You are right David F and Evolution.
This is extremely disappointing John Winstone Howard, Tony Blair and George Bush are Christian Fundamentalist and unfortunately the Economic Conservative is one too with his mmmmmmmme tooism. Chaplains in Western Australia often do the District Youth Organiser job and give support and help to the youngsters. Government schools should stay secular and the schools should teach all beliefs so that the student can judge for themselves.

david f

I agree. Chaplains have no place in secular education. It's hardly surprising though that a card-carrying Christian like Kevin Rudd sees little need to roll back this particular Howard policy.

"I think religion should be taught in the school system as it is part of our culture."

There's a place for religion to be studied dispassionately and critically if it's relevant to a particular history or social studies unit. With so much to teach in an already overcrowded curriculum though, it's a waste of valuable teaching time to lose half a session each week to regular religious 'education'.

"..indoctrination in a particular religion and teaching what different faith communities believe and practice are two very different matters."

Having listened from the sidelines to many religious education classes over the years, I can assure you they are usually much closer to the former than they are the latter. They are conducted by church volunteers who have an entirely partisan approach. There is much more missionary zeal than there is objective and comparative analysis.

BOAZ_David

"They are there as an 'available' resource for spiritual guidance IF.....a child requests it..and ALSO they are there simply to be a reference point IF....the child requests it...."

The chaplain at the state school I work at takes R.E. classes, runs voluntary lunchtime sessions and conducts whole of school Easter parades and Christmas break-ups, all of which feature a heavy dose of praying and preaching. Not only are the children not 'requesting' this, most of them can't escape it even if they want to. The only ones who can are those whose parents have specifically requested that they not take part, and the price they pay for this privilege is exclusion from the group.

Unfortunately while students are learning Religious Education they are not learning the three R's. Our children go to school to learn English and Language other than English. Mathematics Science, Environmental Studies, Art, Design Technology, etc. While they are learning Superstition, Bible Stories Fables that was made by man they are not learning basic learning to help them in life. While Students are being taught Religioun they are not learning the things that matter such as current affairs and politics that can shape their lives. Most religious people vote for conservative parties beacause they are not aware or conscious of world affairs. Chaplains are certaily not needed in schools in many ways they become a hinderance. Howard introduced this because he was pushing his own and Tony Abbott and Kevin Andrews agenda.

Bronco. Well said. Christian self rightness has to be toned down. I cant believe these people, they get into everything for own agenda.

Schools are for learning and Sundays are for praying. I would be much happier if they would stick to the program.

David F is a "stirrer"..He is expressing an opinion to get a discussion going and his premise is what he's gathered about the subject.Was it Oscar Wilde who said "Without agitators our civilization would not have advanced" We are getting a range of opinions but not much tolerance of the actual effects of the program.A teacher told me that the kids don't take much notice of the Chaplain anyway. He is under guidelines that make him merely an avuncular figure that a child can ask to speak to if something is troubling them.At the school it is up to the local Administration to appoint a "Chappie" and if you read the Goverment Website there is the choice available to appoint a Secular Chaplain.Please don't make this a " Christian versus Others" opportunity for rancour.The teachers are mainly "Ladies" and speak to them if you're concerned about your children.The Labor Party will be criticised soon for "secularizing the program" politicians are being asked to be less partisan and be constructive in our interests.How about doing that ourselves!

Secular chaplain? A 'chaplain' is a religious role.
All the definitions I found were religious in their meaning, save for one, which was on a christian website.

Scrap chaplains, make it counsellors. Failing that, make it a representative of any chosen religion.

Better yet, scrap the whole damn thing, and pump the money into other aspects of education.