Premier’s intervention unwelcome

Posted on November 25, 2009 
Filed under News

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney — Media Release

Wednesday November 25, 2009

Premier’s intervention unwelcome

The special intervention of the Premier Nathan Rees in announcing a trial of ethics classes as part of the Special Religious Education system is flawed and the Anglican Church is asking for the decision to be reconsidered.

“This proposal at first glance might not seem like a bad idea, but there are several inherent problems with the way this is being proposed,” says Bishop Glenn Davies, Chairman of the Anglican Education Commission.

“For the Premier to waive the regulations to enable a secular organisation to deliver its program at the same time as SRE sets a precedent for other groups to seek special access to school students,” says Bishop Davies.

“Among other things, it appears to be a vote of no-confidence in teachers. The values of truth and honesty are modelled each day in the classroom by teachers as well as in General Religious Education (GRE) that covers moral values across a variety of world views. Is there such an ethical hole in the current system? If so, then teach it as part of the curriculum rather than allowing a non-religious group to enter the realm of SRE.”

Special Religious Education, as it has been practised in our schools for more than 120 years, provides a valuable link with community groups – the local religious institutions. I can’t understand why the Premier doesn’t value that,” says Bishop Davies. “To give this group special treatment is not a way to build confidence in the public system.”

“I could understand parents being concerned if there were vast numbers of students left idle during SRE, but we do not believe that is the case. For students who do not participate, there are many ways that they are managed during SRE. It is a rare school where such students are not meaningfully engaged during this time. Teachers and SRE providers generally work well together.  In our case, we will continue to deploy 2500 voluntary teachers (trained, authorised and screened) each week. Churches and faith institutions are long established in the community, if this group wants accreditation as a religious body it should go through the normal processes.”

“I want to assure teachers that we support the job they are doing and the valuable co-operation between principals, school staff and religious groups that goes on every week all over New South Wales,” says Bishop Davies.

(Background: Non-religious ethics classes for NSW schools.)