There is a need to teach ethics in schools. If we leave aside the problem of competent teachers then the idea of teaching ethics is not the same as teaching religion. The Philosophy for Children Programme has produced an ethics course that has been taught in some schools for close on to 20 years.
For those who want to know more about the philosophy for children programme you can look here:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/children/

BAYGON wrote: There is a need to teach ethics in schools.

Dear BAYGON,

We cannot teach ethics in schools as that would involve the state in defining what ethical system a child should accept. That should no more be the business of the state than telling a child what religious belief or lack of belief to accept. The courses in philosophy equip a child with tools to make decisions regarding ethical questions. That is not the same as teaching ethics.

David F Your say "We cannot teach ethics in schools as that would involve the state in defining what ethical system a child should accept."
It is a common misconception to assume that the teaching of ethics implies proposing a particular ethical system.
The teaching of ethics (as used in the philosophy for children programme) uses the socratic method. For example the topic may deal with the issue of lying - is lying wrong? In my experience I find that students very quickly distinguish between different types of lies. In one class a student raised the issue of her mother who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She felt that it would have been better if they had lied to her so that she would not have been so worried. As you can imagine it lead to a far reaching discussion about our obligations and duties.
What you tend to find with ethics is that it is only at the edges that there are violent disagreements in the main there is an overwhelming consensus about the bulk of things that we encounter in our daily lives.
The role of ethics in schools is to give students the tools to think through issues that they face rather than to give them a particular ethical system.

Given the state of play in the Catholic Church these days, Baygon, one might ask what has religion got to do with ethics ? [Cheap shot]

Squeers,
There will probably never be an 'end of history'. I'm not sure what you mean by scientific methodology (or liberal rationalism) having an ontology, but sure, science or whatever is indifferent to how humans feel. Still, if you can find a better hole ......

Dear BAYGON,

Unfortunately, what is called religious education in the schools usually involves indoctrination in a particular religion rather than when I regard as genuine religious education which would give student information about various systems of belief without making any judgments.

I was once approached by a man asking me to sign a petition calling for education in ethics in New York State schools. I can't remember what group was sponsoring the petition, but I refused to sign since I thought that the petition was implicitly to rally support in teaching the petition sponsor's ethical views. I don't think I have any misconception about teaching of ethics. Unless explicitly stated otherwise most people would make a direct analogy between religious education as it is commonly understood.

I agree with what I think you are trying to do. However, I think the misconception lies in your understanding of what others take by your words.

Baygon... I have to agree with david f.

At least in some Ed Qld schools, instead of being fed the usual tripe in Religious Instruction (note the term does not denote 'education' at all) students can opt into a 'values' programme.

Without any truthful explanation to parents, who assume this is a 'neutral' values topic, it is in fact written by the Bahai's.

So, once again, ever more 'religion' is being imposed on Qld students with the full approval of Wilson and Bligh, and the aquiesence of the QTU and QCPCA who each pretends to have a policy supporting 'secular public schools, but in fact, both happily support the imposition of extreme versions of a twisted Christianity.

And I certainly have no desire to have any 'opposite' views put in schools.

Buranda State School, almost alone amongst Qld public schools, is trying to 'educate' students with a 'philosophy' basis to how the school runs.

Do google them.

Typically though, even though EQ is happy to show this place off, they refuse to promote such moves to the duller principals and backwoods schools that proliferate around the state.

Until the DG and Minister insist on all teachers following EQ policy, and instruct them to leave their dogma at the school gate, the religious fanatics will be coercing students with their toxic 'values' and 'ethics' drawn from the evangelical branches of Christian cults.