We must not teach our children a ‘thanks for the land’ version of Australian history

‘Without knowing the truth, children jump to their own conclusions about why some people are poor and others are not; why some people are angry while others are happy.’ Photograph: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian

As the school term winds up here in Western Australia, I’ve been thinking a lot about assemblies.

I’ve spent a lot of time in schools running creative learning programs, so I’ve attended my fair share of gatherings filled with twisty kids sitting cross-legged on the floor with their teachers shushing me. There is something gorgeous in the way they peer around one another, curious about what the week’s performance will be.