century where we have new forms of numeracy and literacy? I doubt it,” he said. But Mr Blair welcomed a debate on whether Australia should have a national curriculum.

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Recently a parent wrote this letter to the Head of their 5-year-old’s private school (Christian).

“I have been meaning to talk with you about Denise and my concerns regarding Campbell’s attitude towards religion, in particular what he is perhaps learning in the classroom. I’d like to understand just what is being taught to Prep students as our concern is over his comments that “God is right, and God is the boss etc”

These comments may just be nothing more than an innocent 5 year olds misinterpretation of what is actually being taught – and fair enough if it is. But my view is that there is nothing more damaging than brainwashing a young child with the absolute right versus wrong of religion. I’d like him to be able to grow up and decide for himself what he wants to accept and believe without interference from his parents or his school.

I’d appreciate the chance to learn more about what is being taught in the classroom as far as religious studies goes and then at least be given the opportunity to be able to choose whether or not Campbell participates.”

Alternatives
Whatever it is that we are currently doing, someone else, somewhere, is already doing it a “much better way”.

Leaping
We can put aside some of our current doing time each day to search for the much better way and when we find it we can then take a quantum leap ahead of our own experience. We repeat this process again and again and again.

Repetition
To become proficient in the much better way always involves practice and repetition, if we are to acquire skill.

The Advisory Board of Melbourne Grammar School’s Centre for Learning and Leadership has delegated Michael to lead a group who all volunteered to meet and consider better ways to define, explain and instruct the subject of Leadership and to submit our 2-page report to the board. The group consisted of:
• Liz Harman, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University
• Peter Ellyard, Executive Director of Preferred Futures
• Michael Hewitt-Gleeson, Principal of School of Thinking
• Polly Flanagan, Director of Leadership MGS
• Andrew Boyd, Head of Grimwade House MGS
• Ian Vaughan, Deputy Council Chairman MGS.

The primary mission of SOT since 1979 has always been: to get thinking into schools as a school curriculum subject.

Over the past 27 years, this mission has meant dealing in the USA and Australia with many foundations, government and educational institutions, corporations publishers and media in Washington and Canberra and elsewhere. More on this story …