Betsy Tipping took her son out of Wellsford School after having to opt him out of religious classes three times.

A mother took her son out of a north Auckland school because of "concerning religious instruction", which it was difficult to opt out of.

Betsy Tipping removed her 8-year-old son from Wellsford School because she was unhappy volunteers were teaching the pupils their beliefs as if they were "fact", and that she had to opt her son out of the classes three times after he was "automatically" put back into the classes at the start of each term.

"My son would come home very upset that he was put back into the classes despite them knowing I had opted him out.

"If something like that is going to be run, it should be run by the school, and every religion should be taught, not just one."

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If her son was interested in a religion, she would take him to church, Tipping said. "The school uses the excuse that they teach values and morals, but that is already in the school curriculum."

Last year, Wellsford School sent a survey to parents giving them the option to vote for the Churches Education Commission's (CEC) "life choices programme" to continue or discontinue.

Renee Clayton Betsy Tipping removed her son Jack Clements, 8, from Wellsford School after feeling ignored.

But, while Tipping believed the survey "was very one-sided", the school's principal was pleased it had the largest response rate of any school survey.

"The survey showed 67 per cent of parents support the programme enough to at least allow their child to attend, while 33 per cent would withdraw their child, or strongly object," Wellsford School's principal Dave Bradley said.

Because the majority of parents supported the programme, the Board of Trustees decided to keep it and oblige parents to opt out, Bradley said.

The board decided, if ever the survey results were the opposite way round, those in favour would need to opt in.

Renee Clayton Wellsford School has a volunteer teach students religious education for 30 minutes once a week for two terms a year.

"Children not attending can go home early for lunch and return to school for the afternoon, or they participate an alternative, supervised, event in another space like the library.

"The alternative programme might be a more in-depth study of the work they are already doing in class, or specially planned lessons. I regularly visit these programmes and always find the children engaging positively," Bradley said.

However, those parents who did object to the lessons were concerned enough to send their anonymous complaints to the Secular Education Network. This led to members of the network making an appearance at Wellsford School's gates in August to hand out fliers and to talk to parents.

Secular Education Network's Toby Cooper said allowing religious education to be taught in public schools was made legal in the Education Act 1964.

"Schools are able to decide if they implement the classes, but have to 'close' the school when teaching it, as they are still required to be secular when they are 'open'. It seems very wrong that the school has to 'shut' during potential curricular time in order for one religious group to come in and teach."

Cooper believed the school should educate the students about religion in social studies or history, and that they shouldn't allow prayers and biblical stories to be presented as facts.

JOHN HAWKINS/STUFF Religious instruction remains taught at many New Zealand state schools.

"It is a legal loophole. The CEC has a policy where they don't let their course material be distributed publicly, so parents can't even see what is being taught."

Churches Education Commission's Tracy Kirkley said its programme had been around for the past five to six years and had been adapted to meet modern school requirements.

"The programme has been in Wellsford School for a long time and lasts for 30 minutes, once a week, in terms two and three.

"We get lots of positive feedback from parents, pupils and the board. The programme is very robust and well respected."

Kirkley said the programme taught the children courage, respect, forgiveness, friendship, bravery and how to make good choices.

"We use the Bible, biblical stories and well-known historical figures to illustrate the values and how to integrate them into their life.

"Volunteers from the local community and churches teach the children, but we provide training and they go through checks in order [for them] to be qualified. We wouldn't be in schools if they didn't see the value in what we do," Kirkley said.

Stuff asked members of the Rodney Times Neighbourly page to vote on whether religious education should be taught in state primary schools and 47.2 per cent of people said "yes, it is okay", while 45.4 per cent voted "no, it shouldn't be allowed", and 7.4 per cent said it didn't affect them.

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