Curriculum changes slammed for ‘tiptoeing around uncomfortable facts of life such as obesity’

Australian teachers have been told to stop talking about “good” and “bad” foods, diets and calories under a new curriculum guide that has sparked debate.

Schools are also advised not to allow teachers to use food as rewards. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Schools have been accused of setting students “up to fail as adults” by stopping teachers from talking about “good” and “bad” foods, diets and calories.

Debate is raging about a new curriculum guide for all Australian schools which tells teachers to avoid encouraging students to become “healthier” in classes about healthy food and wellbeing.

Schools are also advised not to allow teachers to use food as rewards and to support parents to provide only “preferred” food and drink at events.

The resources list a range of discussion topics which “should be avoided to prevent causing unintended harm” to students including calculating calories, talking and assessing body weight and calculating BMI (Body Mass Index).

The guide tells teachers to avoid encouraging students to become ‘healthier’. Picture: iStock

Instead, teachers are told to talk about the benefits of “balanced nutrition” as part of the national Food and Wellbeing Curriculum 9.0.

The changes – which remove hundreds of references in the curriculum resource to weight, calories and diets – are designed to reduce eating disorders and weight stigma.

However, Dr Bella d’Abrera, director of the Institute of Public Affairs’ Foundations of Western Civilisation program, said such “ridiculous political correctness does not help children”.

“Tip-toeing around the uncomfortable facts of life such as obesity does not help children. Instead, it sets them up for failure as adults,” she said.

The changes remove hundreds of references in the curriculum resource to weight, calories and diets. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“These changes reflect a much deeper problem with the National Curriculum, where facts have been replaced with politically correct jargon.

“Today, vital skills students need to succeed in life, such as learning to read and write, are being completely neglected by the national curriculum in favour of identity politics and activism,” she said.

A spokesman for the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority said the changes, made in conjunction with Embrace Collective and Eating Disorders Families Australia, were designed to ensure “young people are equipped with the key information and skills they need when it comes to health and wellbeing”.

Chef, author and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation founder Stephanie Alexander said the new materials “promote talking about food that is nutritious and nourishing in a positive way”.

Chef and author Stephanie Alexander. Picture: Alan Benson

“As we celebrate 20 years of working to promote pleasurable food education, it is especially gratifying to hear and see more and more research bodies, food writers, and academics validate my approach,” she said.

“Appreciating and choosing fresh food and incorporating it in daily meals will lead to healthier, happier food-aware adults compared with all attempts to change habits by shaming,” Ms Alexander said.

Originally published as Curriculum changes slammed for ‘tiptoeing around uncomfortable facts of life such as obesity’