A Uniform Decision: Community and Commemoration in Public School

On April 25 each year, Australia and New Zealand celebrate Anzac Day, honoring fallen defence personnel from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (the Anzacs) in the 1915 battle of Gallipoli during World World I. Many Australians and New Zealanders attend dawn services to commemorate Anzac Day and express their appreciation for defence personnel’s sacrifices that continue to this day. A part of in the national curriculum, many Australian schools hold their own commemorations, though school leaders and staff have discretion over what forms these events take. 

This fictional case study takes place in a public school in a high-poverty community that has recently seen an influx of refugee families seeking asylum in Australia. Principal Greg Sefton and his staff are struggling to find and develop new programs to support the refugee children, while maintaining learning and behavior support for struggling Australian-born students. Greg hopes that the upcoming Anzac Day commemorations at the school might help to build community among the many different groups. However, in planning this event, Greg must consider multiple perspectives and stakeholders, including veterans and their families who see Anzac Day as an important symbol of Australia’s national identity, as well his community liaison, who fears that refugee students may find an event commemorating military service triggering. How can Greg and his staff plan a celebration that is simultaneously traditional and inclusive?

While this case focuses on an Australian and New Zealand holiday, many countries around the world are reexamining national holidays in the face of changing demographics, culture, and national identity. This case raises important questions about the value and challenges of multiculturalism, the concept of national unity, the place of historical memory in current commemorations, and the role national events should play in both preserving tradition and welcoming new communities.

• Those unfamiliar with the holiday can learn more about the history and background of Anzac Day, including its importance in the New Zealand curriculum.
• This video portrays the State of New South Wales and the Returned & Services Leagues’ official  Anzac Day commemoration in 2022.
• Refugee communities face a variety of struggles, both in school and in the community. This article highlights both refugee families’ resilience and the challenges that they face in Australia.
• This article explores both critiques of Anzac Day’s place in modern Australian culture and arguments defending the holiday.