School students asked to promote Sydney Metro North West rail network during lessons
SCHOOL students are getting lessons in how to promote the Sydney Metro North West railway line — from writing radio ads to putting on plays about its grand opening.
NSW
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SCHOOL students are getting lessons in how to promote the Sydney Metro North West railway line — from writing radio ads to putting on plays about its grand opening.
Critics have labelled as “propaganda” the education resource integrated into geography, science and English subjects for more than 9700 primary and high school pupils in at least 25 schools across Sydney’s northwest.
Students are asked to use “persuasive language and images” to create short radio or TV ads promoting the line to the community.
The 130 classroom-ready lesson plans also suggest students “brainstorm potential benefits” of the rail line, due to open in early 2019.
Freedom of information documents obtained by the opposition show the Berejiklian government, through the Sydney Metro Northwest Education Program, spent $338,596 on the materials to “explore the goals of the ... project and its legacy”.
Opposition assistant education spokeswoman Prue Car called it “indoctrination”.
“Given our literacy and numeracy levels are tracking behind countries like Kazakhstan, (Education) Minister Rob Stokes should be doing more to boost learning in the state’s classrooms, rather than using it as a platform to promote his government,” she said.
“Teaching young children the ‘benefits’ of a particular government is wrong on so many levels. The state’s responsibility is to educate our children to be critical thinkers who can make the right choices when they are adults.”
NSW Teachers Federation president Maurie Mulheron said while it was good teaching practice to use real-life examples for lessons, “we would be concerned if it were crossing the line into promoting a government initiative”.
Curriculum expert Dr Kevin Donnelly said it was not unusual for third parties to provide materials for teachers using real world examples, as long as they were clearly labelled and voluntary.
“Students need to learn the basics ... but it’s good to give a real world application which makes it come alive.”
Mr Stokes said the material was produced some years ago and made available for schools to use “if they wish”.
He said it was not part of the curriculum and “we are not aware of any complaints”.