Australian students’ decline in academic achievement has eroded public confidence, according to this paper, which positions debating skills as a possible solution. The paper provides examples from centuries of writing, arguing that debating can cement knowledge across subject areas, enhance language proficiency and encourage thoughtful, articulate and confident civic engagement.

In the context of national reviews of curriculum and teacher education, this paper traces Australia’s history of policy instability in English literacy education and proposes strategies for improvements and greater accountability.