Media Release 29/06/2010

ETHICS CLASSES IN 2011

parents4ethics wants early decision

Ethics classes should be a permanent option for all NSW public primary school children from next year.

parents4ethics is urging the Education Minister, Verity Firth to make an early and positive decision following the independent evaluation, of the successful 10-week Ethics trial, in ten NSW primary schools.

parents4ethics is a recently formed group of parents from different regions in NSW, who represent parents who support this choice.

Spokesman for parents4ethics, David Hill, says that the ethics trial has been an “outstanding and unqualified success, and it should be permanently added to the mix of learning offered at the time of Special Religious Education (SRE/Scripture), so that children “opting out” will having a meaningful alternative to pursue”.

“It is all about giving parents choice”.

The former ABC Managing Director, whose son Damian, 9, attends his local primary school, stresses that parents4ethics is not advocating for the removal of SRE classes, but is asking that the estimated 20-25% of children who don’t attend scripture on a weekly basis be allowed to learn something in this time slot, and ethics is the preferred option.

“We think that the NSW Federation of P&C Associations and St James Ethics Centre have addressed the issue of discrimination that exists with the current DET policy. Currently children whose faith is offered at their school can discuss values, morals and ethics during SRE, while children of minority faith or whose faith is not offered at their school, do not have this same right. By introducing an ethics program, all children, regardless of their beliefs, will be able to discuss values, morals and ethics”.

“What we are asking for will in no way alter what the children of faith are currently doing on a weekly basis, they will still attend their scripture classes. Their lessons may even benefit from the ethics philosophies and curriculum that St James Ethics Centre has developed as it will be made available to the various scripture groups. It is then their decision on how to incorporate the ethics teaching into their current scripture programs.”
David Hill says that unless the State Government acts quickly, the opportunity to introduce permanent classes in 2011 will be lost.
Facilitators and coordinators of the trial ethics classes report that feedback from the children who have participated in the trial has been extraordinarily positive and most have expressed disappointment that from next term they will once again have to return to meaningless activities such as watching television or colouring in.

The trial has been hailed a “resounding success” by the ethics trial facilitators, the NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations and St James Ethics Centre.

Catherine Suttle, co-founder of parents4ethics, and mother of Lewis, 7, and Murray, 9, says “The current situation for children opting out of SRE, is discriminatory. We have the reasonable expectation that our children should have the same rights as those opting into SRE”.

Michele Corin, another parents4ethics co-founder and mother of Jack, 6, says. “it is incomprehensible that in 2010 an estimated 100,000 primary school students sit idle during SRE every week”.

“I do not understand why the churches are so committed to denying children the opportunity to learn ethics.”

For further information : Tara Thomas, 0417 457 048 or visit www.parents4ethics.org

For interview :

David Hill : 9399 9902 or 0412 197 375

Michele Corin : 0418 448 083

Catherine Suttle : 0415 436 557

parents4ethics – Background Notes

parents4ethics is a group of parents who share a common view that children not attending Special Religious Education (SRE) classes should be provided with an alternative. parents4ethics demand an end to discrimination in the public education system, where children who opt out of SRE classes are not allowed education or instruction on ethics, morals, values, or general religion. Parents from across the state are involved in making a difference to the current situation.

In NSW, children who do not attend Special Religious Education (SRE) are prohibited from any formal instruction during the time allocated to scripture. Every week it is estimated 100,000 children who opt out of attending SRE or scripture classes, have no option but to do meaningless activities.

In 2003, the NSW Federation of P&C Associations approached St James Ethics Centre to develop an ethics option which finally led to the approval of a pilot ethics program for primary school children who do not attend scripture classes. Late last year the pilot ethics program was given the green light by Verity Firth, the NSW Minister for Education. Ten schools are participating in the ethics pilot which will finish on 1st July. The response has been phenomenal.