Mount Martha Primary School asks students to dress in Goldfields attire instead of Colonial
Grade 5 students at a Mornington Peninsula primary school have been asked to dress in “goldfields” attire instead of “colonial,” after concerns were raised.
South East
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The word “colonial” has been dropped from an upcoming dress-up day at a Mornington Peninsula primary school after some parents raised concerns about the term.
Grade 5 students at Mount Martha Primary School have been asked to dress in “goldfields” attire instead of “colonial” for an upcoming incursion, following concern in the parent community.
According to National Geographic, colonialism is defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or people”.
In a note sent to Grade 5 parents last week, the school said:
“It has come to our attention that there is some concern in our parent community around the use of the word colonial in our Year 5 History unit for term 2.
“Our teachers are constantly reflecting and adjusting their teaching and learning programs to reflect current social issues, at the same time as addressing the Victorian Curriculum.
“Our study of the Victorian Goldrush era in Term 2 includes important events such as the Eureka Stockade and the investigation of the different cultures and character that contributed to the Victorian Goldfields in the 1850s.
“The program has always included indigenous perspectives and the role that our First Nations people played on the goldfields.”
The school went on to say its incursion in Term 2 would be known as Goldfields Day, with children invited to dress in goldfields attire.
“Additionally we have just finished our Term 1 multicultural unit where students compared and contrasted a variety of cultures with their own and contemplated the importance of diversity in Australia,” the note said.
“Students learnt about the Uluru Statement from the Heart and explored some of the social issues around the upcoming referendum.
“We are particularly proud of the students who shared their opinions, concerns and hopes for an inclusive future.”
While not commenting specifically on Mount Martha Primary School, Dr Kevin Donnelly, education author and commentator, said a brewery in Perth was also recently pressured to change its name from “Colonial”.
“It obviously harks back to 1788 and the First Fleet and the invasion and the genocide and violence committed against Aboriginal people,” Dr Donnelly said.
“It’s all part of this woke politically correct movement drawing on critical race theory which came from America and it’s part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“It is part of the woke argument that western societies like America and Australia are inherently racist and guilty of white superiority.
“So words like colonial often are seen as reflecting that past.
“It’s part of a more general movement to really rewrite history and to change the language which I think is wrong.”
Dr Donnelly co-chaired a review into the national school curriculum in 2014 and said it represented a very “black armband” view of European settlement.
“When we looked at history it was very biased and politically correct,” Dr Donnelly said.
“It gives our students a very bleak and cynical view of Australian history and the reality is there are a lot of benefits to the fact we were colonised by the British,” he said, noting our political and legal system.
Dr Bella d’Abrera, director of the Institute of Public Affairs foundations of western civilisation program, said:
“Our children need to be taught about the pioneering spirit which built the Australia we are lucky to live in today.
“Australians are tired of being told that they need to be ashamed of their colonial past. It should be celebrated, not denigrated.”
Mount Martha Primary School principal Karen Walker said: “The title “Goldfield dress up“ is an accurate description of the day, which is focused on learning about life on the Victorian Goldfields in the 1850s.”
