We haven't yet discussed - picking the right school for
a child.

Picking a child's school, and wanting it to be a good school
takes research and an open mind.

Choosing the right school
is not an easy process because what is bad for a child's
education is narrow-mindedness and institutionalized ignorance,
Therefore, being careful in the choice of a child's school is important to most people.

Parents are often limited by the choices open to them. Be it
geographical location, finances, religion, non-religion,
co-education, culture, acceptance by grades, familial
ties to certain schools, and many other
factors.

The single most influential
educator in a child's life is usually their parent.
if the parent is
narrow-minded and ignorant that will be the worst for the
child's education. Choosing a good school is quite a big
responsibility. And one that parents have to make for better
or for worst.

A brief summary:

At the request of the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, the
Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has released a report
putting forward its proposal and recommendations for how
the federal government should address the questions of
should religious schools and other education bodies have the
right, as they now do, to discriminate when it comes to whom
they employ and enroll.

The overwhelming majority of non-government schools are faith-
based and committed to teaching the tenents of their particular
religion.

Given their religious character the question arises as to what
extent they should be free to manage themselves without
intervention.

This report will undoubtedly have consequences for the 2,724
religious non-government schools across Australia,
plus the 1.4 million students and their parents
who make financial sacrifices to choose such schools.

Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, Anglican, Presbyterian, religions
and the Australian Christian Lobby and the National Civic
Council all agree that faith-based schools must be allowed to
act according to their religious tenants and beliefs.

Quite a conundrum for the major political parties.

Often forgotten or ignored in debate about human rights is that
there is no such thing as unlimited freedom to do whatever
you want. With a liberal democratic society like Australia each
person's rights are always balanced against the rights of others
and the community in general.

The current government has made it clear that they will not
proceed unless they have Coalition support. In any case these
proposals can only pass into law by the parliament.

We have to wait and see what happens next.

The ALRC recommendations do not necessarily become law unless
they have the support of Parliament. However we should note
that over 85% of ALRC reports have been either substantially or
partially implemented making the ALRC one of the most effective
and influential agents for legal reform in Australia.

Interesting times ahead.

There's just one more thing I'd like to add:

We all need our rainbow's end
Or a patch of blue
Where the sun shines through
May we be blessed to find it.

All the Best to you all!

Dear Foxy,

«The overwhelming majority of non-government schools are faith-
based and committed to teaching the tenents of their particular
religion.»

A good intention for a start, but do they truly know what their religion is and what its tenets?

«Given their religious character the question arises as to what
extent they should be free to manage themselves without
intervention.»

Why do you assume their religious character to be "Given"?
Just because someone thinks or claims to be religious, does not automatically imply that they are so.

If indeed they are religious, then isn't it obvious that one should not intervene against God?

And to tell for certain that they are not religious, one needs to be a prophet - any claimers here?

Therefore, in the absence of living prophets, EVERYONE should be free and be given the benefit of the doubt that their actions could possibly be in line with God.

«Often forgotten or ignored in debate about human rights is that
there is no such thing as unlimited freedom to do whatever
you want.»

Whether we know it or not, we all have unlimited freedom to do whatever we want: nobody can take our freedom away, not even if they lock away or kill our body.

Today of all days we should remember one man who was fully aware of his absolute and unlimited freedom, whom no one and no government could stop or have control over, not even by nailing his hands and feet to a cross, a man who freely forgave all our sins because he recognised that we are lost sheep who understand not what we are doing, a Son who won eternal victory over all evil on his Father's behest. May we all follow his example!

«We all need our rainbow's end
Or a patch of blue
Where the sun shines through
May we be blessed to find it.»

The ones who most need a patch of blue where the sun shines through, are the hostages that are 40 metres deep in Gaza's tunnels - may they be blessed to find it soon. Amen.

Yuyutsu,

Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for your faith.

Time for someone to start some new threads: like those characters who have never done it before, but just sponge off those who do.