What will it take to get a national curriculum off the ground this time?

Having a common "syllabus" in subjects like history and civics would mean that all students, regardless of where they live, would learn about out political and legal systems and those important historical events and ideas that define what we are as nation.

Finally, not only would parents be able to find out, at the start of the year, what was to be taught in their child's school, but teachers in every school around Australia would not have to work hard at writing their own "syllabuses".

Whether curriculum developers in Australia adopt a "syllabus", a "standards" or an "outcomes" approach will profoundly affect what is taught, or not taught, in our schools over the next 10 to 20 years.

The responsibility is great and only time will tell if we get it right the second time around.