NEWS RELEASE

11 September 2010

O’Farrell should listen to parents

parents4ethics wants the NSW Liberal Opposition to clearly state where it stands on the question of ethics classes being offered in NSW state schools as an option to Special Religious Education (Scripture).

Spokesperson David Hill welcomed Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell’s commitment to assessing the evaluation currently being made of the recent ethics trial in NSW primary schools.

However, Mr O’Farrell told ABC Television that he doesn’t favour ethics classes and is critical of the manner with which the assessment process had been established.

David Hill says these comments pre-empt the evaluation process.

“Mr O’Farrrell must answer to the parents of 100,000 children who opt out of scripture classes each week and for him to respond to the 75 P&C Associations which, in the last two months, have voted to support the introduction of ethics classes.”

“P&C’s across the state have voted either unanimously or overwhelmingly in favour of the introduction of ethics classes, and I call upon all political leaders to listen to what parents want for their children, ” he said.

Mr Hill says ethics classes, where children discuss fairness, lying and the importance of always telling the truth, is a far more attractive option that the current situation where those who don’t go to religion are forced to watch videos, sit in the library or find some other way to occupy themselves.

parents4ethics is a group of parents who share a common view that children not attending Special Religious Education (SRE) classes should be given an option. They have called for an end to the discrimination in the public education system that prevents children from non-religious families and children whose faith is not taught at their school from participating in any other meaningful learning during this period.

parents4ethics encourages Mr O’Farrell to meet with parents from the group so that he can better understand the viewpoint of tens of thousands of NSW parents.

For further information or to talk to local/regional parents please call :

Tara Thomas 0417 457 048 or visit parents4ethics.org

For interview :
David Hill 9399 9902 or 0412 197 375