Towards an ethics-based complement to scripture in NSW primary schools

Presented by:
NSW Federation of P and C Associations
St James Ethics Centre

The need for change

Did you know that children whose parents make a conscientious decision to have them opt out of Special Religious Education (SRE) are prohibited from any form of instruction during this period? NSW Department of Education policy provides for the supervision of these children but specifies they are not to have access to 'ethics, values, civics or general religious education.'

Not surprisingly, many view the existing policy as socially and psychologically unjust — all students are entitled to meaningful instruction, ethical exploration and the associated benefits.

Based on mounting community interest and support, St James Ethics Centre, proposed a pilot project to test the concept of offering an ethics-based complement to scripture.

Minister Firth says YES! to trial an ethics-based complement to scripture

St James Ethics Centre welcomed the announcement on 25 November 2009 by Premier Nathan Rees approving its proposal to conduct a pilot program for an ethics-based complement to scripture in ten NSW primary schools.

More details regarding the Premier’s announcement are available here.

The Centre takes this opportunity to acknowledge the generous support it has received in relation to this initiative. We thank all those who have been part of the project so far and look forward to working with you in the future.

Project update

The ten week trial at ten NSW Primary schools is was completed in Term 2, 2010. Professor Phillip Cam from the University of New South Wales, an international expert in the teaching of ethics and philosophy to children, wrote the pilot curriculum that was delivered to around 530 children by 33 trained volunteers recruited predominantly from within each school community.

The Department of Education and Training (DET) has commissioned an independent assessment of the course. We hope the report will be handed to the DET and Minister Firth some time in Term 3, so that a decision about the future of an ethics program for children who opt out of SRE can be announced soon afterwards.

More information about the Ethics Pilot is available here.

What happens in ethics classes?

Get involved!

Email your local member and cc the Minister for Education and the NSW Premier in support of an optional ethics program for children who opt out of SRE. Learn more.

Have your say!

Join us on 17 November 2010 at the beautiful Angel Place City Recital Hall in Sydney for an open and spirited IQ2 debate on this issue. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to hear both sides of the argument presented in a fair and impartial public forum. At the conclusion of the debate, members of the audience are invited to step up and speak on the motion. Click below for more details and to purchase tickets.

 

 

 

Other ways to be involved...

• Please donate to the ethics-based complement to scripture project (see below).
• Join our discussion forum to discuss this issue.
• Visit the FAQ to learn more.

You can also find us on:

• Twitter
• Facebook

Watch videos about this issue

Dr Suzy Green Positive Psychology Institute	Howard Packer Rozelle Public P and C
Dr Simon Longstaff St James Ethics Centre

Make a donation to the project

If you wish to make a donation specifically for the Ethics Complement to scripture project, please use the donate button below.

Note that we use the services of Paypal to process your payments securely and that you can use either a credit card or a Paypal account if you have one.

nb. There is no need to set up an account or login to make a payment unless you have a Paypal account you wish to use.

Further information

Read articles addressing the issue of religious education in schools and St James Ethics Centre's proposal about the possibility of offering an ethics-based complement for students who opt out of scripture:

• Rationale for an Ethics-Based Complement to Scripture
• Submission to the Minister (PDF)
• Sign the petition! Add your name to the list of community endorsees advocating for a meaningful complement to scripture on our petition site
• Ethics in Education project overview
• Towards an Ethics-based Complement to Scripture - Living Ethics article
• Religious education in schools: A curious philosophy - article
• Pilot aims and outcomes (PDF)
• Frequently asked questions
• Ethics in schools - Living Ethics article
• Ten myths about the Ethics Complement to SRE - Living Ethics article
• Why I volunteered (by volunteer ethics teacher, Kate Lark) - Living Ethics article

Credits:

• Production of this web page: Andrew Hills, Stephen Isla
• YouTube production: Damien Smith
• Editor of this web page: Jane Riley
• Special thanks to Dr Suzy Green, Howard Packer and Dr Simon Longstaff