Category: ethics


Problems with ethics classes

Filed under: ethics, NSW politics — Leave a comment
March 12, 2012

An inquiry is underway into a bill introduced by the Rev Fred Nile last year to repeal the legislation allowing ethics classes to be taught in NSW state schools.

There are numerous problems with the ethics classes.  There was no tender process.  There is a lack of teachers, and a lack of demand in many schools.  The classes compete directly with Special Religious Education.  The curriculum appears to emphasise behavioural outcomes rather than duty or intention in ethical decision making, and it intentionally excludes religious wisdom.

The NSW Council of Churches has recommended significant reforms to the legislation, and if these reforms and a reasonable timetable for implementation are not agreed to, the Council will support repeal of the Act.

In particular, the NSW Council of Churches recommends that an independent review be conducted of all aspects of the provision and delivery of ethics classes, with a report and recommendations to be presented to Parliament before the date of the next state election. 

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 4 Mar 2012.

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British people becoming less honest

Filed under: ethics, faith, morality — Leave a comment
February 17, 2012

According to research from the University of Essex, British people are becoming less honest.

The survey says Britons of 2011 were more likely to tolerate extramarital sex, drink-driving or failing to leave a contact after hitting a parked car than those of 2001.  The only transgression they were less tolerant of was social security fraud.

So have we all leapt on the liberal bandwagon only to find out it’s a handcart destined for hell?  It’s not that simple, says Nick Spencer, director of studies at the British think tank Theos.  The problems British people face are not because they stopped reading the Bible or obeying the Ten Commandments.

Ethical problems are linked to the decline of Christianity, but not so much with the lightened social weight of Christian moral edicts as with the weaker presence of Christian communities, formed around and modelled, however imperfectly, on the example of Christ.  Walk away from your faith community, and you walk away from a wealth of practical moral wisdom.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 5 Feb 2012.

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In search of a moral framework

Filed under: ethics, morality, multiculturalism — Leave a comment
February 9, 2012

Writing in Britain’s Daily Telegraph, Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent affirmation of the crucial role of Christianity in providing a moral framework for Britain.  But he was concerned at the decline in religious literacy in the civil service, parliament and local authorities.

“A disconnected view of history and the fog of multiculturalism have all but erased such memory from official consciousness,” he said.  “History cannot be just about discrete dates and famous personalities but must be a narrative of the emergence of a people and a nation from the mists of time. For such a project, the place of Christianity is absolutely central.”

Australia shares a similar cultural history and faces the same kinds of challenges.  We could do a lot worse than turn to an enlightened Christian moral framework to address the problems and issues we face today.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 8 Jan 2012.

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Fresh call to scrap ethics classes

Filed under: education, ethics, NSW Council of Churches, NSW politics — Leave a comment
July 29, 2011

The NSW government’s ethics classes are again in the news, with the Council of Churches urging Premier Barry O’Farrell to repeal the legislation that led to the establishment of ethics classes in NSW state schools.

The current arrangement was imposed by the Labor Party in the dying days of the Keneally Government, with Education Minister Verity Firth appearing to regard it as a personal crusade.

Last year, the Opposition, led by Mr O’Farrell, opposed the introduction of ethics classes, then promised that if elected it would move to ensure that the classes did not clash with Special Religious Education classes. Mr O’Farrell later reversed this policy, but made it clear to a gathering of church leaders in February, prior to the March 26 election, that the sole reason for this back flip was that he would not control the Upper House when elected to govern.

Council of Churches President Richard Quadrio has now made a fresh call to Mr O’Farrell to scrap the program.  But it would seem that the ethical horse has now bolted.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 31 July 2011.

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Ethics classes no threat to SRE, say churches

Filed under: church & state, education, ethics — Leave a comment
July 29, 2011

For two years debate has raged over the merits of introducing secular ethics classes in NSW state schools, in competition to the established special religious education, or scripture classes. Ethics classes are now running in about 120 primary schools, with limited uptake by students and a shortage of teachers.

Christian Democratic Party MP Fred Nile, fearing this might be the beginning of the end for SRE in NSW, has threatened to block key legislation in the Upper House if the O’Farrell Government does not consider repealing the laws governing ethics classes.

But on Thursday, it was revealed the Anglican Church has reversed its opposition to ethics classes. Dr Bryan Cowling from the Anglican Education Commission says they are no threat to SRE, and the ethics curriculum is “good educational stuff.”

The Catholic Church agrees, with a spokesperson saying, “The implementation of ethics classes in a limited number of school communities has had little effect on the teaching of SRE.” Time will tell if the ethics classes survive longterm. We can only hope the churches are not giving up on SRE.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 24 July 2011.

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