What an excellent article; I totally agree with the author. The idea of chaplains in schools is totally outrageous.
Why spend taxes on deceiving (non-Christian) school kids?
Taxes could be much more effectively spend on other ways to improve education; e.g. to improve on already existing counseling programs.

I could say that every child except children of Christians will be automatically disadvantaged by this silly chaplains program. Or I could go as far as saying that the children of Christian parents will be disadvantaged as well; is there any place in their little world where these kids will NOT be indoctrinated?

It looks like money buys access to politicians in our country.
The worst example of the government funding schools I know of are the Exclusive Brethren schools, who I believe abuse children; they strictly sensor what the children are learning, such as science facts, fiction and are strong homophobes.
They also forbid tertiary education, limiting their children’s aspirations and restricting personal development. Howard would condemn this if an Islamic group would do the same; but he funds it because they’re ‘good Christians’.

Humans should have rights over and above religions.
Why does the Australian government follow the example of the USA and not of the EU?

Schools need to concentrate on educating children, teaching them skills and prepare them for life in society.

I like Saintfletchers comment about discrimination in religious schools; they are exempt from some discrimination laws and therefore able to discriminate against sex and sexual orientation. Religion or religious schools should not be exempt from rules that apply to other schools.
Will that exempt now extend to Public Schools? What advice will chaplains give children- it will place him in compromised situations, such as dealing with teenage pregnancies, or children who discovered they're homosexual and are not sure how to bring it to their parents?

I find it ridiculous that this much money is being wasted on religious counseling.

I'm sure the public school system could use the money in far more appropriate ways.

What will happen when a teenager approaches 1 of these Chaplains about homosexuality? Unless they're lucky enough to talk to a tolerant (dare I say enlightened) chaplain, more harm than good could come from the conversation. Growing up in a small town I know from bitter experience the effects of narrow mindedness over sexuality.

I wont say I'm a religious person, but I am a Christian, and believe the teaching of Christ allow us to live good and happy lives.

It's interesting to note that the majority of Catholic schools have not accepted this funding as well.

Francis,

It is true that religious people pay taxes, as do non-religious. You may disagree with how those taxes are spent in terms of education, wars, health, welfare etc. but the thing you must realise is that rightly or wrongly, these monies are spent on secular issues. They do not fund speculative claims of eternal truths; because none of us can honestly say they know what these are. They are articles of *faith* alone.

Regards,

I would share some of Simon Wright’s unease if the National School Chaplaincy Program were an initiative of the Commonwealth Government. It might suit the Government to make it sound as though chaplaincy was its own idea, but the NSCP is designed to support the already existing program around the country, but especially in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Government is offering only $20,000 to each school: a decent chaplaincy service employing a full-time chaplain and the associated costs is closer to $50,000 per year. The existing chaplaincy program, mainly funded by the churches has been around for some years: since the early 1950s in Victoria and for more than a decade in other States. Simon will probably find that the take-up of the money has been mainly in schools that already have a chaplain.
These programs are, and continue to be, a service offered by the churches to the schools. There is no compulsion for a school to take them up. The fact that there were 500-600 chaplains around the country before the NSCP shows the extent to which schools exercised their choice. In addition, the Principal and the school community must be happy with the particular person nominated as chaplain.
The Commonwealth is doing no more than it does when it funds successful programs, say, of the Salvation Army.

fullbore,
Are you aware that half your gunpowder is missing?

CHAPLAINS CAN BE DENOMNATIONALLY NEUTRAL.

Guidelines are laid down such that Chaplains are not able to propogate their particular denominational flavor to students.

CHAPLAINS ARE AVAILABLE...NOT COMPULSORY.
No one is 'forced' to see chaplain..they may if they wish.

CHAPLAINS ARE VITAL... in some peoples views. But my own thoughts are that the preferred option would be for revved up, lively, switched on and relevant local churches, ministering to the families of a community, such that all chaplaincy kind of work is done within or from the caring environment of a local Church (of any denomination)

CHAPLAINS ARE A REACTION. Given the current climate in the world.. religious and political, and with the emergence of Islamic radicalism, (please all read Irfs article on "The Islamist") I get the impression that the Government is trying to plug a spiritual vacuum in the community.

CHAPLAINS ARE NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Whenever we come across any encouragement for spiritual growth from the government, the "experts" on the Constitution pop their heads up and whine "nooooo".

PERSPECTIVE. The word 'Religion' as used in the constitution should be translated 'denomination' because historically, the issue at stake was the promotion or prevention of Catholic vs Protestant(Mostly Anglican) .... I highly doubt that the founding fathers had anything else in mind. Given this, then the constitution is just saying:

"Don't enact anything which would promote Catholicism or Anglicanism, nor prevent them ...on the denominational level. But as for religion in general...I think they would accept that it should not be totally separated from government.
But lets NOT have any Theocratic tendencies....