While there are multiple reasons why millions of Australians are turning to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, ranging from financial hardship, Prime Minister Albanese lying about negative gearing and capital gains tax, lack of trust, and the destructive impact of Net Zero.
Education is also a key reason.
An ABC national poll on education concludes: ‘One Nation voters are turning on the mainstream education system as conservatives across the country express a deep mistrust of what they say is a leftist agenda taking over the classroom.’
When asked whether they were satisfied with the Australian education system, 55 per cent of One Nation voters said they were dissatisfied, unlike the majority of ALP/Liberal/National/Greens voters who expressed satisfaction.
One Nation voters have every right to be concerned about the way education is used to impose cultural-left mind control and group think. And it’s been happening for a long time. In a 1983 Victorian Fabian Society meeting Joan Kirner, who eventually became the Education Minister and then Premier, argued schools must be ‘part of the socialist struggle for equality, participation and social change, rather than an instrument of the capitalist system’. And then in 1984, within a book set for teacher training, the authors argued, ‘In a society disfigured by class exploitation, sexual and racial oppression, and in chronic danger of war and environmental destruction’ education must be directed at liberation.’
Additional evidence of the cultural-left’s long march through the education system is a publication by the Australian Curriculum Studies Association in 1998. The book’s authors admit it is partisan and argue Australian society is awash with reactionary ‘deep-seated prejudices, hatreds, and fears’ that educators must overcome.
In 2005, the Australian Education Union’s President, after condemning the then Howard government for imposing a conservative agenda based on family, community and patriotism argues, such has been the AEU’s success, that conservatives ‘have a lot of work to do to undo the progressive curriculum’.
Such has been the cultural-left’s success in controlling the nation’s classrooms we now have primary school children taught gender and sexuality are fluid and dynamic and not biological and God-given. Instead of virtuous masculinity, boys are told men are sexist and misogynistic.
Since Al Gore’s video An Inconvenient Truth was circulated to schools 20 years ago, students have been given a steady diet of climate alarmism based on the premise the world is facing an impending climate cataclysm unless fossil fuels are banned and the Holy Grail of endless renewables embraced.
Historically, schools have taught students to be patriotic and, for all its faults and sins of the past, to acknowledge the strengths and benefits of Western, liberal democracies like Australia. In today’s schools, instead of raising the flag and reciting the pledge of allegiance, students are taught black armband history and are made to suffer Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Since the Whitlam government embraced multiculturalism, based on the belief all cultures are equal (except for Western culture, which is attacked as racist and guilty of white supremacy), instead of national unity and cohesion ALP governments and the cultural-left have fragmented society into a nation of tribes.
No wonder so many young people have a negative view of Australia with surveys showing many would not defend Australia if attacked and cannot understand why democracy is any better than socialism.
Parents concerned about the curriculum indoctrinating students with cultural-left group think should be especially worried about how English is taught. The Australian Association for the Teaching of English, inspired by the Marxist Paulo Freire’s concept of critical literacy, argues the subject must be used to empower and liberate students to radically change society.
Shakespeare and Jane Austen’s works are criticised for promoting a heteronormative view of gender and sexuality and classic novels, poetry, and plays, instead of being appreciated for their moral and aesthetic value are deconstructed and critique in terms of power relationships.
Across Australia, millions of parents are angry and have decided ‘enough is enough’. Instead of cultural-left indoctrination they want an education system that is balanced and impartial and where teachers and subject associations stop forcing their cultural-left ideology on vulnerable students.
At the moment, many of these parents are turning to One Nation as suggested by the ABC national survey. The challenge for the Liberal/National Coalition is to articulate a coherent and convincing education policy that is academically rigorous, morally grounded and emotionally and spiritually enriching.
Such an education not only promotes increased cultural literacy and productivity, as importantly it promotes national cohesion, stability, and pride. As argued by President Lincoln, ‘The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.’
Dr Donnelly is a Melbourne-based educator and cultural critic. His latest book is Wake Up To Woke Why Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Is So Popular. Available at kevindonnelly.com.au
