NSW public schools still pushing scripture?
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009I just received a link to this article from my sister, and have to admit I’m kind of shocked that this is even an issue (I actually thought they weren’t encouraging religious propaganda in public schools any more, especially not in a way that disadvantaged the religiously unaffiliated).
Did you know that children whose parents make a conscientious decision to have them opt out of Special Religious Education (SRE) are prohibited from any form of instruction during this period? NSW Department of Education policy provides for the supervision of these children but specifies they are not to have access to ‘ethics, values, civics or general religious education.’
Not surprisingly, many view the existing policy as socially and psychologically unjust — all students are entitled to meaningful instruction, ethical exploration and the associated benefits.
Based on mounting community interest and support, St James Ethics Centre, has proposed a pilot project (PDF) to test the concept of offering an ethics-based complement to scripture. The proposal awaits the approval of the Hon Verity Firth, NSW Minister of Education and Training.
It’s such an underhanded trick to push religion like this; pretending that you are offering a choice when the choice is between talking about Jesus and doing nothing.
Sign the petition encouraging Minister Firth to say yes!
November 10th, 2009 at 11:50 am
It’s certainly a huge challenge to promote truth and goodness without the big stick of a deity to beat the little buggers with - especially if one doesn’t invoke Santa/Easter Bunny etc.
I’m all for this.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
the rationale behind not teaching students who aren’t doing scripture anything is that it would disadvantage those taking the scripture class as they would ‘fall behind’ if the non-scripture kids did, for example, extra maths during this time. This doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be some secular class (like ethics) offered as an alternative.
Where my daughters go to school, it is quite common for non-religious parents to enrol their children in a different sect’s class each term (anglican this term, Judaism the next etc.).
Apparently studying comparative religion as a child is a really good predictor of atheism in later life :)
November 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Although I/we had considered the one religion per term approach I found it conceptually lacking. I certainly couldn’t call it the equivalent of a study in comparative religion. Serial indoctrination? Also seems a bit condescending to people who actually follow that faith - “hey I’m just here to check things out, you guys just do your thing, ok?”
Also I felt that it didn’t really address my concerns with having scripture taught as a separate subject at a public school in the first place.
As far as I’m concerned religion is a subject best covered in social studies.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
schooling continues to be the lowest common denominator…. very sad…
November 10th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
yes i was rather surprised at the beginning of the year to discover that not only was there no ‘comparative religious studies’ (I’d quite like my kids to know what other people believe, and to get a true sense of the variety of those beliefs) but that the school was legally unable to offer such a thing. I also have an issue with one religion/term option (for similar reasons to those expressed above). Go ethics I say!!! Sign the petition!!! R’s school is in the pilot study and has MANY students who currently get herded off for ’singing’ when SRE is happening.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I’m a bit confused about the ethics-based complement to scripture. Why are you promoting it?
November 10th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Ideally there would be no state-allotted time at all for Scripture, but failing that it is only reasonable to offer a secular/humanist alternative.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I used to think that “Scripture Time” would be well served by “critical thinking” type studies - On re-examination that’s not really a very fair alternative to religious studies and quite possibly excludes the students that may most benefit from it [those immersed in strong religious practice].
If religion[s] has/have one claim that is not based on magical thinking it’s that it/they promote a strong moral/ethical code. Therefore I find it very satisfactory that in place of religious indoctrination students are offered studies in ethics. This way if the religious types have a beef with it then there can be no claims of special treatment or “extra” curriculum.
The real bonus is naturally that even basic study or examination of ethics is rooted completely in critical and logical thought and promotes a world view that is both inclusive and yet interrogative.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:14 am
At my current high school most kids (maybe 70%) opt out of scripture to play handball for the period. You can’t blame them for taking advantage of the ‘free’ time. Kids don’t want more instruction and are glad for the break. If parents want religious lessons they can teach it themselves or send them to an appropriate school. Though this wouldn’t happen at Primary school where kids are less independent in their choices.
If ethics is taught whose going to teach it without some bias? Teachers teach ethics regardless and the curriculum provides enormous scope for comparative religious instruction across subjects.
The curriculum is crowded enough already. At the same time, I don’t think scripture is that harmful. Kids are generally savvy enough to see through the bullshit and pick and choose where they see fit. You could argue the emphasis in a number of areas is skewed and questionable.
November 29th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I was savvy enough to know that scripture was a lo after a few years of resistance they sent me to the non scripture class that involved watching someone play Simcity 2000 on the computer (they did not have many computers in those days). I would like my kids to learn about logic and ethics and all that jazz but if they are still pushing religion I’ll have to teach my children myself.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I came at this thinking about my own kids, but I’ll do my best to give them balanced perspective at home and they’ll come out ok I’m sure. . . . As RichardN point out though it’s the kids who are only exposed to a narrow view at home that really need school to broadern their perspecitves.