Nile says that scripture is under threat from ethics classes. But this is nonsense. The right of a child to receive classes in special religious education is enshrined in law - and there is no movement to change this. In the time since the ethics classes have been introduced, at the beginning of this year, there has not been a precipitous decline in the number of children attending scripture. Primary Ethics' volunteer teachers and co-ordinators have been welcomed into schools where they now offer programs to about 2700 children. That leaves an estimated 97,000 children still without a meaningful option to being ''parked'' while others attend scripture.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy. It has a tradition of being taught that stretches back into antiquity - with its Western roots growing out of the ideas of people such as Socrates, infamously condemned to death for ''impiety'' and ''corrupting the youth'' and who taught and lived the examined life - a life of rigorous honesty, fundamental respect and moral courage. This is the tradition Nile repudiates.

He would probably be happier if ethics classes were moved to another time - out of the slot formerly reserved exclusively for scripture. But this would create chaos in our schools, with every child being ''parked'' at one time or another - and every child bearing the cost of Nile's obsession.

The NSW Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, is an honourable and compassionate man who has stuck to principle in this matter and deserves our support. I do not think that Barry O'Farrell is the villain in this piece. He is bound to consult Nile, as he should any member of Parliament. But O'Farrell is also bound to keep his word - in spirit and deed. One would think that Nile would stand on the side of integrity. Instead, he has shown himself willing to put O'Farrell in an impossible situation - effectively requiring him to break his word as the price of his support on industrial relations reform that Nile either supports, as a matter of principle, or does not.

The government promised, in the election, that it would preserve ethics classes in the form established by Parliament at the end of 2010. Nile is asking O'Farrell to break this promise to the people of NSW.