Save Scripture in Schools

I heard the gospel when I was in yr 7 at high school. And that's when I started following Jesus. I was 13 years old when the scripture teacher at my school prayed with me one lunch time. So I praise God that Scripture gets taught in our schools, and that the door is still open for the gospel. But it might not be for much longer. Please read and act, cheers Chris.

2 Big Things

1. Let’s Keep it going
There is a push for Ethics classes to be scheduled at the same time as Scripture, forcing parents to choose. We need to act now to give as many kids as possible the chance to hear about Jesus. See below for more info.

2. Let's Get it started!
There's no scripture being taught at Forster or Tuncurry high school campuses.
Pray for an open door!

Ethics vs Scripture?

For over 100 years, NSW governments of all persuasions have recognised the important role that religion plays in our society. Accordingly, a regular period of religious education has been a key component of the education curriculum in public schools.

Religious education in NSW is currently divided into two categories.
i) General Religious Education (GRE) provides students with a general knowledge of major world faiths and is taught as part of the Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) syllabus. GRE instruction is carried out by school teachers.
ii) Special Religious Education (SRE) provides students with a detailed education in the tradition or faith of their parents’ choice. SRE education is provided by representatives from local religious organisations. Students can also opt out of religious instruction.

Current NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) policy states that:
Schools are to provide appropriate care and supervision at school for students not attending SRE. This may involve students in other activities such as completing homework, reading and private study. These activities should neither compete with SRE nor be alternative lessons in the subjects within the curriculum or other areas, such as, ethics, values, civics or general religious education. When insufficient teachers or accommodation are available, the school’s policy on minimal supervision will operate.

Ethics Trial

Last year, then Premier Nathan Rees, announced a trial of ethics classes to be offered to students who had opted out of SRE. The trial commenced in Term 2, 2010. An initial syllabus was developed by the St James Ethics Centre (SJEC is a secular institution). The syllabus spans 10 weeks and covers the following subject areas; “fairness, lying, ethical principles, graffiti, the use and abuse of animals, interfering with nature, virtues and vices, children’s rights, and the good life.”

Last term, a letter prepared by SJEC was distributed to primary school children in years 5 & 6 advertising the pilot programme. This letter is addressed to all students, “regardless of whether they currently ‘opt out’ of Scripture/SRE or not.” This is in contravention of assurances given by the government to the church that the new syllabus would not be offered to students already enrolled in SRE.

This places the SJEC ethics classes in direct competition with school scripture and is contrary to DET policy.

Ethics vs Scripture?

While extra attention to ethics may be a welcome addition to the school curriculum it should not compete with SRE. Parents should not be forced to choose between the ethical instruction their children receive in school scripture classes and the government’s syllabus. A more appropriate place for this material to be incorporated would be in time allocated for GRE. This would offer a true compliment to scripture classes and would immediately solve the problem.

Action to take?

1. Get informed
Make a stand website - www.makeastand.org.au

2. Pray
that the ethics trial would either be cut;
or that any ethics classes won’t get run parallel (in competition) to SRE

3. Write to local MP telling him why it matters to us
link is on www.makeastand.org.au (takes 5 minutes)

4. Sign petition at church or online
We are calling on the Government to reschedule the new ethics syllabus (not in competition with SRE) so it’s available to all students, regardless of their faith.

5. Teach SRE while we can
Get involved! Get trained!

6. Give money
CoastEC has set up a tax deductible ‘Scripture Fund’
You can donate on our website in the partner section - http://www.coastec.net.au/give/