Coalition folds in ethics class battle:
THE state opposition has dumped its promise to remove ethics classes from NSW public schools if it is elected, as 57 schools prepare to start teaching the new course within weeks…
In November the opposition education spokesman, Adrian Piccoli, said a Coalition government would remove the classes being offered in schools as an alternative to special religious education, or scripture classes… ”We voted against the legislation, so once the legislation passed through the Parliament there was a recognition that ethics classes are going to be in place,” he said. ”The view was it has been legislated and we are going to allow them to continue. The battle over ethics classes is finished and we will be part of it.”
Note to commenters: Hoyden has had fairly long discussions of the ethics classes before, see related posts below. Many commenters here (of course, not all) would probably ultimately rather see SRE abolished entirely and religious education designed for adherents or potential converts conducted privately out of school hours, and ethics and non-adherent religious studies treated as a regular part of the curriculum (as they already are to some extent).
Lauredhel had some interest comments on my last thread:
- The impact of exclusion on children in the 5–8 age range
- A collection of links with stories of children excluded and/or shamed as part of being opted-out of Special Religious Education
If anyone reading knows a child attending the ethics classes starting this term, it would be interesting to hear their experiences. (Privacy concerns permitting of course.)
Oh good! That makes me feel a bit better about tackling the task of getting the classes started up at my son’s school. I’ve volunteered to co-ordinate, need to find someone to teach it, and also deal with any red tape.
But that was their only policy.
Guess it’s in the “bottom drawer” now.