Recent criticism by the Federal Government and popular media of Davidson High School’s anti-Bush Rock Estiedford piece has confused me greatly as to what place people believe children should have in public life. Whilst I do not intend to argue for or against their performance, it seems there have been two responses. Firstly, that it is an embarrassment to Sydney and Australia and that the students are being used by the script writers/teachers who are merely advocating their own left wing ideology. The counter argument is that this is merely a case of freedom of speech and whilst the teachers views are expressed the children involved are free the think what they want. With the exception of this being embarrassing, I think both points have merit, but I suppose the real question is when is a child old enough to ‘make up their own mind’ on political issues? In addition, is subjective political education appropriate for high school students? Objective political education is impossible to implement as the opinions of the teacher are bound to come through.

I just wonder if schools will ever be divided into left and right curriculum schools in the same way as some are now divided into religions denomination. Would it be wrong for a parent with left ideologies to want an education for their child that incorporated left wing values. It just seems wrong that no Federal Minister reacts the same to the use of children displaying Theology as they do to them displaying Ideology.

Mark Boxsell
Politics Student.

Mark,

Its them pesky teachers and students again.

I wonder exactly what sort of response it would have gotten if the performance had GWB riding in like a white knight, seeing off the evil Saladin and ended with him ascending Christ like into heaven.

The really sad thing is that political satire in this country (with the exception of Clarke and Dawes and the Chaser crew) has sunk to the level where Eisteddford performances are being grasped at.