Ethics in schools a good thing
Recent trials of ethics classes in 10 NSW government schools attracted criticism from the church and much public debate but were declared “a resounding success” by the Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations of New South Wales.
Designed as a secular alternative to in-school scripture classes, these ethics classes would provide students who do not attend Scripture an opportunity to explore ethical issues in class from a non-religious perspective. The ethics program was instigated by the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of New South Wales and St James Ethics Centre (SJEC).
Participants in the pilot program included Randwick, Darlinghurst, Crown Street, Rozelle, Haberfield, Ferncourt, and Leichhardt public schools.
The P&C Associations from public schools not involved in the pilot program, including Clovelly, Rose Bay, Balmain, Summer Hill, and Ashbury, have voiced their support by sending letters to the NSW Education Minister Verity Firth.
Di Giblin, head of NSW P&C Federation is urging all P&C’s to try and pass this motion. In less than a week, 10 or so schools have sent letters of support, and Bondi Public and Double Bay Public schools have flagged that they will discuss the issue at their next P&C meeting.
Parents have been proactive, with a website parents4ethics.org, recently launched by a group of parents who support the ethics program.
Current Department of Education and Training (DET) policy stipulates that students who do not attend Scripture must not engage in learning activities that cover areas including “ethics, morals, civics or general religious education” during weekly Scripture classes. It is estimated that one in four NSW primary school students “opt out” of Scripture classes, and many spend this time watching television or reading.
Students who attended the ethics classes during the trial discussed issues such as fairness, integrity, honesty, world issues and current affairs.
“The children listen to each other’s responses and ideas and build upon those,” says Haberfield Public School volunteer ethics teacher Alison Manjyoume. “They learn, that all people and their thoughts, feelings and beliefs matter. What better lesson is there?”
An independent assessor will evaluate the ethics course and deliver the findings to Minister Firth for final review. It is hoped the decision will be made before the end of the school year.
“We hope the minister will be able to make a decision early in term four so that the ethics program can be implemented across all schools in 2011,” says SJEC’s Executive Director Simon Longstaff.
– BY ALEXANDRA ROACH
