Oh dear, religion and politics. Cricket anyone?
Must be done though, so cheers to Hugh.
I hope runner's kids smack him when they're big enough. No I don't, but dude, get out of the fifties and perhaps read a modern psych manual or two. (I'd best refresh myself considering my delivery method there)
School education is about learning to get a job. Parenting is, ideally, about educating your child about living/life.
Would anyone object to bhuddist chaplains. Pity they wouldn't touch it due to all their high falootin' 'airy fairy ethics an' morals.
Krudd and Co's response to Mr Henson was frightening (but that's what Henson wanted). Dare I mention Victoria's anti-abortionists positive and complimentary statements for the negative?
Choice, you bet. Informed choice? Bugger me, it's almost the 21st century in our parliaments.
Informed choice...Education promotes understanding. Understanding promotes respect, etc, etc!
Turnbull, the first Catholic Lib leader. Wow.
ALP and Catholicism used to go hand in hand. The more things change.... Keating moved God further away, yet he/she/it/they/nothing's coming back.
Even Nihilism/Agnosticism is a religious debate, but that's for parents, kids and whoever, not public schools.
Advance Australia Fair, not God Save The Queen.
Rotten John could never attack Kruddies beliefs there. Might've done himself a harm.
I diasgree with Hillsingers but I'll fight to the death to let them sing, just not in my/our public schools... Would Harbingers, oops, Hillsongers, object to a multifaith policy I wonder?
So many points, 350 words to elucidate...
Go get 'em Hughie.

Dear Gym fish....this:

"however it makes better reading than that loose leaf folio of assorted fairy tales, imaginary self-serving history, and chronicled sadistic brutality commonly known by its proponents as 'The Holy(?) bible."

... is called "Religious vilification" and while I welcome your opinion, I'd prefer that it be based on fact rather than hysteria.

Please be advised that to say such things as you did IS Illegal and you can be dragged before a Victorian court for doing so.. no matter which state ur in.

Please (in your own interests) limit your comments on the Bible to "I don't believe it, It's not my thing, I reject it's claim on my life, and the such like. You over stepped the mark wildly with your comments and I refer you to the Victorian consolidated legislation

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/rarta2001265/

Please pay special attention to section 8

Don't be surprised if someone come's a knocking on your door some day soon. It might be the police.

If you wish to discuss the Bible, you can do so in a much less vilifying manner, and you can place facts on the table, and we can discuss those facts.. some of those facts might include reference to the elimination of a people by the order of God.. I don't mind discussing that, but I take a very dim view of the tone of your post -seriously.

In fact.. I feel an apology to all who hold the Bible dear is due.

I await.

P.S. again..in your own interests.. don't take the 'screw you' approach.. it might have a negative outcome.

Oh come on, Porky. You seem to spend half your life vilifying Islam and Muslims. Are you aware of the saying about people who live in glass houses not throwing stones?

GYM-FISH, as you're undoubtedly aware, Porkycrap's bleating amounts to so much hot air - the only thing unclear is which end it comes from.

Excellent article, Hugh, and all power to the Fourth R!

Some great posts too, Godo, GYM-FISH and CJ.

I endorse your summations on both The Purple Economy and the bible, GYM-FISH, and wouldn't lose too much sleep if I were you over the possibility of the police knocking on your door any time soon!

I agree with CJ, Porky, you are the last person to be making accusations about racial and religious vilification. If any of us could be bothered trawling through your posts, it certainly wouldn't be hard to find plenty such examples penned by your good self. I'd pull my head in if I were you. Besides, it probably wouldn't occur to any of us to rail against the good book in the first place, if it weren't for the fact that we're all sick to death of having it quoted at us and rammed down our throats by the likes of you.

The public primary school at which I work, with a student population of less than 400, has a born-again principal and two born-again chaplains. One of the chaplains teaches religious education classes and amazingly the principal did too when he first arrived, until parents objected. The chaplain teaches creationism. He takes whole school assemblies at Easter and Christmas and preaches the respective fictions of christ on the cross and christ in the manger with equal gusto.

At the same time, most of the teachers are teaching large classes in old and poorly equipped buildings. They are teaching an overcrowded curriculum and yet lose a whole session of teaching time every week to religious education. As they struggle to deliver good educational outcomes, I wonder how many teachers are aware of the many millions of taxpayer dollars being poured into funding chaplaincy in schools. Next to parents, it is teachers who are with students the most and are best equipped to provide a listening ear and a word of encouragement when they observe them struggling. Smaller classes would better enable them to take on this role and lessen the need for bringing in outsiders like chaplains.

Bronwyn what a nightmare.

When my one of my children attended a public Primary School in the late 90s the school introduced 'religous classes' even before Howard's ill thought out Chaplaincy program. Those who opted out of the religious classes were told their children would be provided with other activities.

Unbelievably the other activities involved the children sitting just outside the religious instruction classroom with some colouring-in. Every word could be heard and the children were bored. Other activities indeed! The two instrucutors were a husband and wife team who had dabbled in Sunday School. I am sure they were well-intentioned but the point is their presence was inappropriate.

Remember this is a secular public school. With parents in our area crying out for more funding for speech therapy, additional help for students with learning difficulties etc the government chooses indoctrination as a priority.

Support and counselling for students is already provided in the form of trained school counsellors who have established links with external support networks and groups. Their sole purpose is to counsel, advise and provide support. There is no hidden agenda.

This is not to argue that Chaplains are not caring and supportive but that to include a religious role in a secular public school is short sighted and goes against all principles of multi-culturalism, secularism and democracy (the right to choose).

Bibles belong in Churches as do preachers: not in schools. Comparative religion maybe OK, but religious "chaplains" preaching the unbelievable and illogical fallacies and fantasies of christian faith? you must be kidding. "Biblical studies for children: lessons on primitive indocrination techniques" would be a good subject synopsis.