ICCOREIS News
Ethics Pilot
Positions Vacant |
At its 2010 AGM ICCOREIS elected a new Executive and endorsed an amended Constitution. These decisions have brought a more streamlined structure to the Commission, which will now operate in two forms: as a full Commission, and as a Board. The Commission is composed of all representatives appointed by its member religious persuasions and organisations. The Board is composed of the Chairperson and nine representative members, including the members of the Executive. |
ICCOREIS' Response
Statements issued by the ICCOREIS Executive in response to the pilot.
NSW Government Response
The following extract is taken from Hansard in the NSW Upper House, for Tuesday 1st June 2010.
Religious Education
On 20 April 2010 Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile asked the Attorney General, representing the Minister for Education and Training, a question without notice regarding religious education. The Minister for Education and Training provided the following response:
All government schools set aside teaching time for Special Religious Education (SRE) in accordance with Section 32 of the Education Act 1992.
The Department has a policy and procedures to support the implementation of SRE in schools. These procedures, as with all Departmental guidelines, are not intended to be applied inflexibly, and are designed to adapt to circumstances if need be.
The current trial of ethics classes in NSW primary schools responds to a significant community interest in providing meaningful activities to students whose parents do not wish them to attend SRE.
The Government remains committed to the provision of Special Religious Education in government schools.
Related Sites
SRE on Trial
Save our Scripture
Make A Stand
In the Media
SA academic to assess school ethics trial
Heath Gilmore, The Sydney Morning Herald, 5th July 2010.
Ethics class will have to find its own teachers
Heath Gilmore, The Sydney Morning Herald, 22nd June 2010.
SJEC seeks to heal SRE damage
Jeremy Halcrow of Anglican Media interviews Simon Longstaff, Director of the St James Ethics Centre, 7th June 2010.
Ethics classes start in NSW schools
Stateline, ABC 1, 28th May 2010.
Featuring the ethics class at Hurstville Primary School.
Religion in the Classroom
Insight, SBS One, 25th May 2010.
Guests include representatives of SRE providers (Ann Maree Whenman (ICCOREIS), Bishop Glenn Davies (Anglican), Mazen Fahme (Islamic)), and parents of primary school children.
Godless ethics classes are pointless
Angela Shanahan, The Weekend Australian, 1st May 2010.
Hope 103.2 - Open House
Listen to Sheridan Voysey's interview with Simon Longstaff, Director of the St James Ethics Centre, and the response from ICCOREIS Chairperson, Ann Maree Whenman, broadcast 18th April 2010.
Keneally
allows Anglican Church to vet content of ethics lessons
Jacqueline Maley, The Sydney Morning Herald, 13th April 2010.
You can't teach ethics without referring to Christianity
Jim Wallace, Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby, The National Times, 9th April 2010.
The Role of SRE in Developing Ethics and Resilience in Children
Sally Smith, SRE Consultant, Baptist Churches NSW and ACT, February 2010. |
