Actually ronnie peters, the school was a government high school with about 800 students from years 8-12. It was in a lower socio economic area. Without huge resources the Student Services arrangement was managed through a "clever" re-arrangement and the maximizing of the effecient use of overall teaching resources. We had a significant proportion of "interesting" students who needed plenty of support if they were to have any chance in life. Helping them also helped students with none of their problems as the arrangement minimised interruption caused by erratic behaviour that was evident prior to the Student Services set-up. Nothing is perfect. We still had our fair share of problems.

I am not a religous person.

Our chaplains were "christian". That suited the dynamic of the student population. There were no organised "prayer meetings" or "missionary work" or something similar. I would have been against that but it never became an issue. They did bring an added perspective to the overall work of the Student Services group which helped many of the students.

I would have no problems with a non christian chaplain. You would choose a person who fitted in well with the overall student mix. Broadening the range of support people, if it is well managed, and you have good people, really helps all students even those who don't need support.

I get the impression that you are totally opposed to anything that might be called "religous" being involved in a government school. However, as a principal one needs to create the atmosphere within the school where students are well supported. I have heard teachers say things like "I leave my problems at home when I come to work. Students should do the same." I don't subscribe to that view and instinctively know that students will often arrive at school impacted upon by what is going on in their lives and need to have support if they are to be able to give their attention to schoolwork. A good chaplain, as part of a good student services team which includes a good school psychologist, is a big help.

Sniggid. Yes you seem to have the best interests of the students at heart. A refreshing change from some politicians. And I would not have a problem with chaplaincy of the kind you mention -so long as they kept their religious nonsense to themselves.

However, I see the Liberal's push for chaplaincy to be nothing more than social engineering. Given that the government is only talking of funding for chaplaincy, I think it would have been better and less divisive and truly in the interests of students to broaden the possibilities to include other less potentially manipulative methods of assisting students - such as psychology. Did you check out the resilience link?

You say that your program worked extremely well. How do you know that? How do you know of the kids that fall by the wayside? How do you know of the kids that have been hurt both physically and mentally by bullies or unprofessional staff? I read somewhere once that schools should never claim to be free of these problems? Having said this, I must agree that with a watchful eye your system is a great model.

You have also lessened some of my cynicism. I live near a religious private school- certain often disrespectful people, including the principal, have a rather mean-spirited, holier-than-thou attitude to the wider community and have been dishonest in their dealings with me.

I wouldn't want my children exposed to their religious teachings which has children referring to others as "evil" and groups that "chant street bum, street bum" to a lad dressed in dirty work clothes while a teacher looked on and said nothing. Not to mention the students who told us to "go back to where you came from" or the years of harassment for daring to stand my ground on other issues. If a kid is harmed in this system where reputation, I think, is more important than integrity, I can’t see the parents ever getting a just and fair outcome.

See the following link for "Guidelines for Chaplains in State Primary Schools in Tasmania" - sponsored by Tasmanian Department of Education and the Tasmanian Council of Churches Commission for Christian Ministry in State Schools. Its very ecumenical, but only for Christian religions.
http://www.anglicantas.org.au/pdfs/primary_guidelines.pdf

And then there is this interesting exchange of correspondence between David Nicholls from the ATHEIST FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA INC and the Saintly Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie.

In his letter to Pastor Beattie Nicholls cites the commonwealth constituion where it states at 116.

"The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth."

Happy reading!

Hi ronnie peters. During my over 40 years in schools I have met some of the sort of people you refer to. In a school with around 80 to 100 staff you will always get a range of types, but most have the best interests of students at heart. Teaching is a horrible business if you don't have a genuine interest in kids.

Most want to teach their subject to students who are keen to learn and my Student Services model is designed to help troubled kids to put their troubles into perspective and recognise that if they work and progress in their studies it will give them a better chance in life.

The model works well without a chaplain but a good chaplain complements it.

Just as in the community there are a range of types that go into politics. They always come down to the school at a variety of times throughout the year, and you can pick out the good people from the others. They usually have children themselves and mostly are OK types.

There are principals I have known who I wouldn't have near my children, but by and large they are pretty genuine. There are bureaucrats who are good and bad as well as others who you have to work with as a principal. Not always bad people, sometimes it is nervousness and shear ambition that gets in the way of supporting sensible initiatives.

By the way you know whether an initiative like the Student Services one is working by the way the tone of the school is operating. I've always spent plenty of time with students and been visable around the school. And I have been an active part of my Student Services team. Sometimes an older adult person somehow can get through, particularly when you find some contact or resource that does makes a difference. You do have failures of course.

I have also found that school psychologists vary in their effectiveness. Mostly good, some however, just like with other class of people, are not too hot.

Good to read some experienced comment Sniggin. Old teachers never die...

If you want your children to be taught christian values in school then send them to a christian school.