Francis,
in the context of what I said the comment you find so puzzling was merely affirming that now that the issue--in my opinion, no less than the placing of Christian missionaries in State schools--is an item of public debate, it's not going to go away. Indeed I suspect the time will come when political parties will no longer be able to cynically support the issue for political kudos. The Labor party's support for Chaplains is as hypocritical as its defence of the "sanctity" of marriage. Like the revolting bipartisan support for tough action on refugees, political support for unqualified zealots placed in the State education system no longer smells like roses.

Chris C,
fair enough, it's useful information. I only meant that from your disinterested perspective it was trivia.

Squeers

You may very well be right but that is not the point I was making. The fact is, at it seems to me, the High Court's decision is not a loss for school chaplaincy because the government is legislating to validate funding. In that case the school chaplaincy is in no worse a situation than a number of other government fund recipients. I have an open mind re school chaplaincy. I do know, from friends (non-religious) that they fully support their school chaplains.

Bob Carr slams chaplain funds

Jenny Dillon Education Editor
The Daily Telegraph
May 02, 2011

BOB Carr has described the Federal Government's funding of school chaplains as "abhorrent".

In a blog on the eve of the next step in a High Court challenge to the funding of the school chaplain program, Mr Carr said he strongly believed in a "wall of separation" between church and state.

"I don't want to see squabbles at P&C meetings about whether a minister, priest, imam or rabbi gets the gig for a school," he said.

"The notion of the state funding religious activity is abhorrent."

Queensland father of six Ron Williams is due to appear in the High Court next week to argue his claim that government funding of chaplains is unconstitutional.

"My view has always been that government funding for school chaplains is wrongheaded and should have been abandoned with the election of the Rudd government," Mr Carr said.

The funding program was introduced by the Howard government in 2001 and Kevin Rudd expanded on the program when he became prime minister in 2007.

Francis,
the chaplaincy program will be in worse shape ideologically, despite legislation, which is intended to head-off other constitutional challenges first, and to protect chaplaincy second, and for cynical, populist reasons, imo.
I congratulate you on your open mind and I like to think I'm open-minded too. I'm certainly an idealist, and all in favour of religious "education", just not indoctrination or institutional orthodoxy (conservatism). Politicians thrive on the stable elements of society they can perennially exploit, but more to the point it's antithetical to any concept of learning that isn't devoted to rote.
I realise chaplaincy has popular support--though that support is comprised mainly of social indifference, the rest being a noisy, happy-clappy minority that specialises in smug narrow-mindedness.
I'm not just a Grinch; I have six kids, four in the system right now, and I have practical experience of what religious influence in school generally amounts to: not just appalling ignorance, but denialism of the basic facts of our biological heritage and imperatives and a sheep-like devotion to the dubious verities of their religious fairy tales.
I suspect many parents support chaplains because they buy the official line that they don't proselytise. They do--opportunistically, though their prime function is grooming.
Our State schools should be places of learning--including about religion and philosophy, but at a critical distance--but not learning to conform.

Shame on you all, who disagree with Chaplains in our state schools. I challenge each one of you to give up your time and income and spend twevle months in a state high school or state primary school earning a pitance of a wage. Chaplains give up their own time above and beyond their call of duty to help those in need. I have seen chaplains drive hours to a hospital on a weekend holding the hand of an underage driver on the brink of death. Chaplains don't force "religion" onto their students. Would you be prepared to spend time with children that come from abused homes, unfeed, unclean and just searching for a place that they feel accepted. Have you heard testimonies from students who have been close to committing suicide but because of the programmes implemented by school chaplains, these students have had their life turned around. Put the "religion" aside and humble yourself to be thankful that their are decent human beings in this world who care enough about other humans to make a difference in society without "bible bashing". Please just go and visit a school with an open mind and spend some time with a chaplain and then make your opinion in this post.

Dear TimTamToo

My heart bleeds.

Chaplains earn $50 an hour (plus in RARA areas) squeezed from our taxes in the current scam.

The employer groups peel off their cut from that, plus the generous handouts that go to them directly from DEEWR.

Then there is the extra dosh that is chiselled from P&Cs, corporate Australia and mug mayors, not forgetting the tithing forms placed in schools, the gold coin donations children are coerced into engaging in, the sausage sizzles and the contribution form the churches, not to mention the free church planting that goes on in many schools.

On top of that, employers who are also 'trainers' earn a quid from the government for taking on trainees, plus the cut from the chaplains who pay to train.

This is a religion industry of no real value beyond those engaged in it, and all tax free too.

Chaplains have to, must get, the minimum wage, which is around $15.50 (plus a bit) per hour worked, plus super and overtime if applicable.

Now, if they do not get that, they should join a union, or go to Fairwork Australia and get a fair deal.

Australia is not a 'haven for martyrs', but it does seem to be a centre for mugs.

Bible bashing is central to the job, the rest is peripheral and allows the Bible bashing.

You can't have it both ways.

If Jesus and being a Prayer Warrior is not the main job, then there is absolutely no need for it to be done by an overtly religious person.

If it is really only about counselling and support, then those skills should be the reason the person is employed, which it is not.

SCAM is the word that springs to mind whenever 'chaplains' is uttered.