Thursday, June 3, 2010

Towards an ethics-based complement to scripture in NSW primary schools | St James Ethics Centre

Towards an ethics-based complement to scripture in NSW primary schools | St James Ethics Centre: "Towards an ethics-based complement to scripture in NSW primary schools
Photograph of school children.

'Dear Minister, Please approve the pilot!'

Presented by:
NSW Federation of P and C Associations
St James Ethics Centre
The Need for Change

Did you know that children whose parents make a conscientious decision to have them opt out of Special Religious Education (SRE) are prohibited from any form of instruction during this period? NSW Department of Education policy provides for the supervision of these children but specifies they are not to have access to 'ethics, values, civics or general religious education.'

Not surprisingly, many view the existing policy as socially and psychologically unjust — all students are entitled to meaningful instruction, ethical exploration and the associated benefits.

Based on mounting community interest and support, St James Ethics Centre, proposed a pilot project to test the concept of offering an ethics-based complement to scripture.
Minister Firth says YES! to trial an ethics-based complement to scripture

St James Ethics Centre welcomed the announcement on 25 November 2009 by Premier Nathan Rees approving its proposal to conduct a pilot program for an ethics-based complement to scripture in ten NSW primary schools.

More details regarding the Premier’s announcement are available here.

The Centre takes this opportunity to acknowledge the generous support it has received in relation to this initiative. We thank all those who have been part of the project so far and look forward to working with you in the future.
Project update

The 10-week trial at ten NSW Primary schools is currently underway and will last through Term 2, 2010. Professor Phillip Cam from the University of New South Wales, an international expert in the teaching of ethics and philosophy to children, has written the pilot curriculum. Thirty three volunteers from within each school community have been recruited and trained as ethics teachers. More information about the Ethics Pilot is available here.

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