A father claims his six-year-old son was given a colouring sheet containing politicised images and slogans about indigenous activism as part of his kindergarten schoolwork.
The father, who gave his name only as Donald, called Sydney radio station 2GB to say his son had brought home a colouring sheet with outlines of raised “black power” fists and a Torres Strait Island flag.
Also on the leaflet distributed by Central Coast Lakes Anglican High School in New South Wales were Aboriginal art motifs and the slogans “Australia has a black history!”, “There is no pride in genocide!”, “Close the gap!”.
Other slogans the children were asked to color included: “Stop Stealing Our Children!”, “Black Lives Matter!”, “Health Care!”, “Land Rights!”, “Justice!”, “Enough Lies!” and “Stolen Wages!”
Donald was perplexed by the fact that such adult messages were being given to five- and six-year-olds like his son.
“How is a six-year-old supposed to understand this?” she asked 2GB presenter Ben Fordham.
“What are they doing to our children? As parents, we feel like we have no voice and no one is held accountable.”
Donald said his young son, who is still learning to read, “had a lot of questions.”
“It just creates anxiety,” Donald said.
This colouring sheet promoting indigenous activism was reportedly distributed at a Sydney kindergarten.
“Whether they are problems or not is fair in these modern times, but how does a child process them? They are not at the point where critical thinking is developing.
“It might be more suitable for high school, if they allow critical debate in that particular school, but it’s certainly not suitable for elementary school children, especially younger ones.”
Donald confirmed there was also an issue earlier in the year when some parents questioned why the school had a general open barbecue for new and returning families, but a separate event solely for Indigenous students and parents.
“This ideology was really exacerbated by this Yes vote (in the Indigenous Voice referendum to Parliament), the division, the division of everyone by colour and heritage,” Donald said.
‘Instead of bringing people together, it is separating them.
“Indoctrination starts at a young age, I think they want to instill this anxiety in them.”
The school has defended the material, which was published as a nationwide teaching aid resource pack.
“The colouring sheet was part of the NAIDOC Week educational resources provided by the National NAIDOC Committee in 2022, which were used in many schools across Australia,” the spokesperson said.
‘Newcastle Anglican Schools support the use of NAIDOC-promoted material as part of our curriculum resources.’
The general instructions accompanying the material state: ‘The content can be used across multiple learning areas and stages/grades from Foundation Studies to Year 12.’
Lakes Grammar Anglican School has been contacted for further comment.
Earlier this month it was reported that a Sydney primary school was forcing students to sing “always was and always will be Aboriginal land” at the start of every assembly.
A six-year-old boy brought the sheet home with “a lot of questions,” according to his father (file image)
The school asked children to place their hands on the ground while repeating the words as part of an Acknowledgement of Country.
A mother from the Lower Blue Mountains region, who did not want to name the school, said “a lot of people” would not know what was happening.
Another parent confirmed that touching the ground had been a common practice for some time.
The mother said a modified national anthem featuring the didgeridoo and other wooden instruments was also used at the school, replacing the traditional version.
Last month it was reported in Victoria that Yarraville West Primary School in Melbourne has been forcing its pupils to sing a revised version of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at assemblies for six months.
The alternate version retains the original 1878 musical score, but the lyrics, except for the title, have been changed to acknowledge the history of Indigenous Australians.
Some parents questioned why Anglican school Central Coast Lakes Grammar (pictured) reportedly held a separate welcome barbecue for Indigenous families.
In the revised version, the opening lyrics read: “Australia, celebrate as one, with peace and harmony. Our precious water, land and sun, grant life to you and me.”
The modifications were made by Indigenous artists for the Dulwich Centre and Seekers singer Judith Durham in 2015.