CCD Wollongong

Media Releases - July 3 2015

Media Release

DEC amends Public School enrolment form

The Inter Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools (ICCOREIS) commends the Minister for Education for moving to amend the enrolment form for Public Schools to ensure that the form properly represents the legislation, policy and procedures related to Special Religious Education (SRE) and remove confusion for parents arising from the current enrolment form.

The proposed amendments to the enrolment form, used alongside the SRE Participation letter, are ones that have arisen from consultation with SRE providers across all major faith traditions to ensure a clear choice for parents to select either SRE or the non-SRE options for their children.

SRE is a strength of Public Education in NSW where trained, authorised teachers use approved curriculums. ICCOREIS recognises the paramount importance of the right of parental choice. While SRE is not compulsory, it represents a valuable choice open to families in
our multi-faith society.

Students not attending SRE may attend non-SRE, which includes amongst other options Special Education in Ethics (SEE) offered at a local level in some primary schools.

SRE forms students in the beliefs and ethical systems of their family’s faith tradition.

For more information, please contact Mr Murray Norman (0409 652 984).

Peter Adamson
Deputy Chairperson
ICCOREIS

Download Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE

Statement for DoE website & Media Holding statement re change to DoE student enrolment form

Change to student enrolment form

The Department of Education is amending the student enrolment form for NSW public schools.

The amendments take into account legal advice, ensure consistency with the Government’s position on this matter and address concerns with clarity.

The amended form includes references to both Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics.

Options for student participation in Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics vary from school to school.

Specific advice about these options is available from school principals.

The updated enrolment form will be made available to schools as soon as practicable.

End

Ethics, Poles, Wires and the Dalai Lama

An Opinion Piece by Jude Hennessy (Director SRE, Diocese of Wollongong)

Ethics, Poles, Wires and the Dalai Lama
Will someone please tell the truth about Special Education in Ethics (SEE) and the NSW Public School enrolment form? It seems the only people getting any airplay, have a good public profile, but little knowledge about the topic.

Even the Dalai Lama got drawn into it last week. He’s a good man, a man of peace, poise, wisdom and love. As a Catholic, I’m a fan, just as many non-Catholics are fans of Pope Francis. But I wouldn’t ask either of them to fix my computer. No disrespect to them, I just doubt they’d have the knowledge to be able to do it.

In the same way, I’m not sure why the Dalai Lama was asked about the current furore about Ethics and the enrolment form. But then it dawned on me, the light bulb went off, well it got brighter anyhow! This isn’t about facts, or asking people who might actually have some knowledge or something sensible to say, it’s about world views, politics and a powerful little club in some mainstream print and electronic media who seem hell bent on doing away with religion in schools. If they can do that, then they can focus on getting rid of religion completely in the ugly little Orwellian world they are attempting to manufacture.

Soon after I saw the Dalai Lama hooked into the debate, I got an email from NSW Labor asking for donations to fight the good fight for ethics in NSW schools. Apparently they need funds to fight the great injustice being perpetrated on SEE by those nasty religions and the NSW Government. What a load of absolute rubbish, but no one else is saying so in this fantasy land.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, such is the misinformation being thrown around at will. Probably the latter. Why? Because SRE, this wonderful strength of NSW public schools is being denigrated and used as a political and media football. Why else? Because in our multicultural, multi-faith (and non-faith) society, SRE and SEE both have a valuable and valid place. Who would want to undermine access to clear choice for parents to have their Children formed in the faith and ethics of their family? Hopefully no one, but in relation to SEE, a simple fact is getting left out, you shouldn’t offer something that isn’t available.

Some facts about SRE and SEE
No parent in NSW who wants their child to do SEE in NSW is being denied that choice for their children, if it is offered in their local school. SEE is well advertised as an option for those who opt out of SRE classes.

Nevertheless, it is pointless to offer something on the enrolment form which isn’t available. I’d be annoyed if I was for example offered woodwork and then was informed, no sorry, we don’t offer woodwork. My simple response would be, ‘well why did you offer it to me’?

Herein lies one of the problems with Ethics classes and why it needs to be removed as a tick option from the enrolment form.

In 2014, SEE was offered in 256 of the 2100 Public Schools in NSW. It is not offered at all in Secondary Schools. Around 800 SEE teachers saw 16,000 students. They are doing a good job for our community and public Education, and I for one am glad they have a presence in a growing number of schools. By comparison, SRE Providers have a presence in most schools and see around 240,000 students a week and that figure increases to over 300,000 when you include seminar style delivery of lessons.

