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5.5.2 Discourses of loyalty through flags, symbols and national icons.
Loyalty by honouring the symbolism of national flags features significantly across a number
of textbooks. Two examples, both from textbooks published post-WWI are included here to
demonstrate the acculturation of school students to display loyalty not just to the Australian
flag, but also to the flag of Great Britain. The Queensland School Readers: Book I
(Department of Public Instruction, 1933) provides an illustration of British heritages focused
on two narratives in the book. One is about the flag of Great Britain and the other about the
Australian flag. They are included for joint analysis as a way to demonstrate the linking of
these two discourses within a Queensland published textbook. How these narratives are
presented to school students is illustrated in Source 5.4. After an historical overview of how
the Union Jack (flag of United Kingdom) was formed; being a result of combining the flags
of England, Scotland and Ireland into one (Wales, as a principality within the country
England, is not represented); the following conclusion is made for the students, as a way to
mediate the moral message of honouring flags.
In all times the flag of a country has been dear to the people of that country; they
have fought for it, and died for it. The flag of a country stands for the country itself,
and those who insult the flag, insult the people.
Boys and girls in our sunny land, no less than those in other parts of the
Empire, should love and honour the Empire’s flag, and be ever ready to defend it.
(Department of Public Instruction, 1933, p. 72)
Considering Queensland Readers were written specifically for Queensland school students
and no other audience 8 the conclusion of the Reader encourages students to “love and honour
the Empire’s flag” (Department of Public Instruction, 1933, p. 72). By this argument,
students are encouraged to develop a love for the Empire, legitimizing Great Britain as the
superior nation. Furthermore, honouring and loving the flag is overtly linked to defending the
Empire. This is supported by one sentence in paragraph eight and the ending of the narrative
in paragraph nine (see Source 5.4), which reads: “...they have fought for it and died for
it...and be ever ready to defend it” (Department of Public Instruction, 1933, p. 72). National
pride or patriotism through the symbolism of the flag is emphasised, “the flag of a country
8 That is, they weren’t used in any other Australian states or overseas, unlike their predecessors, The Royal
Crown Readers (1912) and The Century Readers (c.1904) also known affectionately as Blackies Century
Readers after the publisher
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