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Sections in this issue outline (in order):
1. What they said. 2 The issue at a glance. 3 Background. 4 Internet information links. 5 and 6 Arguments for / against. 7 Further implications on this issue. 8 Newspaper items used in the compilation of the outline.
2004/19: Should school funding be tied to flying the Australian flag?
What they said ..,.
'The younger generations embrace these things ... that is why it is not trite and irrelevant and old-fashioned to say you've got to have a flagpole so you can fly the Australian flag'
John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia
'This Government is actually more concerned about the condition of the flagpoles at our schools rather than the resources available to the children in our classrooms'
Jenny Macklin, Opposition education spokesperson
The issue at a glance
On June 22 2004 the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, held a media conference announcing legislation that would accompany $31 billion worth of funding for education around Australia.
The legislation will be conditional on government schools, independent schools and Catholic schools meeting certain requirements.
As outlined in the conference the requirements are, 'Firstly, a common starting age for schools by 2010. Secondly, a minimum physical activity requirement of two hours a week for primary and junior secondary schools as an important measure in addressing childhood obesity. Thirdly, greater national consistency in curriculum and testing standards in English, mathematics, science and civics. Fourthly, better reporting to parents, including plain language reports on their own child's progress, reporting literacy and numeracy results against national benchmarks, and meaningful information on school quality including teacher qualifications and overall student outcomes. And also, importantly, a national safe schools framework to help that schools are as far as possible free from bullying and abuse.'
Later in the same conference Brendan Nelson also stated, 'The Government will also be requiring that ... every school [has] a functioning flag pole and fly the Australian flag...'
This flag raising requirement become the focus of the media discussion of the proposed legislation and provoked significant debate.
Background
In 1996, shortly after he was elected as Prime Minister, Mr Howard pledged his support for the current form of the Australian flag and indicated his opposition to any moves to alter the flag to make it more distinctive and more representative of Australia's current social reality.
In January 2004, The Prime Minister, John Howard, claimed that the governmnet school system was values-neutral and too politically correct. Mr Howard said that public schools took an "antiseptic view" on many issues, with some opposing nativity plays because they could offend particluar groups.
Mr Howard further suggested that more parents are choosing private schools because the public system is too politically correct.
The current debate has been presented as an extension of mr Howard's previous remarks on these related issues.
Internet Sources
A transcript of the media conference given by the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, can be found at http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview925.html
It was at this conference the the proposed Government funding for schools was announced as well as the requirements schools would have to abide by in order to gain this funding.
On February 24 2004 the Christian Science Monitor published an article titled, 'A clash over values in Australia' by Janaki Bremmer. The article reports on the Prime Minister's earlier claim that state schools may have neglected values education. Flag raising is mentioned in the context of this discussion.
The article can be found at http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0224/p12s01-legn.html
On April 25 1996, shortly after becoming Prime Minister, Austflag reported the Prime Minister's pledge to support the form of the current Australian flag and to resist attempts to make it more distinctive and reflective of Australia's current social reality.
The article is titled, 'Howard to protect the flag'
The article can be found at http://www.ausflag.com.au/debate/nma/aus960425.html
On July 1 2004 the ABC's 7.30 Report featured a humorous commentary by John Clarke and Brian Dawe implying that the Prime Minister was using the flagpole issue to distract voters from more substantial matters.
A full transcript of this segmnet can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1145025.htm
On July 20 2004 the online magazine Vibewire.net published an article criticisng the Government's policy on flagpoles in schools. The piece is titled, 'Flagpoles for Textbooks' and can be found at http://www.vibewire.net/articles.php?id=2883
Arguments against school funding being tied to flying the Australian flag
1. This requirement trivialises the needs of schools
It has been claimed that tying funding to flag raising ceremonies in schools is an irritating and unnecessary diversion from the core responsibilities of educators.
Opposition parties and parent and teacher groups reacted by saying Mr Howard was ignoring the urgent needs of schools, including new classrooms.
The Opposition education spokesperson Jenny Macklin said, 'There is no question about the patriotism in our schools ... but what this minister gets wrong is the need for decent classrooms and the need for teachers to get the support from the commonwealth they so urgently need.'
Jenny Macklin has also said, 'This Government is actually more concerned about the condition of the flagpoles at our schools rather than the resources available to the children in our classrooms.'
A browser responding to the issue on the news.com.au website commented, 'The John Howard - Brendan Nelson education reforms can be likened to having a car with a busted engine and deciding to fix the scratch in the passenger side door. These are not the burning issues....'
Another browser noted similarly, 'And here I thought education reforms might focus on improving literacy and numeracy and other skills essential to living in modern society. Obviously I was wrong, and some metal poles and bits of cloth are far more important.'
It has further been claimed that schools should be entitled to Federal funding and should not be required to meet additional, essentially trivial, requirements in order to be given these monies.
South Australian Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the government was behaving "like a school bully with threats to cut funds".
