Principals want scripture lessons to be held outside of school hours
Principals want scripture classes scrapped from the school day, believing religious instructions classes should be held before or after school with parents assuming responsibility for transport arrangement.
NSW
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Principals want scripture classes scrapped from the school day, believing religious instructions classes should be held after hours.
Teachers are hard pressed to cover the entire curriculum without stopping for between 30 and 60 minutes a week while volunteers take over classrooms to teach scripture, according to the NSW Primary Principals’ Association (NSWPPA).
In a position paper obtained by The Saturday Telegraph, the principals’ peak body wants scripture classes moved to before or after school with parents assuming responsibility for transport arrangement.
If scripture classes remain during school hours, principals want teachers to be able to teach regular classes at the same time instead of forcing those students who opt out to quietly read a book or do their homework as is currently the case.
“Students who are not involved in Special Religious Education (SRE) or Special Education in Ethics program are unable to receive academic instruction or other formal school activities,” the policy paper states.
“All students not involved should be able to participate in the full range of learning activities deemed suitable by the school.”
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NSWPPA vice president Michael Trist stressed principals were not “anti-religion” but were primarily concerned about timetable disruption.
“Everything goes on hold while scripture classes are taught,” Mr Trist said.
“It takes out a big chunk of teaching time, which is otherwise in short supply.
“If the government is looking to declutter curriculum so teachers can spend more time on the basics, (scripture classes) would be low hanging fruit.
“We are more than happy for scripture lessons to continue in school classrooms and halls after hours, in the same way many community groups use those facilities.“
Principals say while the scripture classes only go for between 30 and 60 minutes a week, more time is soaked up shuffling students between classrooms.
There are also concerns among principals that volunteers from religious groups who are given full control of school students lack the training to maintain classroom order and communicate with students compared to tertiary trained teachers.