Religious Indoctrination in Schools

[Alex]

OK people I'm going to get straight into it. I had children at a government primary school who say the lord prayer at assembly. The captains of the school stand up and say it and ask the school children, parents in attendance and teacher to rise for the lords prayer, everybody stands and says it and then they get on with the remainer of the assembly.

As per sections 30 and 33 of the NSW Education Act I would have thought this was unlawful???

It has been raised at the assembly anonymously before and there was a vote and the majority wanted the prayer to stay. My husband raised it last week, the principle stated if they removed the prayer, christmas/easter/anzac celebrations would also go resulting in a mass exodus from the school, funding would be lost and programs removed such as reading recovery. I guess I don't need to describe the response and stick we are getting in response!!!!

We are now in the process of taking it through his heirachy.

My question is this

The department policy states:
schools are permitted to use or to write school prayers. These prayers are to be interdenominatioinal Christian or multi-faith to reflect the diversity of the school comunity. Consultation with the school community should occur about both prayer and the types of occasions on which it will be used. Under section 33 of the Act, parents can object to any general religious education. Students of parents who have indicated this objection, including their child being present when prayers are said should be supervised in another area of the school.

Now this is vague and seems to contradict legislation, in any event legislation should take prededence over policy?????

I have formally objected to this and an assembly was held only friday and my children were still made to go and the prayer was read out.

I feel this policy needs to be clarified, I don't think it should be multi denominational as it is clearly discriminatory to atheists and other groups and the legislation does say 'has to be strictly secular'.

This doesn't refer to special religious education (scripture) or general religious education in HSIE unless it is dogmatic.

If you want to read legislation go to austlii, go the NSW legislation, consolidated acts, click on e for ecucation and have a gander. Any advice would be appreciated, I am devestated by the way he has cause us to be vilified by this issue.

Other people who don't do scripture classes are also being targeted, the teachers have stated they will no longer support the p and c committee.

It sounds incredible but this man is getting away with it. Excuse the typo's in a tearing hurry!!!

[Alex]

thanks I will check it out