The reality for SEE is that it is not in at least 1800 of the 2100 Public Schools. Parents whose sons and daughters go to those 1800 schools are nevertheless being offered it, only to find that it doesn’t exist. Now that’s just bizarre, and extremely misleading for parents, many of whom then need to negotiate a maze to get reoffered SRE.

What’s even more bizarre is that the DEC’s own consultative committee for SRE, made up of representatives of all the major faiths, were not consulted about the final changes to the enrolment form. Surely that’s what consultative committees are for! If it had been consulted, this debacle would never have ensued.

SRE providers quickly recognised that this was a very questionable change that ignored the Legislation, the 2012 SEE Parliamentary Inquiry Recommendations, the SRE Policy and the SRE Implementation guidelines. I assume that Primary Ethics would similarly be concerned that roughly 680,000 young people who they can’t cater for, are being offered SEE classes. I am unaware if Primary Ethics had any input into the enrolment form, but faith groups certainly were not given the opportunity to explain the consequences of the changes. Media commentators do not seem keen to ask questions about this lack of process, which is in itself very interesting.

Finally, this is not about poles and wires. To suggest so is an offensive lie. SRE providers have been talking to each other, the DEC, to the Minister, and Politicians across the political divide about this since the new form appeared last June. Agreement on the need for the confusion to end via a repaired enrolment form was reached in December 2014 with the Department.

Some non-facts about SRE and SEE
I won’t say lies, because perhaps those who are writing most of the rubbish about SRE and Ethics have simply fallen into the trap that some of my former History students used to, not doing any study! Sure they’re good at churning out articles expounding their personal views, but like some former students, their essays and reports are still ‘a fail’ when they have such little basis in fact. 

Firstly, SEE doesn’t exist to compete with SRE. Primary Ethics was established to cater for students who opted out of SRE. Therefore, regardless of the fact that it simply isn’t offered in most schools, it should not be set up alongside SRE on a form. Once parents have opted out of SRE they are then given the choice of SEE if it is available at a local level where it is well advertised.

Secondly, SRE does not regard SEE as the enemy or a threat. SEE teachers are good people offering a valid and valuable alternative to non-scripture in a small but growing number of schools.

Finally, SRE is not struggling as per Dr John Kaye’s (Greens NSW) recent and ongoing venomous assertions and misinformation regarding SRE. The 12,000 multi faith, well trained, well-resourced volunteers across the State are doing a mighty job forming students in the teachings and ethics of their family’s faith tradition, seeing well over 240,000 students a week in the process.

So what are SRE providers asking for?
A return to an enrolment form that removes the misinformation and confusion.

A form that doesn’t offer something to parents who then later find out that it is not available at most schools.

A form that gives the parents the option to choose Religious Education and, just as importantly, to opt out of that choice. SEE can then be offered at a local level if it is available.

This isn’t about poles and wires, this is about giving parents correct information and valid choices for their children. Whilst it is tough to get correct information out there via the media, thank goodness the NSW Government and DEC are at least now trying to get it right on the public school enrolment form.

Mr Jude Hennessy
Director SRE
Diocese of Wollongong
12 June 2015

Media Release - June 2 2015

 Important Media Release from ICCOREIS
(Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools (NSW) Inc

3 June 2015

Amendments to the Enrolment Form for Schools

The changes to the NSW DEC enrolment form that occurred in July 2014, have unfortunately caused confusion for parents with regard to Special Religious Education (SRE) and non SRE options in schools.

The Inter Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools (ICCOREIS) has always recognised that parental choice is critical in the selection of SRE or the non SRE options, being Special Ethics Education (SEE) or other supervised activities.

As such, ICCOREIS member Churches, along with representatives of the major faiths who provide SRE, have consulted with each other, the DEC, and all sides of politics to recommend modifications that provide real clarity and help parents to make informed choices.

We are grateful to the DEC for moving to rectify the issues with the enrolment form. This recognises the place of SRE as a strength of Public Education in our multi-faith and multi-cultural society, whilst continuing to provide clear choices and understanding for parents of non-SRE options available in schools at a local level.

The changes being proposed for the enrolment form and associated documents for schools and parents will ensure effective communication and implementation of SRE and non-SRE options.

SEE is only available in some primary schools; it is not available in high schools. Therefore, the removal of SEE from the enrolment form reflects the place of SEE as a non SRE option.

In schools where SEE might be available, parents will be easily able to make that choice after opting out of SRE.

Mr. Neville Cox
ICCOREIS Chairperson
0416 294 742

link to original release - here