Harmony Day ‘hides racism’, says government watchdog

The Human Rights Commission complains the decision to rename the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as Harmony Day in schools has ‘turned the day from a protest against racial discrimination into a celebration’.

The Australian Human Rights Commission says Harmony Day ‘hides longstanding systemic racial discrimination’.

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Australia’s racism watchdog has warned schools celebrating Harmony Day that the popular event “hides systemic racism’’, and it has produced a classroom lesson plan replete with trigger warnings.

The Australian Human Rights Commission wants schools to rename their annual multicultural festivities on March 21 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Many childcare centres and schools have embraced Harmony Day as a way for children to learn about different cultures by sharing food, dressing in traditional costumes, learning songs and dances, and enjoying visits from family members and Indigenous elders.

But the AHRC complains that Australia’s decision to rename IDERD as Harmony Day in 1999 has “turned the day from a protest against racial discrimination into a celebration’’.

“The renaming of this day hides the longstanding systemic racial discrimination many people have faced in Australia,’’ the AHRC states in a new “fact sheet for schools’’.

“Calling this commemoration Harmony Day/Week causes harm to our collective anti-racism journey by undermining efforts to identify and address the harm experienced by communities because of racism.’’

A Bollywood dancing class was held at Baulkham Hills North Public School in Sydney on Harmony Day. Picture: AAP

Despite educators’ concerns about an overcrowded curriculum, the AHRC has produced a lesson plan for teachers to instruct teenagers in years 9 and 10 about interpersonal and systemic racism and discrimination, in line with the national curriculum. The lesson plan contains a trigger warning that “the content may be distressing for students, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and other students negatively impacted by racism’’.

It advises teachers to “consider additional classroom support” and to prepare strategies to support students’ emotional and social wellbeing.

Students would discuss articles from the ABC and SBS, including one about the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa on March 21, 1960, when white police killed 69 unarmed black protesters and injured hundreds more, on a day the UN commemorated as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Despite the AHRC’s scolding, federal Education Minister Jason Clare defended schools’ ­celebration of Harmony Day.

“Harmony Week is all about breaking down barriers and increasing understanding,’’ Mr Clare told The Australian, adding: “That’s a good thing.’’

African drumming showcase participants, from left, Pasaka Mwibusa, Jessica Wyatt and Jayden Stevens during Harmony Day celebrations. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Australian Childcare Alliance vice-president Nesha Hutchinson said many young children enjoyed celebrating Harmony Day.

“Lots of kids like it, particularly in multicultural centres,’’ she said. “It’s a day we use to celebrate everybody’s culture.

“Sometimes we get people from different families to come in and talk about their culture.

“Adults can talk about structural and systemic racism, but it’s not for young children.’’

Australian Government Primary Principals Association president Pat Murphy said Harmony Day “is something students ­embrace’’. “It’s a celebration of what makes Australia such a successful multicultural nation,’’ he said. “It’s one of the most celebrated days on the school calendar, particularly in schools with large numbers of multicultural or First Nations students.

“I’ve seen cultural dress, we’ve had elders from the First Nations community come to speak to all the students, and students have shared food.’’

Mr Murphy said he had been the principal at a school with a large Polynesian community, where all the students shared a night of singing Samoan and Maori songs.

“It was one of the biggest nights of parent and community engagement,’’ he said.

“I saw and learnt an awful lot about the Polynesian and Maori community by observing the kids on those days they were celebrating their culture.

“The students design their own activities and it’s something they look forward to – they all want to come to school that day.

“It can’t do anything but create harmony.’’

Students hold cultural parades as part of Harmony Day celebrations. Picture: AAP

The AHRC, however, has told schools that the very use of the word harmony can “gloss over ­racism’’.

“For example, First Nations peoples in Australia have experienced devastating impacts flowing from the colonisation of their lands by the British from 1788 onwards,’’ it states. “These impacts continue to be felt today.’’

In a section titled “the problem with Harmony Day’’, the AHRC tells schools that it can “damage and weaken our anti-racism ­efforts’’.

“The problem is that the focus on harmony can gloss over racism, stop people from discussing it or cause people to think that speaking up upsets the idea of a ‘harmonious’ Australian society,’’ it states.

“It distracts from recognising and addressing the harm that racism causes to communities.’’

An AHRC spokesman told The Australian that “recognising and celebrating the diversity of our communities is of great benefit and significance’’.

“But to achieve true harmony we can’t overlook or ignore the harm of ongoing racism on our communities and society,’’ he said.

“The best way to amplify and embrace all Australians is by addressing racism and allowing people to discuss it, alongside celebrating our success.’’

The spokesman said the racism lesson plan is “not mandatory’’.

The Department of Home Affairs sponsors Harmony Week – held from March 17 to 23 – to ­“celebrate Australia’s rich cultural diversity’’.