2. The promotion of civic responsibility involves more than flags and anthems
The president of the NSW Secondary Principals Council, John McMillan, was insulted by remarks by the Prime Minister, John Howard, that public schools had "become too politically correct and too values-neutral".
"Student welfare programs, teacher codes of conduct, a commitment to the community, inclusiveness, a respect for the law and civic mindedness were all in strong evidence throughout the state's public schools," he said.
Mr McMillan has also sated, 'Children in government schools proceed through comprehensive programs centred around our Australian heritage. The Australian government has, since approximately 1996, developed a program entitled "Discovering Democracy", a resource that has been distributed to every Australian primary and secondary school. This resource seeks to support learning programs that will enable young people to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for them to take their place as effective and responsible citizens in the community. Students do learn about Australian heritage, they regularly sing the national anthem and acknowledge the Australian flag.'
A Sydney mother of two, Sarah Alexiou, has also been reported as disagreeing with Mr Howard. "The values I want taught are to accept everybody, be kind to everybody, get along in a group, be happy, feel safe and secure and hopefully learn something along the way. This is all provided at a public school."
3. Patriotism should not be imposed
It has been claimed that love of country is a spontaneous and freely given emotion which cannot and should not be prescribed.
In an editorial published on June 25 2004 The Adelaide Advertiser argued, 'One of the things which has defined the Australian spirit has been our relaxed attitude towards patriotism and religion.
We are the least extreme of all nations. Our national pride is devoid of jingoism.
We love our country to bits. There is no more wonderful place on earth to live. It is our "lucky country". We know this. It is in our blood and in our souls. We are secure in our sense of belonging and identity.
We don't need to ritualise it let alone make it compulsory. You cannot force love. It comes of its own accord.'
The Herald Sun in an editorial published on June 24 has also stated, 'Aussies have a reputation for larrikinism. Although we love our country we don't like the idea of compulsory patriotism or social engineering and are suspicious of anything that looks like zealotry...
Unlike Americans, Australians are often irreverent about national symbols. We place a high value on individualism and the right to be different.
Many Aussies are rightly proud of the flag and it has become a well-recognised symbol of Australia around the globe. Respect for the flag and the patriotism it conveys comes from the heart and Mr Howard's attempt to impose such core values is clumsy and unwarranted.'
Keith Locke, the Green Party Human Rights spokesperson has similarly claimed, 'The idea that patriotism can be legislated is absurd and outdated. Commitment to our nation must come from our hearts. It can't be dictated and enforced by the state.'
4. Monitoring compliance would be tedious and intrusive
It has been claimed that actually checking all state schools to ensure that they each have a 'functioning flagpole' and conduct a flag raising ceremony at least twice a year would be clumsy, intrusive and time-wasting.
The Herald Sun in an editorial published on June 24 has stated, 'The PM has not told us if he plans to have flagpole police searching out schools that fail the patriotism test.'
5. The flag flying requirement is populist electioneering
It has been claimed that in tying funding to flagpoles and flag-raising ceremonies the Federal government is essentially electioneering. According to this argument the Government is trying to gain a political advantage by stressing its concern for patriotism.
A spokesperson for the Victorian Government has stated that flag flying in schools is an election-year stunt. The spokesperson said, 'We'd invite the Prime Minister to visit a Victorian government school because he's obviously not aware of what's going on in Victoria.'
There are those who argue that the extent to which this requirement is an empty gesture can be seen by its redundancy. Labor's education spokeswoman, Jenny Macklin, said every school she had visited had a flagpole, flew the flag proudly and sang the national anthem. Critics claim that the Government's policy is thus self-serving and unnecessary.
Arguments in favour of school funding being tied to flying the Australian flag
1. Patriotism is a core value that schools should promote
"I think Australian parents would be amazed if schools didn't (fly the national flag)," Mr Howard said.
"I don't think that kind of symbolism is old fashioned at all, I think it's perfectly compatible with the attitude of Australians. The display of the national flag by Australians now is far more regular, far more visible, far more a part of life than what it was when I was 30 years younger.
There is a cultural change in relation to the display of national symbols and far from this being old fashioned, I think it is very compatible and very consonant with what people want."
Mr Howard has consistently claimed that state schools need to promote appropriate values and has previously suggested that one of the reasons why a growing number of parents are sending their children to private schools is that they believe these schools will provide better values education.
2. Love of country is a cherished value among young Australians
The Prime Minister has claimed that flag raising ceremonies are in accord with the values of young people.
Mr Howard has stated, "The younger generations embrace these things far more, may I say with great respect, than people aged between 35 and 50. Thirty years ago I wouldn't have wandered the shores of Gallipoli with an Australian flag draped around my shoulders ... but I tell you what, my children would and many of their friends do and ... that is why it is not trite and irrelevant and old-fashioned to say you've got to have a flagpole so you can fly the Australian flag."
