1.1 Civics and Citizenship Education: Teaching controversial issues

They Did What?!?!?

 

Dear Parents/Carers

I am writing to share with you the fantastic Humanities and Social Sciences unit of work our Year 4 students recently completed. This term’s focus was the area of Civics and Citizenship Education. This subject provided students the opportunity to learn about and develop essential concepts, content and skills they will need as active citizens living in the 21st century. These include but are not limited to: perspectives and action, government and democracy, questioning, analysing and communicating. General capabilities have also been strengthened in this unit, such as literacy, numeracy, ICT, and personal and social capability.

 

Why teach this? What exactly did they learn?

 The theme chosen for this unit, unanimously voted for by the students was “Remote and rural living can impact upon a person’s ability to access goods, services and opportunities. This arose from much discussion about the local council’s controversial decision to severely cut operating hours of the swimming pools here on the West Coast.

                                 (Read media release).


Using a topic that is controversial allowed students to strengthen their listening and discussion skills, and respecting others. These are vital social skills that are required of citizens in a democratic society 

Originating from this theme, and the requirements of the Year 4 Australian Curriculum, students learnt about “the role of the local government and the decisions it makes on behalf of the community”. Students took an inquiry approach to their learning using various strategies. These have included the students having several meetings with council members, to discuss the repercussions of the pools limited pool seasons, such as young children not having the time to competently learn to swim. Meetings have been held with others impacted, for example when three classes from each of the six schools in the region joined together to discuss the issue and to decide upon courses of action. A petition-vote amongst the schools was conducted, and letters were written to local news stations and papers, as well as to the state government.

This type of learning allows students to ‘take the lead’, be responsible for their own learning, with opportunity to pause and reflect frequently on the experience

It affects us!

What is evident from this unit, is that students are more interested and willing to learn when the issue is relevant to them with a direct impact on their lives. Their motivation and engagement has increased their participation in the learning, evident through the standard of work produced .

 

 

How can you help?

I share this information with you as the students are still incredibly passionate about creating change towards the issue. Research shows that parents/carers play a key role in a student’s understanding of Civics and Citizenship education. I encourage you to please discuss the issue with your child, and to discuss with them how you as a family living on the West Coast can make your voice heard.