Secular alternative for Darlinghurst Public

Darlinghurst Public School Parents and Citizens (P&C) has agreed to take part in a proposed pilot project which will allow children to opt out of scripture class and take part in a secular, ethics-based alternative.

The St James Ethics Centre and the NSW Federation of P&C Associations made a submission to the NSW Government to approve the pilot program, to test the concept of offering an ethics-based complement to scripture in state primary schools.

Seven P&Cs in urban and regional NSW schools have already adopted the motion to take part in the project.

Dr Simon Longstaff, Executive Director of the St James Ethics Centre, said providing a secular alternative was not only a matter of choice but also a social justice issue. “All children should be entitled to ethical exploration, with its associated social and mental health benefits, regardless of their parents’ personal belief system,” he said in a statement.

NSW education policy currently prohibits non-scripture students from receiving any formal instruction during scripture time, including ethics.

Provision of religion in NSW primary schools is based on an agreement between the church and state, dating back to the mid-to-late nineteenth century.

When the state took over public education, previously the domain of the church, it agreed to reserve an hour a week for special religious education (SRE).

UNSW Professor Philip Cam, an international expert in philosophical and ethical inquiry in children, will lead the design of the proposed 10-week pilot for Year 5 and 6 students.

“If kids are going to live productive lives in a good society they need to be able to examine their lives and the life of their society,” Professor Cam said.

The St James Ethics Centre said that their proposal was not intended to draw children away from scripture class. “The Centre is not advocating any change to the legislation or the policy that protects the provision of SRE in NSW primary schools,” a statement from the Centre read.

“The Centre fully respects the role of religious instruction in primary schools and the principle under which faith groups are encouraged to provide it.”

by Ehssan Veiszadeh