Alan Tudge’s understanding of our history deserves a fail

Recently, SCEAA members Keith Heggart, Peter Brett and Sophie Fenton published a response to claims made by the Federal Education Minister, Alan Tudge, about History and Civics and Citizenship. It begins:

The Federal Minister for Education Alan Tudge says the draft History and Civics and Citizenship curriculum is not up to scratch. According to a letter seen by The Australian newspaper, Minister Tudge has suggested that the draft curriculum ‘diminishes Australia’s western, liberal and democratic values’. According  to Tudge, the curriculum provides a negative view about western civilisation placing emphasis on ‘slavery, imperialism and colonisation’. 
He’s not happy with any of Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s (ACARA) draft curriculum but history came in for a belting.
Tudge also suggested that there has been an effort to remove or reframe historical events, emphasising ‘invasion theory’ over Australia Day. In addition, he is also concerned that Anzac Day is presented as ‘a contested idea, rather than the most sacred of all days’.
His comments are of particular concern to the Social and Citizenship Education Association of Australia (SCEAA).
You can read the rest of the blog here.