The leading opponent to the introduction of ethics classes in NSW schools, the Anglican Church, has reversed its position and says they should be retained, while the Catholic Church now argues they should not be removed as they have ”little impact” on the teaching of scripture.
The reversals come amid a stand-off over the classes between the O’Farrell government and the Christian Democratic Party MP, Fred Nile, who has threatened to block key legislation in the upper house if it does not consider removing them from schools.
The comments will be welcomed by the government, which yesterday rejected Mr Nile’s proposal that the classes be moved from being in competition with special religious education (SRE), or scripture, lessons.
Both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in Sydney are strongly orthodox, and alert for any attempt to impose “secularism by stealth”. If neither of them have a problem with these ethics classes, its probably a sign that the Rev. Nile should drop the issue.
[blockquote] “When ethics classes were introduced at Hilltop Road Public School in Merrylands last term, its Catholic scripture alternative lost one student. But Charlie Gregory, 10, who said the classes were more fun than scripture, also had some other reasons.
”My dad’s the teacher,” he said.” [/blockquote]
That sums it up – the churches were concerned that aggressive secularists were trying to use the ethics classes to displace religious education in schools. If that is not the case, if its a level playing field, then the churches have nothing to fear – most kids would rather go to religious education (‘scripture’ as we Sydney brats called it growing up) and most parents will encourage their kids to go to it, in the belief (occasionally justified) that it will make better citizens of the little so-and-sos!