[Greens-Media] Census stats put pressure on religious education in public schools

[John Kaye]

Census stats put pressure on religious education in public schools
 
Media release: 28 June 2007
 
The weekly hour of religious instruction in public schools in NSW is
rapidly losing relevance as people reporting no religious affiliation
grows significantly, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: “The NSW government persists with a deal struck with the
churches in the 1880s to allow any recognised religion to offer one hour
of instruction in public schools.
 
“The 2006 census released yesterday shows that the number of persons in
NSW reporting no religious affiliation has grown from 11.7% in 2001 to
14.3% in 2006. Amongst the 25 to 45 year old cohort, which represents
most of the parents, the figure rises to 16.4%.
 
“It is time for NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca to revisit the
archaic provision that forces public schools to hand over their children
for an hour a week to organised religions.
 
“The Minister should recognise the range of beliefs and non-beliefs
amongst families sending their children to public schools.
 
“Children whose parents do not want them to attend one of the religious
classes on offer are forced by law to waste a valuable hour of school
time. Teachers are prohibited from providing alternative educational
activities. In some schools the kids watch videos or are set loose in
the playground.
 
“Under an exclusive deal with the churches, only recognised organised
religions are allowed into public schools. The Minister’s predecessor
rejected a call to allow secular ethics to be taught as an alternative
option.
 
“The system is breaking down as more and more families do not want
their children exposed to organised religions at school. 
 
“Public schools teach strong values and ethics as an integral part of
the educational process. Religion should be seen as a private matter.
 
“The Minister should have the courage to stand up to the churches. If
he brings in legislation to repeal or at least amend this archaic law,
the Greens can guarantee passage through the Upper House. Labor and
Greens members comfortably outnumber any opposition to change, which
would be led by Fred Nile’s Christian Democrats and religious
conservatives in the Coalition,” Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information:John Kaye 0407 195 455
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: John.Kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000