In 2000, Paula Wriedt, the Tasmanian Minister for Education, gave instructions for her department to begin the development of a K to 10 statewide curriculum, soon to become known as the Essential Learnings Framework, or simply, ELs. The curriculum was an integrated one, doing away with traditional subjects, or disciplines, such as mathematics, science, English and history, and replacing these with an integrated, enquiry-based curriculum underpinned by constructivist pedagogy. This was the first attempt in Tasmania at a statewide K to 10 curriculum, and the first attempt at major system-wide curriculum change for nearly twenty years. Essentially, ELs was a political, as much as an educational initiative. Following six years of intensely public outrage and hostile public discourse, its demise closely followed the failed political fortunes of its political architect--Paula Wriedt. The ELs saga had far reaching implications, going beyond simply the curriculum content and pedagogy for Tasmanian schools. A list of references and endnotes is provided.