Legal Bible lessons of 1910 ratify
Christianity
as Education Queensland's official State religion
welcome to Education Queensland Bible Lessons—back with a vengeance for 2008 having been spurred-on by the NSCP surge into Queensland State schools of hundreds of Scripture Union evangelist chaplains along with their locust-like swarms of Charismatic/Pentecostal 'volunteers'.
There's even an official Education Queensland curriculum for Bible lessons. The document is here. It would appear that there's a more comprehensive version on the way. This mumbo jumbo is being 'taught' as fact by a Queensland Government public servants in a classroom environment. It can, and is happening at any time anywhere within Queensland State schools—and it's legal. Oh yes—there are 'guidelines' out there on the shifting, whispering Education Queensland policy blogs. Principals and staff don't take any notice of those though—probably don't even know they exist. Besides, the wordier stuff is inappropriately secreted away on the Education Queensland web pages in 'student services'. Their sole purpose is for cutting and pasting excerpts into response letters to parents brave enough to attempt any form of complaint.
As long as the word 'secular' remains out of the Queensland Education Act, and anachronistic, discriminatory Bible lessons remain within it, Christian worship can, and will continue to manifest itself inappropriately within the Queensland State education system.
For example, consider the codswallop below. Although it's supposedly 'current as of July 2008', it can't be found on the Education Queensland web pages—it being reserved, as usual, for REAC and mates thereof. We found it on a Uniting Church website. While reading through it, imagine how any of this ambiguous, unworkable nonsense could be 'made up' if the Queensland Education system regained the secular status it was so wisely awarded in 1875—while removing the 1910 inserted 'Bible lessons' which ratify Christianity as Education Queensland's official State religion.
PRAYER IN QUEENSLAND STATE SCHOOLS (Current June 2008)
It is important to be aware that our state schools are multicultural and multifaith communities.
Some students will consider the saying of prayers to be wholly appropriate; some will be indifferent to the activity; but others may be offended both by the choice of prayer and its possible perceived irrelevance to their education at a state school.
However, schools are permitted to engage in prayer on ceremonial occasions and to use or write a special school prayer. When considering the use of prayer in a state school, it is important to consult with the local school community and ensure that the decision made reflects the specific culture of the school. Opportunity must be given for objecting parents to make their views known and to withdraw their children from prayer as it occurs.
Teachers should not say prayers in the classroom, nor should they say grace before morning tea and lunch.
School Prayer
Schools are permitted to write a school prayer. These prayers should be interdenominational Christian or preferable multi-faith to reflect the diversity of the Queensland community. Consultation with the school community should occur about both the prayer and the types of occasions on which it will be used. As school prayer should be reviewed every 5 years to ensure the prayer is still relevant and appropriate for the school community.
School prayers on assembly
Schools are permitted to engage in prayer on ceremonial occasions.
Formal occasions, such as the commissioning of a chaplain, may contain religious elements. The nature of these commemorations should be the product of consultation with the school community and parents/caregivers should be notified of the nature of the ceremony and be informed that they may withdraw their child from the prayer.
Prayers should be presented at the beginning of the end of the service/event to ensure minimal disruption for those students who have elected not to be present during prayers.
School chaplains may be invited to participate in particular commemorations and observances.
Prayers in religious instruction
Prayers may be said during religious instruction classes. In a denominational program, these prayers may be specific to that denomination and may have reference to the distinctive tenets or doctrines of that denomination, society or sect. In a cooperative program, instructor must ensure that prayers are non-denominational and inclusive of all denominations, societies and sects involved in the program.
Please note, prayers must not be said as part of selected Bible Lessons as provided for under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 section 76 (3). These lessons must be free from any teaching in the distinctive tenets or doctrines of any religious denomination, society or sect.
Consent
Prayers and celebration of religious observances are not part of the school curriculum. They are optional and information must be provided to parent/caregivers before the event with enough notice for them to request the withdrawal of their child if they wish.
Students also have the right to request that they be withdrawn from a prayer or a religious observance, even if their parents have provided consent.
It a parent/caregiver or student elects to withdraw from the prayer they will be placed in a separate physical space and supervised for the duration.
Religious Observances
Australia is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values, and, as such, both Easter and Christmas are celebrated public holidays.
However, it is important to be aware that some students do not celebrate these festivals and for some it may be against their religious practices to be involved.
"Secular" was deleted
from the Queensland Education Act in 1910.
To bring Queensland into line with Australia's other States and Territories while putting an end to the human rights defying absurdities within these pages, the word "secular" must be placed back in the Act.
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Milestones & Millstones
1875
Education Act provided for free, secular and compulsory education in State schools and transferred all primary education in Queensland to the Department of Public Instruction responsible to a Minister for Education.
The new Act provided for Classes 1 to 5 (approximately 8 years) in primary schools. The syllabus comprised reading, writing, arithmetic, object lessons, drill and gymnastics, vocal music, sewing and needlework, geography, history, English grammar and elementary mechanics.
1910
A controversial State referendum approves the following via one YES/NO question:
The State Schoolmaster, in school hours, teaches selected Bible lessons from a reading book provided for the purpose, but is not allowed to give sectarian teaching:
Any minister of religion is entitled, in school hours, to give the children of his own denomination an hour's religious instruction on such day or days as the school committee can arrange for:
Any parent is entitled to withdraw his child from all religious teaching if he chooses to do so?
1910
The Queensland Education Acts 1875-1900 are amended. Clauses are inserted reflecting the referendum question, and the word "secular" is deleted from section 22, 23 and 24 of the Acts—never to return. In this regard, Queensland is out of line with every other Australian State and Territory.
