christianity in public schools

[mummy2sophie]

I heard a little while back about how there is some teaching of christianity in public schools. It would be no surprise to you as an atheist and an Australian (aren't we supposed to accept all religions and beliefs?) that I find this absolutely abhorrent.

But it leads to an interesting question: how do you know if the school you are sending your child teaches religion?

I'm obviously talking about public schools, I have no issue with private religious schools teaching religion (well actually I do - but that's another topic). I don't want my daughters taught christianity, certainly not without my consent. If it were a worldwide religion and philosophy subject I would have absolutely no problem with that. I just think children are so impressionable and I don't want my daughter to have faith pushed on her in any way.

Anyone have any further information? How can I choose a school where I know that religion will not be taught?

[missie_mack]

I think you will find in most public primary schools there is a religion topic as part of the standard thing

This is the religious education policy for NSW's Education Department

What is religious education?

Under the Education Act 1990, public schools provide religious education in two forms.
What is general religious education?

General religious education is taught through the Board of Studies syllabuses and includes what people believe and how these beliefs affect their lives.
What is special religious education?

Special religious education is provided by authorised representatives of approved religious groups to students whose parents have nominated that religion and at a time negotiated with the school.

[the_queen]

The public school I send my daughter to has a general "RE non-consent form" at the beginning of the year, whereby if I didn't want her exposed to the RE classes (they have them at Easter and Christmas time) I had to opt out.


I am a Christian, but that doesn't mean I necessarily want my kid taught about christianity at public school by some travelling evangelists. Unfortunately for me, because we live in a small country town and we are active members of our church, I felt that pulling her out of the RE things would actually cause more talk etc. It is mentioned in the newsletter who the RE instructors are, and if I'm at all concerned about who it was, I would keep her home that day. I'm comfortable with faking a sick day In general though, the RE is done by volunteers from local churches, and I'm OK with that.


If I had a choice (in fact, when she started school we lived in the city so I did have a choice) I would still send her to a public school, and I would prefer she didn't learn about any religion in junior primary, I think it's too big of a concept to grasp at that age. Whereas me teaching her at home and Sunday school (yes, I'm a sunday school teacher ) is different because it's more about sharing my faith and my culture and the culture of our forefathers.

The way I'm going to school my kids is that they go to public school as youngsters. In our church there's infant baptism and then confirmation when they're about 14. I will not force my kids to be confirmed, in fact it cheapens the ceremony and demeans all of us if they do it just to please me. If they choose to be confirmed and become members of our church, they will be given the choice to go to a christian high school or public high school. I think that as a christian teen, it will be easier to attend a christian school where a bigger percentage of the students are also christians.


So in conclusion, and in summary, I would think that public schools need to disclose any and all RE they plan for the students. And if they aren't obviously mentioned, I'd be asking the principal.

[mummy2sophie]

That's terrible!!! you mean that religious material is part of the curriculum??

There's no guidelines there about how teacher should teach this, are there any guidelines?.... I mean a religious teacher could teach just about anything! I'm going to talk to my member about this.


thanks for the info anyway...I know it is taught in NSW but now we are in victoria and I believe it is taught here as well.

Any tips on how to find out about victoria?

[MummaBear03]

I went to a public school for some of primary school and RE was taught from Grade 3 up at that school and it was very general, not from one specific religion. I don't see the harm in showing kids what people believe in, it's not like they try to convert kids or at least it wasn't when I was in primary school. I went to a Catholic for upper primary and secondary schooling and was actually taught about other religions including Muslim and Buddhist. Not in a bad way, just in a way that shows other religions and why people believe it and what people in those religions actually stand for. I haven't looked into other religions much since then TBH but knowing what I was taught from back then has given me enough of an understanding to know that Muslims are very peace-loving and those that are causing the problems in the name of their "faith" are not what their religion promotes at all and people in that religion are very peaceful rather than terrorists which is what seems to be portrayed in the news

[mayasmum]

this is terrible. my friend's kid came home form school last week (grade 2) telling her mother that their re teacher told them about how the world was created in six days and that jesus lived in her heart etc. travelling evangelists (as the queen called them) are liable to say this stuff like it is proven fact, and children will take it all literally.

they took her out quick smart and instead now she will be mucking up in the library or doing colouring in the neighbouring classroom. hardly an educational alternative.

[mummy2sophie]

primary school kids have so much to learn I find it appalling that they waste time on this stuff. As I said an objective view of worldwide religions and philosophy would be okay.

but it's delicate because the kids are delicate.

mayasmum: that is simply awful.

[mummy2sophie]

the queen: thanks for this superb post. i would definitely opt out of these things. I am disappointed however that my dd will have to leave the classroom. that in itself will take some explaining...

and i totally agree: it's far too big a concept for littlies. if she decides later she wants to be a christian or whatever, then so be it. but at least then it will be her choice and not something that was foisted on her.

[nanasabj]

my dd started kinder this year and being a catholic who has myself been to public and private schools found that the education i recieved at public school was better than that i recieved at private.. so i am sending my dd to public,

at the beginning of the year they asked me if i wanted her to take part in scripture and i have no prob so i said yes but there are alot of parents who dont and the classes r just split and one part does something else while the others do scripture.. its up 2 u if u dnt wnt ur children learning religion then i'd make sure that their teacher knows this and doesnt teach it to them..

[MummaBear03]

As for the question of how do you know if your child's school teaches religion, well it's just something you'd ask about surely. I asked about the religious education side of it, the sports side of it, and the music side of it, and asked what other extra-curricula activities were on offer so I guess if a parent was concerned at all it would be asked upon enrolling? Well, I'd ask, but I'm a little pedantic too