Democracy – and how to get it
10 Jun 2008
Carey’s Middle School will launch its inaugural Civics Week program on Monday 23 June in an Assembly. The guest speaker, Phil Cleary, a former independent MP in the 1990s, is the first in a list of speakers who will provide individual perspectives on the focus of the program: concepts of democracy, forming opinions on a range of current issues, and living and participating as an active citizen within a community.
- Monday 23 June 8.50-9.20am: Phil Cleary, former independent MP 1992-1996
- Tuesday 24 June 11.10-11.30am: Josh Cusack, General Secretary of the University of Melbourne Student Union in 2007
- Wednesday 25 June 1.10-1.30pm: Corinne Grant, Comedian and delegate to the 2020 Summit
- Thursday 27 June 10.45-11.05am: Les Twentyman, AO, social worker and community activist from Open Family Australia, and representatives from the Salvation Army, St Vincent De Paul and the Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning program.
- Friday 28 June 8.30-8.50am: Luke Tobin, Bellevue Ward Representative on Boroondara Council
- Friday 28 June 11.30-11.50am: Petro Georgiou, Federal Liberal MP for Kooyong
- Friday 28 June 1.45-2.05pm: Anna Burke, Federal ALP MP for Chisholm
Civics is a Year 9 subject in Middle School. Project work will require research using a range of resources and media. A work book prepared by Civics Week co-ordinator Cathie Hillman explores the birth of democracy in Australia as represented by the Eureka Stockade, immigration and citizenship, the electoral and parliamentary processes and federation. Each topic refers to legislators, activists, artists and media from the relevant era.
The program will include an ‘election campaign’ in which the ten Houses will represent political parties, the elected ‘leaders’ of which will wear business attire for the rest of the week and be required to campaign on behalf of their party and address a Middle School Assembly attended by Year 7 and 8 students as well as Year 9.
Activities include sitting the Australian Citizenship Test, and using local newspapers to research an issue of interest to them and write to the local Member of Parliament about it.
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