by Cheryl Lacey, ©2021
(Nov. 11, 2021) — Our life begins with two biological parents. Our life ends alone. In the middle we change, through teaching. We become educated.
Education is a lifelong pursuit where the mistakes, achievements and wisdom of so many, intersect with our own.
And the language in our conversations, and the relationships we have determine our educational outcomes. Desired or otherwise.
This is our greatest educational challenge. What is it that we desire?
To answer this question, perhaps we must first agree on who we are and what we want to become.
Allow me the privilege of sharing something to ponder.
Who we are is Australian, and what we want to become, sooner rather than later, is a beacon of hope for faith in the Australian family.
For some time now, children have been mesmerised by a false narrative in education that has undermined this purpose.
We’ve been shuffled towards a dangerous relationship with socialism, that has brought nothing but instability, relinquishment of responsibility, and greed.
We’ve lost sight of the value of the English language. Verbal attacks have replaced robust conversations. Our remarkable history has been tarnished with the intent to destroy.
Just as concerning is that concept creep has become the new educational philosophy where claims of mental health issues, harassment, discrimination, and the looming end of the world, are used to avoid responsibility and ownership of the consequences of choices made. This above all else undermines Australian education.
We are all perfectly imperfect.
So to suggest that it’s OK, to say no to learning from our mistakes, is the greatest travesty that pierces a child’s heart and soul.
Are we now at the tipping point? Do we flourish or do we fail?
I believe we can flourish.
The most powerful person in Australia isn’t our Prime Minister.
The most powerful person is you.
Your knowledge and experience. Your mistakes and your wisdom are where faith in family resides.
Parents are responsible for raising and educating their children.
It is parents that must come first in learning how to teach, how to learn, and how to seek a hand up instead of a handout.
Of all the things I know to be absolutely true is that everything I’m taught today is confirmation of how little I knew yesterday.
But from what I have read, as a mother and educator – and believe me I am no expert…
I can see no statement in any constitution that says parents do not have the responsibility to raise and educate their children.
It seems that it was a given. And at some point a false narrative began, where the responsibility for raising and educating children belonged elsewhere.
So trust me when I say don’t trust me.
I need you to do your homework. I need you to find out if what I am saying has any merit.
I need you to be the most powerful person for your children, so that they can flourish with the knowledge and security that the future of Australian education is in the faith of the Australian family.