Marxist/Gender Identity Ideologies Now Part of Australian Early Childhood Courses By Mrs Vera West
One of the reasons for keeping a close eye on the cultural develops of the United States, is that this culture, and its woke politics has a tremendous impact upon Australian society, usually for the worst, nowadays. It was once said that what happens in the US happens five years later in Australia, but with globalisation and information technology, things are now pretty much instant.
Thus, the US was subjected to the debate about woke Marxist gender identity ideologies, not only in the upper education sector, but for early childhood courses. And, now it is here in little old Australia. Did anyone ask you? They certainly did not ask me.
As detailed below from an account of one woman who wanted to become a childcare worker, she enrolled in an early childhood education course in
Gold Coast, but soon found out that study of woke Leftist ideologies such as gender identity theories, postmodernism, poststructuralism, racism, and
power struggles, was necessary components of her course. The idea that gender is a social construction, the foundation of the transgender ideology was present. According to one text: “"Educators can use instances of children crossing traditional gender
boundaries as opportunities to open up discussions about the limitations
of traditional gendered roles and the exploration of alternative
practices," "Educators can work with children to help them analyse their own play and gendered relations and to deconstruct dominant discourses." I am not sure of the meaning of that stuff myself, so who knows how teachers are going to apply this to young children, other than by political manipulation.
But, most importantly, should very young children be exposed to Leftist postmodern agendas, or any agendas in the first place?? I think not, but conservatives such as us are on the back foot now and minority voices against the regime. But, all things must pass, and this will as well.
“Critical theory is now a core component in early childhood education
university courses in Australia
By Nina Nguyen
8/18/2023
“Rhea*, 23, wanted to become a childcare teacher out of her love for
young children. She enrolled in an early childhood education course in
Gold Coast, hoping to learn about children's development, how to take
care of them and broaden their world through play-based learning.
She was expecting her student experience to be "practical." But one
month into her course, she found some of the content in the class confusing.
Gender identity theories, postmodernism, poststructuralism, racism, and
power struggles are now considered essential knowledge for preschool
teachers.
A compulsory reading for her course titled 'Programming and Planning in
Early Childhood Settings,' viewed by The Epoch Times, stated that
"identities, including what it means to be a boy or a girl, are socially
constructed."
In its section about gender, the book encouraged educators to "work with
children and families to challenge children's preconceptions" and "take
a critical perspective in analysing gender roles in popular media and
educational texts."
It also told educators to "understand how gendered roles are constructed
and how power relations impact on children's play and their social futures."
"Educators can use instances of children crossing traditional gender
boundaries as opportunities to open up discussions about the limitations
of traditional gendered roles and the exploration of alternative
practices," the book said.
"Educators can work with children to help them analyse their own play
and gendered relations and to deconstruct dominant discourses."
The Epoch Times understands the book is widely used as a textbook across
multiple university early childhood education courses in Australia,
including the Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University,
Deakin University, Charles Sturt University, Queensland University of
Technology and Swinburne University.
Early childhood courses are becoming increasingly popular with young
Australians and international students as the state and federal
governments channel more funding into the childcare sector to overcome
increasing staff shortages currently being experienced. In 2022, the
Commonwealth invested $1.84 billion (US$1.17 billion) over four years in
the sector under the Preschool Reform Agreement, while the New South
Wales (NSW) government invested $1.4 billion over four years under the
Affordable Preschool funding.
Post-structuralism and Gender Bending In Childcare Courses
There are also other materials given to university students studying to
be preschool teachers that raise concerns.
A core subject for an early childhood course in one university in Sydney
includes a stipulated textbook called "Play in the Early Years," which
has a chapter about how to implement post-structuralism in children's
learning.
It gives an example of a childcare teacher named Miriam Giugni, who
wrote about her experiences of "being an activist teacher," such as when
she "actively resisted the gendered perspective being put forward."
"When Miriam says she is an activist, she refers to her deep commitment
to issues of social justice," the book said.
"Miriam's centre educates 46 Australian children aged from birth to six
years. The staff represent a diversity of ethnicities, genders,
sexualities and qualifications."
The textbook quoted a post-structural theorist who argued that
children's play "is not always either fun or innocent, and can involve
politics."
"In terms of social justice, it doesn't matter whether it is
‘educational' or ‘free' play as it is still vested with relationships of
power."
To illustrate how teachers can put these theories into practice, the
book provided an example in which a childcare teacher shared her
approach when she heard a girl named Madison tell another kid that she
was a boy.
"Did she really say, ‘I'm not a girl! I'm a boy?' This is juicy data!"
the teacher is quoted as saying in her recollection of the book. "I have
to talk to Madison about her play. Why is she pretending to be a boy? I
wonder who else is a gender bender? How might I find out?"
The book suggested teachers can also apply critical and feminist
post-structuralist lense when creating play scenarios for children. For
example, teachers can read or role-play stories to "create different
endings from the common fairytale plot, where everyone lives happily
ever after if they get married."
"Children can also grow up and live happily ever after if they don't marry."
Another example is to adjust the storylines of the children's story
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in which the biggest bear is the father,
the middle-sized bear is the mother, and the smallest bear is the baby bear.
"New storylines can be created, such as mother bear being the biggest,
or two daddy bears and baby bear as the family unit or an emphasis on
gender-neutral bears."
Other teaching materials in early childhood courses viewed by The Epoch
Times also featured concepts of post-structuralism and post-modernism,
which branched out from cultural Marxism, a critical theory that views
society through the lens of class struggles.
Influence of Cultural Marxism
According to a special report by the Heritage Foundation, cultural
Marxism promotes the abolishment of Western tradition and norms "under
the pretence of social justice."
Instead of setting up conflicts between workers and capitalists as
classic Marxism does, cultural Marxism uses race and gender to drive
wedges between social groups.
"Cultural Marxism is thus a remodelled Marxism, a mutation. The cultural
Marxists' goal is not to improve the system, but to overturn the
existing social order entirely—which they consider to be an enforcer of
'white supremacy.'"
Meanwhile, Augusto Zimmermann, head of law at Sheridan Institute of
Higher Education, said Marxism also advocated for the abolishment of the
nuclear family.:
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