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Clr Chiang Lim
Address: Level 3, Council Chamber Building, Civic Place
PARRAMATTA, SYDNEY
NSW, 2150

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Home arrow Blog arrow Petition the NSW Government -- schools religious education is under threat

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Petition the NSW Government -- schools religious education is under threat

Toward the end of Nathan Rees’ time as NSW Premier, the NSW State Government began trials of ethics classes at the same time as Special Religious Education (SRE). During these trials, there was a 50%-60% decrease in student attendance in SRE classes.

 

Interestingly enough, the NSW Teachers Federation is also opposed to the secular ethics course because it reflects badly on its teachers’ teaching, undermining their efforts to incorporate ethical teaching into the curriculum.

The NSW Education Department's guidelines specifically prohibit the introduction of any courses in ethics, values or civics education that would replace religious education. In other words, religion is religion, not ethics.

For over 100 years, New South Wales has a proud tradition of recognising the valuable contribution religious education makes to society. Additional material on ethics is a welcome addition to the NSW education curriculum, but not to undermine SRE. It should be available to students who participate in SRE.

To read what others have to say about this issue, read the following links:

Exterminate bunnies or kill whales – Big questions for ethical children (Sydney Morning Herald, 7 December 2009): http://www.smh.com.au/environment/exterminate-bunnies-kill-whales-big-questions-for-ethical-children-20091206-kcyl.html

Godless ethics – ethics classes are pointless (The Australian, 1 May 2010): http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/godless-ethics-classes-are-pointless/story-fn562txd-1225860481656

Make a Stand: http://www.makeastand.org.au/campaign/index.stw?campaign_id=32

Too hot topics out of ethics (Sydney Morning Herald, 24 April 2010): http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/toohot-topics-out-of-ethics-20100423-tj40.html

The trouble with school ethics classes ( Eureka Street, 16 April 2010): http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=20694

Anglican Bishop enters battle against secular ethics classes (Sydney Morning Herald, 14 April 2010): http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/bishop-enters-battle-against-secular-ethics-classes-20100413-s7pp.html

You can't teach ethics without referring to Christianity ((Brigadier General) Jim Wallace, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 2010): http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/you-cant-teach-ethics-without-referring-to-christianity-20100409-rxai.html