Final blog entry

What a pleasure it is to be able to say that we now know ethics classes will be introduced as an option for children not attending scripture classes in NSW public schools. It was not much to ask, surely, that a secular option should be offered for children attending publicly funded schools, but it generated a great deal of fuss and fierce opposition, as evidenced by various links and postings on this site. In the end, however, the strength of public opinion was expressed by the usually quiet majority, and the NSW Minister for Education, Verity Firth, announced that, having read the positive evaluation of the trial ethics classes, those classes would become available in public schools across the state.

It is worth remembering that this has happened after several years of lobbying by parents throughout NSW. In the public school system, children and their parents are asked to choose a scripture class to attend each week for up to one hour. The class is based on one religion and taught by a volunteer from that religious group. Children are allowed to opt out of the classes, but until recently state policy prevented those children from being taught during that period, with the result that children opting out would watch television, read quietly, colour-in, all with basic supervision but no teaching. The system was a hangover from the days when public schools were handed over by the Church of England to the state government, with the proviso that a regular period would be set aside for scripture. Note that during those periods children did not learn about religion. No, these were periods spent with the representative and believer of one religion. More than this, any children not wishing to attend would be denied any teaching during that time. This, in a school funded by the general tax-paying community, by the parents of those children and of course by the children themselves in later life.

So, concern by parents was not surprising, and the parents expressed that concern. The issued was aired publicly in 2005, when the Bateman’s Bay P&C voiced their concerns to the NSW Federation of P&Cs about the discrimination inherent in the system. The Federation took these concerns to the St James Ethics Centre, who agreed to support the parents in their efforts to change the system. Thankfully, the rest is history, and is described elsewhere on this site. “Primary Ethics” was formed by the St James Ethics Centre in late 2010, and this group is now coordinating ethics classes to be offered to children in years 5 and 6 (having been trialed in 2010) at all NSW public primary schools where volunteers are available and children want to attend the classes. The group is also developing curricula for children in earlier years, to be trialed and later made available to those children across the state.

Of course, even after the Ministerial nod there have been political games around this issue. Leader of the Opposition, Barry O’Farrell insisted that if his party wins the next state elections (March 2010) he would reverse the policy decision. Following this announcement, Verity Firth, to her enormous credit, made the offering of ethics classes a legal requirement in the NSW public school system. However, realising the enormous weight of public opinion behind the ethics classes, and that opposing them may be a rather risky career manoevre, O’Farrell changed his mind and stated that he would not oppose them if voted in (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/christians-vent-anger-after-opposition-abandons-promise-on-ethics-classes-20110203-1afjh.html). So, they are in the NSW state education system to stay. What a fantastic outcome, the result of a body of parents and non-parents, with and without religion, expressing their concern and outrage about a discriminatory system that existed for too long. The system was held in place by politicians who used it as a tool to satisfy Churches. They no doubt thought they were also pleasing the voting public, and this would have been true for many years, but not now.

As with many true stories, this one highlights several flaws and strengths in our society. For example, it illustrates the stronghold that Churches have on government policy. Whether this is considered a flaw or a strength would depend on the reader’s opinion, but most readers surely would consider it a serious flaw. Anyone who doubts that such a hold exists should read the history of scripture classes and the introduction of ethics classes. The Churches’ fight to keep this particular aspect of their hold has been fierce and dirty, as described on this site. It has also, of course, been lost, which highlights a strength. Many people for and against the introduction of ethics classes have committed a great deal of time and energy to expressing their concerns and their outrage, making sure their and other voices are heard. Those people thought that in the end they might be heeded, and they were right. The issue was discussed and debated widely, and ultimately was addressed by a change to state law. This surely illustrates the power of public opinion and its expression, and the value of well-informed public debate.

The very large number of people who have taken various forms of action on this issue include those who have written or spoken to their MP, voted in favour of ethics classes at their P&C meeting, and raised awareness of the issue by talking or writing to a wide range of individuals, groups and media outlets. Thank you to the thousands of people across NSW who made themselves heard about this issue and have contributed to this legislative change for the children of NSW.