3. Love of country should be promoted in a multicultural society
It has been claimed that as Australia become more culturally diverse it becomes more important that schools encourage key cultural values.
This point was made by a number of browsers responding to the issue on news.com.au. One browser noted, 'Yes, it is the time to bring the school education back to the common sense values that made Australia to achieve today's high wealth and status. I am a migrant from a non speaking English background with a school age boy and I find very strange the public schools reluctance to emphasize the Australian values, including the flag, anthem and maybe Christian values (even if I am not a church goer myself). Every Australian should be proud of what this country stands for and what it has achieved.'
Another browser commented similarly, 'I firmly believe that Australia needs to actively promote Australian values. We are multicultural and I actively embrace this but after all this is Australia and we are slowly losing these values. I am Australian and married to a migrant who loves this country and we both say good on you Mr Howard!'
4. Patriotism should not be confused with nationalism and jingoism
It is possible to love one's country without being aggressive toward other countries or dismissive of other peoples.
Numerous commentators from schools have noted that as part of their civics program they stress a love of country and also make students aware of their flag and national anthem. These values are completely compatible with a program that also teaches racial and cultural tolerance.
The president of the NSW Secondary Principals Council, John McMillan, has stated, 'Government schools are significant members of every local community. They are the bastions of Australian society that commemorate, reflect and acknowledge the many celebrations that are fundamental to Australian society - Australia Day, ANZAC Day, Easter and Christmas. Government schools also observe and accommodate the many celebrations of other cultures represented within the local school community.'
5. The flag-raising component is only a small part of a larger set of requirements
It has been noted that the media concentration on and criticism of the flag-raising requirement has ignored the many other features of the Government's initiatives.
When announcing the funding, Mr Howard stated, 'The important feature of the legislation, which I want to focus on today, is that the payment of that Commonwealth money will be conditional on government schools and independent schools and Catholic schools meeting certain requirements.
Firstly, the common starting age for schools in 2010.
Secondly, a minimum physical activity requirement of two hours a week for primary and junior secondary schools as an important measure in addressing childhood obesity.
Thirdly, greater national consistency in curriculum and testing standards in English, mathematics, science and civics.
Fourthly, better reporting to parents, including plain language reports on their own child's progress, reporting literacy and numeracy results against national benchmarks, and meaningful information on school quality including teacher qualifications and overall student outcomes.
And also, importantly, a national safe schools framework to help that schools are as far as possible free from bullying and abuse. And we'll also be stipulating as one of these conditions greater autonomy for school principals.'
These are the key requirements of the Government's program. The flag-raising requirement was mentioned later and is also a precondition that must be met before funding will be granted, but the initiatives outlined first are the primary requirements.
Supporters of the Government's program have noted that it was not the Prime Minister who stressed the flag-raising component for cheap political advantage. Rather the emphasis on this element was placed by the media.
Further implications
It has been interesting to note the media's emphasis on the federal Government's requirement that schools have a functioning flagpole and regularly have flag raising ceremonies.
In actuality this is only one of a number of requirements the federal Government wish to impose. Central to these requirements is the demand that teachers report to parents and students in a clearer manner. As part of this 'clearer reporting' teachers are to avoid the supposed 'poltically correct' imprecision which the Government claims is a feature of current reporting. Instead teachers are to rank order students, that is, indicate where an individual student's performance places him/her in relation to the rest of the class.
This is part of a growing trend to replace descriptive assessment with quantative assessment and then to use this numerical data to rank students. This is a major debate. On the one hand there are those who argue that descriptive assessments are vague and not meaningful for either parents or students. On the other hand there are those who maintain that all quantitative data enables is the ranking of students. For students seeking university entrance and other types of course admission this might be useful. It is claimed, however, that for younger students, all ranking does is foster potentially damaging competition among students.
Why has the media largely ignored this reporting requirement and focused on the relatively minor issue of flag raising. It is probable that editors and journalists judged the reporting requirements debate was too specialist to be of interest to the majority of the public. They appear also to have beleieved that the flag raising debate could be more easily used to grab popular attention. All the potential puns on 'flag' appear to have been irresistible.
Sources
The Age
23/6/04 page 1 news item by Guerrera, 'Schools told to fly the flag or lose cash'
24/6/04 page 4 news item by Guerra, 'Flags popular, say politicians who beat the drum for them'
24/6/04 page 10 letters including 'This is patriotism by blackmail'
24/6/04 page 14 editorial, 'The problem with flagging funding'
29/6/04 page 10 cartoon on flagpoles
The Australian
23/6/04 page 2 news item by Maiden et al, 'Howard's school plan up flagpole'
26/6/04 page 16 letters including 'All wrapped up in the flag'
The Herald Sun
23/6/04 page 2 news item by Harvey and Freegard, 'No flags, no cash, says PM'
24/6/04 page 18 editorial, 'Flag flying'