School Chaplaincy

[Secme]

In answer to my own question this just in: http://media.suqld.org.au/2012/04/23...te-april-2012/

OMG... roads and autism programs at risk!

No, not at risk he said it will affect roads and autism programs... by giving them loads more funds as it won't be wasted on his claptrap.

[Blue Lightning]

Does anyone know when the High Court will decide the School Chaplaincy case. Is there any news?

As others have said, it is largely unpredictable ...

There is nothing in the latest High Court bulletin. But that is not necessarily a reliable indicator.

Usually, when we have a HC matter, we just have to wait.

As the High Court Bulletin shows, however, it is now the oldest outstanding matter (and that's a reflection of the importance, extent and complexity of the arguments involved). The Court will be concerned not to let it drift for too long. They have also "cleared the decks", in that they have recently given some other important and complex judgments. So, more likely than not, it will be soon.

[madpostie]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...n-church-state

[DanDare]

From the UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17886181

Parents 'not being told' of religious education opt-out

The survey gathered experiences from the parents of primary and secondary pupils
Schools may be failing on obligations to make parents aware of a right to withdraw their children from religious lessons, a study has suggested.
Schools have had to alert parents that children can opt out of religious classes and assemblies since 2005.
But only 20% of parents asked by YouGov on behalf of the Humanist Society of Scotland said they had picked up this information from schools.

[ptah]

From the UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17886181

Does this mean schools are legally liable? Can an argument be made on the basis of informed consent?

[DanDare]

Does this mean schools are legally liable? Can an argument be made on the basis of informed consent?

That's an interesting question. I imagine not since the law does not seem to consider the situation harmful. The problem with the whole teaching religion in schools things is that the schools doing it "wrong" are not very wrong if you use the regulation as your standard. They are only horrifically wrong if you use a parents rights, secular, liberal position as the benchmark instead.

[DanDare]

http://www.news.com.au/national/teac...-1226352499810

Yesterday, Queensland Association of State School Principals president Hilary Backus said schools were a reflection of society and they had seen an increase in the mental and emotional needs of students, along with those diagnosed with verified disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.

"We have seen a rise in students displaying anxiety and depression from quite an early age," she said.

Schools were now dealing with these issues "on a daily basis" and she renewed her call for stand-alone professionals.

Queensland Teachers Union president Kevin Bates said its policy was for every school to have access to a guidance officer.

But he said the number of guidance officers simply hadn't "kept pace with the needs of schools as these sorts of issues have expanded" and were "spread thin" across the system.

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Norm Fuller said they had also called for extra support, while behaviour issues in schools were a reflection of what was happening in society.

But last night Education Minister John Paul-Langbroek crushed the idea of providing more guidance officers, saying the Labor government legacy meant there was not enough money in the kitty and chaplains would do instead.

He said 80 per cent of state high schools and more than 40 per cent of state primaries had a chaplain and the LNP had committed a further $1 million to fund them.

[Logic please]

But last night Education Minister John Paul-Langbroek crushed the idea of providing more guidance officers, saying the Labor government legacy meant there was not enough money in the kitty and chaplains would do instead.

In one way, a damning admission that chappies are a "cheap seats" option to genuinely qualified counselling.

[gord]

Saw this vacancy [tweeted by Ron Williams] on seek.com.au advertising for "Student Welfare Worker" for "Young life Australia"

link : http://www.seek.com.au/Job/student-w...coast/22468366

My letter to them :

--------------8<----------------

I believe your vacancy position description above discriminates on the basis of religion. Your position description clearly states "Committed Christian faith" as a selection criteria.

If a well qualified atheist (or muslim or buddhist or hindi) youth worker applied for this position, they would be excluded purely on the basis of their religious beliefs. This is morally reprehensible and quite probably illegal.

As an atheist with a young child I object to indoctrinating young children with religion in public schools. I also object to putting counselors in schools who do not have proper training in education. Let us not forget the many cases in which church pastors have abused young children for whom they had a duty of care.

[madpostie]

Well done, we need to keep the pressure on them.