Pat Grant

Lecturer, University of South Australia

Shaping New Kinds of Citizens:
What Can We Learn from Analysing Historical English Curriculum Documents?

Abstract

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century debates about literacy and the literacy levels of the populace have frequently been tied to the economic health of the nation. Programs of reform including the development of new English curricula have been a response to these debates The subject English has historically been at the centre of the curriculum in the Australian public school system. It is therefore an important site for examining how future citizens might be shaped. This paper analyses how the English student subject is being constructed in the current South Australian English curriculum at year 10 and in the 1943 year 10 English syllabus. It explores the continuities and discontinuities between then and now. This paper draws on methodological perspectives and resources of curriculum history as well as historical approaches related to the work of Michel Foucault.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

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Country
Australia