1.1: Civics and Citizenship - Controversial Issues

•   What and why children are learning

Education professionals throughout Australia recognise that during their schooling years, young people need to be taught how to be active and informed citizens in their changing society. The Australian Curriculum, through the General Capability of Ethical Understanding, highlight the importance of students of all ages exploring ethical issues and interacting with members of their community to discuss ideas and determine their personal values. The Early Years Learning Framework reiterates that from a young age “children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation”

Civics and Citizenship is introduced into the Australian Curriculum in year 3 as a component of Humanities and Social Sciences, where students explore how decisions are made democratically. 

As our students are at the end of year 2 we will be introducing them to these topics through a unit of work based on occupations that help people. Students will work in pairs discussing jobs on a large poster in the classroom; nurse, police officer, farmer and more. They will summarise what it is these jobs do and how they help our communities.

• How parents/carers can support their child’s learning

 The controversial issue of logging in Tasmania will be discussed and debated among the students, as students parents occupations include log truck driver and activist for animal habitats. Exploring controversial issues such as this is a purposeful component of teaching and learning in Civics and Citizenship, to create awareness of differences in values and morals from an early age. Some students will agree with the logging and others will not. The idea is not to force a view or opinion on the students but to have them discuss different points on the issue and reach their own ethical position.  This component of the unit displays the ways parents/carers influence student’s opinions.

• How they are learning

 To introduce the students to the occupation of politician the teacher will read Phoebe Digs Politics by Angela Moyle. 

Students will then use their inquiry skills to pose questions about people and places, such as ‘what does MP mean?’ Students will participate in the Make a Difference activity on the following website: http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/kidsview.html. This activity displays ways students can make changes in their community and how they can become active and involved to find a solution.

A visit from the teacher’s family member, Dan Tehan, has been arranged. Dan is a member of the House of Representatives and will explain to the students a little more about what politicians do. Following on from their ‘Make a Difference’ activity students will pitch their ideas to Dan about logging or no logging and how it will or will not make a positive change to their community.