Freethought & Rationalism Archive

james-2-24 · 04-01-2002, 02:45 PM

Having finished high school about 15 years ago, I was curious as to whether the practice of conducting "Religious Education" classes during school hours is still going on. From memory, during my time at a government high school we had these RE classes about 3 or 4 times a year and they were carried out during school hours. Any one have more recent experience or knowledge about this?

I'd like to know becuase I've drafted the following letter to "The Age" (a Melbourne paper).

======================
Its time to reassess the practice of Religious Education classes being conducted in government schools.

One problem with RE is that the term itself is misleading, in reality it is Religious Marketing as it is preachers and volunteers aligned to particular religious institutions that carry out this "education". They inevitably promote their own particular brand of religion with the goal of recruiting children into their religion.

RE is also a case of church-state violation. A principle of church-state separation is that arms of government should not use taxpayer resources to promote the cause of any religion. School classrooms during school time are taxpayer resources, so promoting any religion in classrooms during schools hours is inappropriate. If churches wish to educate children about religion then they should use their own venues to do so, or, be given the same opportunity as any other group to book school facilities outside of school hours.

Religious instruction is important for children, but is far better conducted by parents at home, free from outside interference.

============================

As English was never my strong point at school I would appreciate any editorial input.

Lastly, my wife is extremely religious and unfortunately anonymous letters to the editor are not accepted. Is there anyone out there willing to put their own name to this letter?

cheers.

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: james-2-24 ]</p>

diana · 04-01-2002, 03:31 PM

Hi James.

English is my strong suit. Happy to help. I hope there's something here you can use. I've corrected a couple of grammatical errors (nothing major). Most of the changes were efforts to make the sentences as concise as possible.

Quote:

It's time to reassess the practice of (insert: teaching) Religious Education (omit: classes being conducted) in government schools.

One problem with RE is that the term itself is misleading. In reality it is Religious Marketing as it is conducted by preachers and volunteers aligned to particular religious institutions (omit: that carry out this "education"). They inevitably promote their own (omit: particular) brand of religion with the goal of recruiting children (omit: into their religion).

RE (omit: is) also (insert: violates; omit: a case of) church-state (omit: violation; insert: separation). A principle of church-state separation is that (omit: arms of )government should not use taxpayer resources to promote (omit: the cause of) any religion. School classrooms during school time are taxpayer resources, so promoting any religion in classrooms during schools hours is inappropriate. If churches wish to educate children about religion[/b], (omit: then)[/b] they should use their own venues to do so[/b](insert: or; omit: , or, be given the same opportunity as any other group to)[/b] book school facilities outside of school hours.

Religious instruction is important for children, but (omit: is far better; insert: should be) conducted by parents at home, free from outside interference.

or:

Quote:

It's time to reassess the practice of teaching Religious Education in government schools.

One problem with RE is that the term itself is misleading. In reality it is Religious Marketing as it is conducted by preachers and volunteers aligned to particular religious institutions. They inevitably promote their own brand of religion with the goal of recruiting children.

RE also church-state separation. A principle of church-state separation is that government should not use taxpayer resources to promote any religion. School classrooms during school time are taxpayer resources, so promoting any religion in classrooms during schools hours is inappropriate. If churches wish to educate children about religion, they should use their own venues to do so or book school facilities outside of school hours.

Religious instruction is important for children, but should be conducted by parents at home, free from outside interference.

I don't understand why your wife would have a problem with this, though. You aren't speaking out against religion. You're speaking out against the separation of church/state, which is a purely political view.

d

Arrowman · 04-01-2002, 07:39 PM

As far as I know (I have children in primary school) there is no Religious Education class at all these days. I suspect your letter is a bullet looking for a target

james-2-24 · 04-02-2002, 01:23 PM

I occasionally go to church with my wife where they frequently make announcements to recruit RE teachers and ask for prayer for the RE teachers. Thats why I assumed it was still going on, maybe only in Victoria though, I dont know.

04-01-2002, 02:45 PM	#1
james-2-24 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Australia Posts: 37	"Religious Education" in Australian government schools Having finished high school about 15 years ago, I was curious as to whether the practice of conducting "Religious Education" classes during school hours is still going on. From memory, during my time at a government high school we had these RE classes about 3 or 4 times a year and they were carried out during school hours. Any one have more recent experience or knowledge about this? I'd like to know becuase I've drafted the following letter to "The Age" (a Melbourne paper). ====================== Its time to reassess the practice of Religious Education classes being conducted in government schools. One problem with RE is that the term itself is misleading, in reality it is Religious Marketing as it is preachers and volunteers aligned to particular religious institutions that carry out this "education". They inevitably promote their own particular brand of religion with the goal of recruiting children into their religion. RE is also a case of church-state violation. A principle of church-state separation is that arms of government should not use taxpayer resources to promote the cause of any religion. School classrooms during school time are taxpayer resources, so promoting any religion in classrooms during schools hours is inappropriate. If churches wish to educate children about religion then they should use their own venues to do so, or, be given the same opportunity as any other group to book school facilities outside of school hours. Religious instruction is important for children, but is far better conducted by parents at home, free from outside interference. ============================ As English was never my strong point at school I would appreciate any editorial input. Lastly, my wife is extremely religious and unfortunately anonymous letters to the editor are not accepted. Is there anyone out there willing to put their own name to this letter? cheers. [ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: james-2-24 ]</p>

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-01-2002, 07:39 PM	#3
Arrowman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,358	As far as I know (I have children in primary school) there is no Religious Education class at all these days. I suspect your letter is a bullet looking for a target

04-02-2002, 01:23 PM	#4
james-2-24 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Australia Posts: 37	I occasionally go to church with my wife where they frequently make announcements to recruit RE teachers and ask for prayer for the RE teachers. Thats why I assumed it was still going on, maybe only in Victoria though, I dont know.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.