Failure of civics education is a tragic feature of our system

Civics education is in a parlous state, as Janet Albrechtsen identifies (“Failure on civics blights our entire society”, 26/2).

Are schools and the education system to blame? Well, they are only partly responsible. It boils down to a question of value. Curriculum time is valuable and if schools, parents, governments, business and kids don’t value knowing about their system of government (or indeed their own history and not just the past 100 years), then little time will be devoted to them in the curriculum.

Symptomatic of this lack of importance is the lowly place of a history teacher or a civics teacher in a school nowadays. Some schools don’t even teach history, let alone civics. So, despite the criticisms from sections of the media, I don’t see much change. I do agree that as a result of such ignorance Australia is going backwards in terms of its viability as a nation.

David Lanham, Yeronga, Qld

Janet Albrechtsen is right to highlight the failure of civics education in Australia as well as the way civics education is taught and assessed. The hard-fought battles for the rights to freedom of speech buttressed by the separation of powers are glossed over or not taught at all.

We have become complacent about freedom and democracy. Wars were fought for freedom and democracy. As Albrechtsen says, Western civilisation, when seen as a grand narrative, is what helped us end slavery, defeat totalitarianism, to be ashamed of war and genocide. An action-packed adventure story indeed, not a philosophical treatise. Needing safe rooms for Jewish students is a backward step for our society on the back of such hard-won freedoms.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

Anti-Semitism silence

It is frustrating to see public support for the government’s inaction on anti-Semitism, even denying that this has fuelled a rise in it. Words, or lack of words, have a serious impact when strong leadership is needed.

Imagine a teacher on a playground standing by and watching a child bullying another. No action, very few words: “Don’t do that, Jimmy.” Without these words, there will be no consequences. If this behaviour is not stopped at the outset, it leads to further and worse bullying.

The hateful speech and intimidating behaviour that continues to be tolerated in our community since the October 7, 2023, massacre of Jews in Israel has festered and grown to such proportions that people’s lives are in danger. Some Jewish-Australian citizens are even planning an exit strategy from our country if the situation deteriorates further.

Lesley Mackie, Deception Bay, Qld

Defence spending

Doug Hurst is right (Letters, 26/2). Minds are like parachutes, they work only when they are opened. So it’s now time that Western European nations do the same, opening their wallets to increase GDP spending on defence if they want to remain democ­racies.

Britain has responded to the prevailing threats to its national security by boosting its outlays on its defence budget. After World War II, much of free Europe was devastated and the US took on the responsibility of defending Allied nations while they restored their infrastructure, health, education, social welfare and industrial systems.

The Marshall Plan provided much-needed aid to boost their economies. NATO was later enjoined to provide for a collective military umbrella.

As Ukraine now appreciates, it is impossible to win at the peace conference table what cannot be gained and held on the battlefield.

Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT

The calls for reintroduced national service seem to ignore the fact any enemy Australia and its allies will face in the near to medium future will be armed with complex weapon systems: medium to long-range missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, fifth-generation jet fighters and bombers, heavily armed drones and so on.

A few years of national service doesn’t prepare even the most capable draftee for that.

JL Brooks, Mosman, NSW

Just a dream

Wouldn’t it be great if we could wake up tomorrow to find Peter Dutton at the Lodge, Anthony Albanese married and squared away at Copacabana, and China has taken a long siesta. The attacks in Australia against Jewish people have ceased, and the remaining hos­tages overseas have been returned home. Donald Trump has convinced Vladimir Putin to withdraw, has pacified Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Ukraine war is over. Outspoken clerics in Australia have ceased their vicious rhetoric, senator Fatima Payman happily has flown off to Iran, with Lidia Thorpe contemplating joining her, and Pope Francis is feeling much better.

As Vera Lynn used to sing so melodiously: “It’s a lovely day tomor­row.”

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW