In 2015 the NSW taxpayer forked over $300,000 for a report into Scripture and Ethics. Over a year later and the report by ARTD Consultants remains unreleased.
The taxpayer might legitimately ask why. And why, on 15 January 2017, did the NSW education department reject a FIRIS (Fairness for Religion in Schools) freedom of information request for the report?
According to the NSW education department, releasing it would have “a negative impact on the department’s functions”.
But how, exactly?
Calling on new Education Minister Rob Stokes to immediately suspend scripture in schools, Greens Justice MP David Shoebridge wants a debate on whether Scripture legislation reflects current community views about education.
Of particular concern to Mr Shoebridge
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These involved the dissection of dead animals, the idea that blindness is the result of sin, and a lesson about the death of Daniel where children were disturbingly asked to list ways to “get rid” of a person.
Furthermore, moderate Christians may be troubled by the fundamentalist version of Christianity promoted by Connect’s materials – teaching that the Bible is a “factual, historical document”, and imploring faith-based instructors to “emphasise that these events are historical and true”.
But it’s when the mainstream clergy voice their concerns, that parents should really sit up and take note. Describing the Connect material “of great concern to many mainstream Christians”, Anglican Father Rod Bower said Scripture in schools is an “echo from a bygone era and now needs to be reconsidered”. Anglican Bishop Peter Stuart specifically disputes the fundamentalist approach of Connect, asserting that the Bible is “not a history text or science book”.
Amplifying such concerns, parent advocacy group FIRIS recently launched a leaflet campaign at NSW schools suggesting that religion should be taught by teachers, and that churches “do not belong in public schools”. FIRIS spokesman Darrin Morgan