Parents are right to be concerned over the future of scripture classes being taught in NSW public schools. The NSW Government is conducting a trial of non-Christian, non-religious ethics classes as an alternative to scripture classes.
Ethics is the study of how we behave, how we develop our personal morality, the basis of judgements we make on right and wrong, and our understanding of justice and virtue in the context of how we live. Ethics is fundamental to every major religion and every sacred scripture.
I majored in philosophy in University including honours in Ethics. I have taught ethics to undergraduate students at Wesley Institute, taught graduate students at Emmanuel School of Religion in Tennessee as Adjunct Professor for the past 22 years, and lived the ethics I have taught.
These ethics are based on the Christian scriptures. The NSW Government is proposing teaching children right from wrong, how to behave, and justice and virtue without any reference to the Christian ethics. What will be the basis of this behaviour without any given norms as found in scripture? Which of the Ten Commandments do parents not want their children to follow?
And who will be the teachers of these ethical standards? In scripture classes children are taught the Christian standards by accredited Christian teachers. Parents know this even if their own ethical standards have been less than what they were taught.
The new curriculum is not based on scripture, does not refer to religious teaching of good and bad, right and wrong, and will be given by unknown people in what they are calling a “values-free” environment.
This is not a trial based on ethical standards. It is a secular humanist attempt to replace Christian values taught in scripture classes. We should be positive and affirm the place of scripture classes in schools to enable children to grow with Christian ethics, and that they should get an understanding of the Bible, the basis of so much of our shared language, literature, history, legal precepts, societal foundations and personal behaviour.
Please sign the Petition and forward it to me and I will present it to the Parliament. The Government, in an election year, will listen to the strong voice of the people.
Rev the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC