Australia Day 2024: Parent’s outrage after discovering kids as young as three were told not to celebrate the national day at Wollongong childcare centre
An angry parent has lashed out at an Aussie childcare center for teaching toddlers as young as three not to celebrate Australia Day.
The childcare center near Wollongong in Sydney’s south told children that January 26 is “not a day to celebrate”.
The center explained in a letter posted at the facility in January 2023 that the move is part of “learning our Preschool Acknowledgment to Country.”
“We have made it a real priority to ensure that the children understand that January 26 is not a day to celebrate, but rather to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (sic) as the first people in Australia,” the letter said. .
“We recognize that we need to do better, and we need to learn from and listen to Aboriginal people as we move towards reconciliation.”
The center explained in a letter posted at the facility in January 2023 (pictured) that the move is part of “learning our Preschool Acknowledgment to Country.”
Fr Matt from Corrimal in north Wollongong, whose three-year-old daughter attends the children’s centre, closed the letter.
He told 2GB radio host Chris O’Keefe on Thursday that he was left in disbelief by the letter and feared other childcare centers in NSW could also be teaching children not to celebrate the holiday.
“That’s what I’m concerned about, if it’s widespread in all childcare settings,” he said.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me because they are one, two, three year old children.”
A concerned father told 2GB radio host Chris O’Keefe on Thursday he was left in disbelief by the letter and feared other childcare centers in NSW could also be teaching children not to celebrate the holiday (stock image)
Another father who sends his four-year-old son to another childcare center in Sydney’s northwest said the teacher of his son’s class told the children that Australia was a country stolen from Aboriginal people.
The teacher then compared the stolen land to another class who stole their classroom without asking.
NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car told the radio program she was concerned about the childcare center’s actions.
“Classrooms and early learning centers … are not places for that kind of political speech,” she said.
‘Australia Day is a day to celebrate.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the minister for further comment.
The center is considered a privately owned and operated educational facility.
Under NSW Education Policy, material on controversial issues presented to students as part of school programs and school activities must be age appropriate, relevant to the curriculum and take into account the needs of the students.
Under NSW Education Policy, material on controversial issues presented to students as part of school programs and activities must be age appropriate, relevant to the curriculum and take into account the needs of the student (stock image)