DESPITE her youth, the dilemma of conflicting social engagements is not a new one for 11-year-old Camille Mortimer.

The year 6 student at Ferncourt Public School, when asked to choose between a birthday invitation she had accepted and another party for her best friend, would go to both. ''That's what I said last time,'' she said.

Debate ... year 5 students at Ferncourt Public School, Marrickville, in their first ethics class. Credit:Anthony Johnson

The south Marrickville school participated in the NSW ethics trial last year. But yesterday a larger group of 46 students became the first to attend an ethics class since legislation enshrined the school's right to offer it. Their fellow students attended Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Islamic or Buddhist scripture, or non-scripture activities instead.

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But the ethics class, if not the discussion topic, was new for the teacher, Tanya Burrows - one of 90 volunteers trained to lead students at 57 schools through issues such as fairness, moral rules, lying and telling the truth.

The school's principal, Ruth Turnell, said almost all of the year 5 and 6 students attending the classes were drawn from the third who had opted out of scripture.