Schools Ethics Classes

Well here in NSW, there has been a "stoush" by religious types, such as Fred Nile, a Christian Parliamentarian, over having Ethics Classes when religious classes are on, to cater for those kids that don't go to religious classes.
This all started when the old Labor government introduced a trial of ethics classes.
Well this sent the god botherers into a frenzy and they wanted the ethics classes to stop.
The new Conservative government decided to hold a Parliamentary Inquiry into ethics classes.
Well I thought, well here the ethics classes will now stop.
But, no, the inquiry has ruled in favour of the classes.
SMH article here http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/inquiry-rules-in-favour-of-school-ethics-classes-20120527-1zd5z.html
A win for rationality.

School Ethics classes update

An update on Ethics classes.
Not to do with the hysterical Christians meeting.
But something that will make them very unhappy.
The Liberal opposition in NSW have decided to do a backflip and are now supporting ethical classes. When they come to power in March, which they will, call me psychic, they will continue the classes, which are just starting now.
At last the conservatives have put good sense before a few cheap votes.
Here is a link to the Christian lobby say on this.

School Ethics Classes--Lies from Christian groups

There is to be a meeting at the NSW Parliament House regarding the Ethics Classes.
This meeting will be held by concerned, hysterical Christians that are saying the current Labor government want to get scripture classes out of public schools.
What a beat up, a whole pack of lies to scare gullible Christians.
This meeting will take place in the NSW Parliament House Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney at 12 Noon on Monday 28th February 2011.
Participants are. 
The Rev Richard Quadrio of the NSW Council of Churches will Chair the meeting.
Invited speakers include,
Rev Rod Benson of Morling Baptist College,
Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC,
Mayor Paul Green of Shoalhaven Council and,
Pastor Peter Rahme of the Inner West Baptist Church.
Christian meeting at Parliament House
We need a strong secular voice in this state to counter the scare mongering hysterics from the Christian lobby.

Queen endorses Ethics Classes

Well, that is my spin on it.
Here is what she is alleged to have said according to the Guardian newspaper.
"People of faith do not have a monopoly on virtue as British society was now "more diverse and secular", the queen told the Church of England today in an address to its governing body.
Speaking at Church House, central London, she told members of General Synod that believers and atheists were equally able to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of the country".
Queens address to Synod
There we have it.
And up yours, you increasingly becoming unimportant and irrelevant  Anglican leaders here in N.S.W..

School Ethics Classes

I see that the current Labor State Parliament are bringing in Ethics classes next year.

The classes are for children that don't attend scripture classes.

I think this is a good idea.

The classes are not competing with scripture, but something constructive that the children that don't go to scripture classes can do.

I also see that the Liberal State opposition, if they attain government in March 2011, are going to cancel the Ethics classes.

The opposition education spokesman, Adrian Piccoli is reported to have said in the Sydney Morning Herald.
''While the NSW Liberals and Nationals understand the importance of ethics we do not believe it should be positioned as an alternative to special religious education. We don't think that students should have to choose between special religious education … and ethics classes.'' SMH Article
Well, really, I don't agree. The students or their parents are not choosing between scripture and ethics classes. The ethics classes are for the children that don't go to scripture classes, pretty simple I would think.

Ethicist and political commentator as well as NSW Council of Churches representative Rev Rod Benson has this to say.  

"For more than a century, a small minority in our community has clamoured for the suppression of religious voices and the privileging of secular humanism in our schools, universities and media. The trial ethics curriculum is merely the latest tool to achieve that goal."  

Rev. Rod Benson's views

I would also disagree with this. Sure there are some that want religion banned from secular education. I feel the same way except if religion was taught as a comparative study of all religions. This is a poor argument against ethics classes in NSW state schools for children that don't attend scripture classes.

Archbishop Peter Jensen had this to say.

"A bad decision, made under political pressure, which will impoverish the education of many NSW public schoolchildren. Philosophical ethics is not a real alternative to the study of religion and it is unfair to confront parents with the dilemma of having them both taught at the same time."

Sydney Anglicans
I disagree again. What will and is impoverishing school children is the wasted time for the children that are not attending scripture, with nothing constructive to do.
It seems to me the religious organisations are feeling threatened by these ethics classes. They should not, surely any god fearing parents would send their children to scripture and not secular ethics classes.