Compass, 24 October, Challenging the Chaplains

[DanDare]

Compass - 24 October 2010 - 10:15pm: Challenging the Chaplains - Features Ronnie Williams, Danny Stevens, Hugh Wilson and Vicki Frances O'Brien

Compass investigates support and opposition to the growing number of chaplains in our state schools. Since the Federal Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) was announced in 2006, the number of chaplains in government schools has grown to over 2 700. While the program’s been largely embraced, some are uneasy. The majority of school chaplains are Christian, and Queensland has the most. Toowoomba dad Ron Williams has moved his four school age children to three different schools to keep them away from chaplains. He argues they are ‘proselytising by stealth’ and he’s planning a High Court challenge against the federal government’s funding of the chaplaincy program. Compass investigates.

The Compass "comming up" page.

[Brentagon]

I shall be watching this program...

I'm 18 and recently got employed, so I will soon be paying taxes; I do NOT want them to be spent on promoting a religion I'm not a part of...

[goli]

I am curious, I know that in nsw chaplains are associated with the scripture union. If the chaplaincy programme is successfully challenged will it be all that easy to remove 2700 jobs ? Many schools can also save money by getting chaplains to teach ... will this be a problem ?

[Goldenmane]

Originally Posted by goli

I am curious, I know that in nsw chaplains are associated with the scripture union. If the chaplaincy programme is successfully challenged will it be all that easy to remove 2700 jobs ? Many schools can also save money by getting chaplains to teach ... will this be a problem ?

Scripture Union provides the money for the chaplains, yes? Scripture Union has tax-exempt status, yes? Or, in other words, gets money that would otherwise go to taxes.

And... what are these fuckers teaching? They're chaplains, which mean they aren't actually teaching anything, they're talking bollocks and pretending to be counselors. Answer's simple, really: Stop feeding religious institutions tax money and hire people who are actually qualified to teach or provide counseling services.

Get rid of 2700 fake jobs and employ 2700 people who are actually qualified and do actual jobs.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Originally Posted by goli

I am curious, I know that in nsw chaplains are associated with the scripture union. If the chaplaincy programme is successfully challenged will it be all that easy to remove 2700 jobs ? Many schools can also save money by getting chaplains to teach ... will this be a problem ?

We should stop trying to get rid of terrorists and extortionists too. Think of all that unemployment if the terrorists and extortionists are gone!

What are you suggesting? We keep the chaplains and let them peddle their rubbish into schools just for losing 2700 employees who are doing a job without any training or qualifications?

[robertkd]

Originally Posted by goli

I am curious, I know that in nsw chaplains are associated with the scripture union. If the chaplaincy programme is successfully challenged will it be all that easy to remove 2700 jobs ? Many schools can also save money by getting chaplains to teach ... will this be a problem ?

How about they can get a real fucking job!

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by goli

I am curious, I know that in nsw chaplains are associated with the scripture union. If the chaplaincy programme is successfully challenged will it be all that easy to remove 2700 jobs ?

Yes. Ask any large organisation. Even after god failed to guide their investments, churches still have enough money left for redundancy payments and will cut their own running costs in the process. It is not as if they would lose something useful like, um, recruitment services, is it?

Many schools can also save money by getting chaplains people without teaching qualifications* to teach ... will this be a problem ?

[*My clarification] I think most people know the answer to that question, goli. Do you think schools should also employ cheaply from the local fried chicken sales counter?

Even if there were a chaplain to be found with teaching qualifications, one takes it they have no serious interest in teaching or they would be doing it (there being a lack of good teachers) so why would we want an unmotivated person as a teacher in any case?

Given you are new here, I have taken the time to spell out the folly in your position. I hope you will understand the obvious more quickly next time.

[66 vegie]

Originally Posted by DanDare

Compass - 24 October 2010 - 10:15pm: Challenging the Chaplains - Features Ronnie Williams, Danny Stevens, Hugh Wilson and Vicki Frances O'Brien

Compass investigates support and opposition to the growing number of chaplains in our state schools. Since the Federal Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) was announced in 2006, the number of chaplains in government schools has grown to over 2 700. While the program’s been largely embraced, some are uneasy. The majority of school chaplains are Christian, and Queensland has the most. Toowoomba dad Ron Williams has moved his four school age children to three different schools to keep them away from chaplains. He argues they are ‘proselytising by stealth’ and he’s planning a High Court challenge against the federal government’s funding of the chaplaincy program. Compass investigates.

The Compass "comming up" page.

Thank you so much for this... didn't know it was on...this is the one area I'm having trouble with at my son's school. Thank's again

[SinisterDexter]

Originally Posted by goli

I am curious, I know that in nsw chaplains are associated with the scripture union. If the chaplaincy programme is successfully challenged will it be all that easy to remove 2700 jobs ? Many schools can also save money by getting chaplains to teach ... will this be a problem ?

It's a fair question. I've only been on the inside of the school I'm doing my prac in for about half a semester, but the acceptance of the Chaplains seems fairly overwhelming. I have only heard one critical voice, and this from a guy who is basically ignored.

Luckily, however, I think the requirements for teachers are fairly strict and we are unlikely to see schools employing chaplains to actually teach (this is in the public sphere at least). They could try to add them to admin staff, but budgets seem fairly tight for that sort of thing and, from the perspective of the schools, chaplains are an extra set of hands they don't have to pay for.

Yes, it will effectively mean the removal of 2700 "jobs", but I don't think there is likely to be significant outcry for 2700 religious prsetylisers joining the dole queue from this particular forum membership.

[Dane]

Originally Posted by SinisterDexter

Yes, it will effectively mean the removal of 2700 "jobs", but I don't think there is likely to be significant outcry for 2700 religious prsetylisers joining the dole queue from this particular forum membership.

I dunno, someone could make the argument that their tax dollars are going to fund the dole for people who have an 'education' in baloney.