News | Apr 16, 2010 | 0 Comments

Save Our Scripture

In brief

• NSW Government trialling ‘Ethics’ classes in primary schools in competition with Scripture classes.
• Because they are being pitched to all parents, not just conscientious objectors, this could lead to the demise of Scripture in schools.
• Ethics classes should be rescheduled so they are available to all students, regardless of religion, leaving the Scripture classes in place.

Background
For over a hundred years, the NSW Government has recognised the important role religious instruction plays in a child’s education.
Religious instruction – provided by volunteers from all faiths – is an integral part of the NSW education system.
It has always been government policy that schools are not to schedule other classes or events that will compete with school scripture for a child’s attention.
In Term 2 – 2010, the Government is trialling a new ‘ethics’ syllabus to be run at the same time as school scripture. The government is hoping to roll out the syllabus state-wide next year.
Despite assurances made by the NSW Government, these classes have been advertised to students already enrolled in school scripture - click here.
Parents will now have to choose between sending their children to school scripture or to ethics classes.
It will not be possible for a child to attend both.
We are calling on the Government to reschedule the new ethics syllabus and make it available to all students, regardless of their faith.
Children shouldn’t be forced to miss out on such an important part of their education because of their religion.

Why does it matter?
Parents and their children should not be forced to choose between ethics classes and school scripture.
The more programmes the Government offers at the same time as school scripture, the fewer students who will be enrolled in scripture classes.
It also means that parents who would like to send their children to both school scripture and ethics classes will not be able to.

Take action now
We need your voice! We need local church members, pastors, scripture teachers and students to speak up and let their local MP know that school scripture matters.

Visit the Make a Stand website for details of the various ways you can make your voice heard…

See Also: Archbishop Peter Jensen: Ten reasons the ethics trial is not a good idea