The Fourth R - keeping religion in Queensland State schools within the Law

Who controls religious instruction in Queensland State schools?

Education Queensland's administration of religious instruction is an intelligence-challenging disgrace. Contrary to the 'opt out' myth perpetuated by the moralistic minority, legislation decrees that over 80% of the entire Queensland State school student population must not be placed in religious instruction sessions without written parental authorisation. They are required to 'opt-in' because a faith/religion (or lack of) has not been provided in the optional space on their school enrolment forms. A mere 15% of Queensland State students are eligible for religious instruction without written parental permission.

Education Queensland religious policy would appear to be remote-controlled by REAC (EQ's Religious Education Advisory Committee) Fiona Simpson, Stuart Copeland, ACL, fundamentalist Christian zealots within every stratum of EQ as well as fundamentalist Christian usurped P&C committees across the state. Education Queensland's two online religious instruction/chaplaincy 'guidelines' webpages have systematically been reduced to ambiguous, confusing blogs.

2007 added the illegal installation ('chaplaincy' or 'chaplain' doesn't appear in Qld Education Legislation) of Federally/State funded Scripture Union fundamental evangelists into the vast majority of Queensland state high and primary schools. Now, from the chaplaincy Trojan horse of the Assemblies of God/Hillsong affiliated Queensland Scripture Union are emerging hundreds of in-tongues-talking Pentecostal 'volunteers' running multiple controversial Hillsong programmes including SHINE and STRENGTH—with the approval and enthusiastic TV news story endorsement of Education Queensland. With the assistance of EQ, male and female students are recruited by Scripture Union chaplains to attend Pentecostal/Hillsong intensive Jesus boot camps, thus completing the evangelism cycle: gain trust; groom; convert.

We doubt there would be, or could be, anything resembling this sinister absurdity allowed to occur with government funding, endorsement and encouragement anywhere else within the 'developed' world.

But it gets worse. Pentecostal churches have since 2006 been supplying, with EQ assistance, 'mentors' to Queensland State primary and high schools. That evangelical cycle again: gain trust; groom; convert. Astounding as it is appalling, although it is being supported by Education Queensland, none of what follows is mentioned anywhere within Queensland Education (General Provisions) Act and accompanying Regulation or within the EQ religious instruction or chaplaincy 'guideline' blogs (EQ currently has no formal downloadable or hard-copy RI or chaplaincy manuals—obviously having been deemed 'too specific' by REAC, they were pulled and pulped in late 2007—never to return).

From a Pentecostal church website:

***** State School Mentoring

***** State School began a mentoring programme in mid 2006 and, at present there are 22 mentors meeting with students weekly. The school community is very grateful for all that has been achieved in this short time and we are eager for the programme to grow.
We are looking for adults who have a desire to befriend a primary aged child and to be a stable and loving influence in their life. You would need a current blue card to work with children and a willingness to be involved weekly for only 30 mins for at least one year (although we are hoping for longer where possible)
We are planning an information morning early in the school year for interested people. Our need for male mentors is quite urgent as well so could you please tell your husbands and men in your church. Thank you for your prayers and concern.

***** State High School Mentoring

It’s an amazing thing that a school opens its doors to the church to allow Christian mentors to have input into the lives of students at the school.
The way that mentoring works at *****, is that the mentor comes into the school for one hour a week to spend time with their student. We try to match mentors with students who have similar interests in life so there is a common connection.
We ask that the mentor commits to seeing the student for at least one year. A current blue card is required. Currently we have 12 mentors, and are hoping for hundreds more, both male and female.

Utilising the above 'programmes', State school children are then recruited for:

***** (State Primary School) Girls Getaway

This group was formed in October 2004 to meet the needs of some year 6 and 7 girls at ***** Primary School. The girls are invited to attend a weekend camp where they participate in fun activities and relationship building under the guidance of the school chaplain and a leadership team from various local churches.
The weekend provides an excellent opportunity to invest in these girls’ lives by showering them with love and positive experiences. They are encouraged to become more self confident and to look for the good in others. Promising results are always seen.

How can you help?

Prayer
Come on a camp as a leader
Make small gifts for the girls
Sponsor a girl to attend the camp

Finally completing the evangelical cycle: gain trust; groom; convert

City Chicks

‘What is City Chicks?’

A monthly event for unchurched girls between school years 7-10, particularly those who have been a part of the ‘Girls Getaway’ or ‘Shine’ programs. City Chicks will be a group where they can experience MORE - more fun, more friendship, more belonging, more truth & more freedom. A place where the message of God’s perfect plan & purpose for His daughters is louder than the world’s distorted perspectives!

“I have come so that they can have real & eternal life, MORE & a better life than they ever dreamed of.” - The Message Bible, John 10:10

To support or contribute to City Chicks please consider one or more of these areas:

Prayer
Mentoring
Volunteers for set up & support during an event
Financial contributions
Small group leaders
Catering

We would 'report' the above to Education Queensland except for two reasons. First, our sad experience is—certainly in our case—that nothing is too serious for EQ to ignore.

The other reason? Also from further tragic experience, EQ's typical MO when 'processing' a complaint about the appalling law-trashing circumstances above would probably be this: The Pentecostal 'mentors' would continue infesting the same schools, in fact proliferate like cockies in a kitchen closet—while the above content would vanish from the offending website. Problem solved!

The EQ executives in our region have oft been heard using a 'code phrase' to provide ultimate solutions such as these—they discreetly visit the straying principal, stacked Chaplaincy Committee or P&C and "show them how to cross the 'Ts' and dot the 'Is'". We believe they could probably show a certain Mr. Mugabe a few tricks.