Teachers should not be permitted to spread propaganda in the classroom

On reading the anti-war material promoted by teacher unions, one searches in vain for any balanced recognition that Prime Minister John Howard might have a just case.

Also ignored is the argument that, such is the evil and destructive nature of Saddam's regime and the reality that international diplomacy has failed, that war is the only feasible option left.

That teacher unions have a closed mind on such issues is distressing. But of course, as parents should realise, the AEU and NSW Teachers Federation have never disguised their left-wing political bent.

Opposition to the war in Iraq is simply the latest in a long line of politically correct, ideologically driven causes championed by the teacher unions. The concern is that while political activism is a good thing, it should not cross over to the classroom; students should not be used as political pawns in issues they might not fully understand.

There are many teachers who are professional and impartial, but sadly, there are also many other teachers who cannot be trusted.

This left-wing bias among teachers, on issues like the war in Iraq, the environment, gender politics and multiculturalism, explains the results of a federal government-funded survey in 1998, in which 600 parents were asked about the teaching of civics and citizenship.

Sixty per cent said they were not confident that teachers could teach these matters impartially because, in the words of the survey report, "there is widespread concern that teachers are either not well-enough trained or professional enough to teach this program (civics) without bias".

Recent events have demonstrated that nothing's changed.