God of choice
Ruth Mathewson
April 15, 2006
ANY belief system could soon be taught in Queensland state schools following changes to the laws governing religious education.
The changes will allow any group – religious or not – to offer spiritual instruction to children, provided their parents agree.
The Beattie Government has pressed ahead with the changes despite the protests of Christian churches worried about marginalising religion in schools.
They are included in the recent overhaul of the Education Act, which will herald a new era for Queensland's 470,000 state school children.
Currently, state school students as young as five take part in religious education classes unless parents formally write to the school allowing them to "opt out" of the lessons.
Under section 75 of the Education (General Provisions) Bill 2006, due to be enacted this year, no student will attend religious education lessons unless their parents write to the school requiring them to do so.
And in line with anti-discrimination laws, religious education classes will no longer be taught solely by church representatives.
Groups with a non-religious system of beliefs – providing they are apolitical – will also be allowed to teach religious education classes.
The Australian Humanist Society expects the Bill to be enacted in July and has already drawn up a syllabus dealing with science-based education, creative thinking, ethical responsibility and the separation of the church and state.
State secretary of the Australian Humanist Society Maria Proctor hopes to become the first atheist religious education teacher in a Queensland state school.
Brisbane Catholic Education executive director David Hutton said church representatives had argued against the changes, which were significant and would erode the standing of religion in Queensland.
"At this point we accept the Government decision," Mr Hutton said.
"We're not against people being taught different beliefs and value systems but I'd have some concerns about young people being exposed to multiple belief systems.
"At the moment (religious education classes) are on offer. Now you're making people make a definite decision to opt in.
"I suspect fewer parents will opt in that under the previous system. This sort of move keeps pushing religion to the margins.
"Religious discourse has a place in our education system. That's why we, as mainstream churches, have argued for continuing access to state schools."
Pastor Dallas Freeman, of the Pentecostal Citywest Christian Church, said he had attended a meeting of ministers to discuss the issue.
Some saw the move as a "gradual phasing out of religious education in schools", he said.
"The other thing is that schools will end up with all these kids who don't know what they're meant to do in that (religious education) time. They'll have to work out what to do with all those kids."
An Education Department spokesman said advisers were still figuring out what to do with children not attending religious education lessons
Amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act prevented any discrimination on the basis of "religious activity" or "religious belief", a spokesman said.
Under the changes non-religious groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities and other groups could apply to state school principals to teach up to 40 hours of religious education a year.
Situation with matters of faith
NOW
• State school students begin religious education in Year 1.
Students attend unless they have a letter from their parents excusing them.
Instructors are volunteers from churches or religious movements, approved by Education Queensland.
WHEN THE LAW CHANGES
• State school students will not attend any religious education lesson unless specified in writing by their parents.
Any person or organisation can apply to Education Queensland for approval to teach a "religion or other belief". They will still need a blue card.
