The Issue: Religion in state schools



Related Audio: The Issue: Religion in state schools



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Special Religious Education (or instruction) has been in the news again lately. The classes known to Protestants as 'scripture classes' have been taught in our 'free, secular and universal' state schools almost as long as they've been established. In 2015, all religious groups can offer these classes - in fact, in quite a few states, it's mandated in the Education Act that they be included in the curriculum.

But recently, special religious education has been under fire, particularly in NSW. The Sydney Morning Herald reported recently that Anglican textbooks are promoting 'dangerous' messages about sex and male power - like the doctrine of male headship and female submission, claiming that divorce happens because of human sinfulness and male ignorance, and listing 'mistakes women make' as talking too much and giving in sexually.

The Greens in NSW have called for greater scrutiny of material being used in scripture classes in public schools, saying parents need to know what their children are being taught.

GUESTS IN THIS HOUR

Darrin Morgan, Human Rights Advocacy Australia

Rev Dr John Dickson, Centre for Public Christianity

Rev Dr Michael Jensen, Rector of St Mark's Anglican Church, Darling Point, teacher of SRE

Lara Wood, FIRIS



