I just spent my evening reading Fred Nile’s publication “Family World News” Volume 18 Number 9 (September 2011), which had been brought to my attention as a collection of objections to ethics classes. I was not surprised to find titles such as “Ethics Classes: The Case Against” and “Roll Back Children’s Philosophy Classes” but I was surprised by the apparent lack of knowledge and understanding of ethics classes.

The O’Farrell government has been ‘persuaded’ by Fred Nile to establish an inquiry into ethics classes. A committee will investigate “the stated objectives, curriculum, implementation, effectiveness and other related matters pertaining to the current operation of ‘special education in ethics’ being conducted in State schools, and whether the Education Amendment (Ethics) Act 2010 should be repealed.”

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 more…

While we wait to hear the Minister’s decision on ethics classes, this seems a good time to think back on why these classes are so important.

The Anglican Church encourages its followers to join P&Cs with the aim of increasing their voice on issues such as the introduction of ethics classes. This reveals not only a lack of understanding of the roles of P&C members but also a clear intent to influence the policy and direction of publicly funded schools.

The assessor’s report on the trial ethics course has been released, and is positive by any interpretation, except through the lens of the Christian lobbyist. The Minister is now calling for comments from the community before making her official decision and announcement.

Some Christian Church leaders are very noisy opponents of the ethics program. While their views have gained attention, they are not widely shared by other religious groups.

Some Christian groups who oppose the ethics program continue to show intolerance and disrespect for the views and wishes of others by twisting the truth to meet their own ends.

One of the concerns expressed about ethics classes is that children will be taught to think things through for themselves, and will not be told what is right or wrong. Is this concern justified, and how does this approach differ from that of SRE classes?

Abstract: In their campaign to stop ethics classes, some church organisations are resorting to scare tactics and blatant untruths in attempts to turn opinion against this choice for our children.