It seems as though the reactionary wing of the Christian church in Australia is up in arms again, fighting for rights that it may or may not have, while ignoring its defence of privileges it needs to constantly earn.
Are We Losing SRE in Schools?
In September 2009, the St James Centre for Ethics (SJEC) approached the NSW Minister for Education, the Hon Verity Firth, with a proposal for an ethics class to be offered to years 5 and 6 students whose parents have opted out of their participation in Special Religious Education classes (SRE). Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr Simon Longstaff, a 10-week program has been developed by philosopher Philip Cam of the University of NSW and will be trialed in 10 NSW public primary schools during term 2, which starts in April 2010.
Dr Longstaff insists that this “modest trial of a program would complement the core curriculum and [SRE]” and that the SJEC “simply wanted to support the claim by parents that all children be engaged in meaningful activity during the allotted period [allowed for SRE]”. The problem with these claims is that much of the material submitted for these ethics class —such as “bullying”, “telling the truth” and “fairness”— is already being covered in the general curriculum of the schools. Plus, with SRE being mandated by the 1990 NSW Education Act, this program will only truly “complement” SRE if it is offered to all students in a timeslot distinct from that legally reserved for SRE and not in competition with SRE.
Further to these issues, the ethics classes were only to be offered to students not already enrolled in SRE, as an alternative to doing homework in the library. In fact, the ethics classes have been promoted to all students, which is most likely the cause of the alarm.
Others much more competent than I have debated the various issues of Special Religious Education versus secularised ethics classes, arguments to which I wholeheartedly agree. However, there is one further point I think is being lost in this debate.
If it is indeed true that “the way ethics courses are being presented makes them sound new, sophisticated and exciting” and that enrolment in SRE classes will drop as a result, then the most logical course of action would be to promote the superior merits of SRE to parents over against the alleged merits of secular ethics classes.
Ethics is the study of “the moral principles governing or influencing conduct” and secularists cannot be allowed to pretend that such influence occurs in a vacuum. One’s choice to behave this way or that is inherently based on a value judgement. Those principles are taught either intentionally by parents, schools or churches, or unintentionally by friends, television, magazines or video games.
Therefore, it behoves the SRE administrators and teachers to promote the value of these classes in providing a solid foundation for the values and behaviours of a child based on biblical principles. Secular ethical principles are not neutral, just different. Of course, some parents may not want their sons or daughters to learn biblical principles and that is their right enshrined in the law of the state. They can best make that decision, however, when they have all of the information about each alternative available to them, rather than being left with little but conjecture.
The supporters of SRE classes would do well to remember though that, while SRE is enshrined in the laws of the state, those can be changed at any time. Rather than militantly oppose, we need to keep in mind that the provision of SRE is not a right but a privilege.
Indeed it is true that much of Western civilisation, including Australia, owes a debt of gratitude to the Christian religion and its influence on legal, cultural and political development in the West. However, Western civilisation will only remain grateful as long as promoters of the Christian worldview do so with gentleness, patience and respect. Highlight the valuable contribution that the Christian religion continues to make to Australian society today alongside our remembrance of foundation for Australia’s heritage.
Parents will only continue to withdraw their children from Special Religious Education classes if they no longer see the value of a Christian worldview for their child’s development. Parents, educational and government officials will no longer include the Christian worldview if its promoters continue to be closed-minded and mean-spirited. Then indeed we will lose the cause because we will not have promoted that cause well. And that would be a shame for everyone.
