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Inquiry will get to bottom of Ethics Course

Monday, 14th November 2011

The Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has thanked the NSW Government for putting the welfare of NSW children first after it referred his private member's Education Amendment (Ethics Classes Repeal) Bill 2011 to a Parliamentary Inquiry.

Rev Nile has argued that the push for 'Special Education in Ethics' had been ideologically driven without applying due diligence with regard to the objectives, curriculum, and implementation of the course. "Today, NSW children in State Primary schools are being taught a course that hasn't a defined objective, published curriculum or appropriate implementation. It is a course that has been marketed to parents as merely a secular alternative to religious instruction in the teaching of social values and ethics. This isn't the case.

The 'Special Education in Ethics' is a philosophical course that presents children with complex social situations, asks them what action they would take and why. There are no right and wrong answers.

The operation of this course has to date ignored concern that the curriculum is still being kept from the Government, Education Department and Parents despite previous assurances it would be made public. It has ignored concern that a failure to provide stated objectives and outcomes is facilitating moral relativism not instruction. It has ignored modern science with regard to the development of the adolescent brain and the cognitive ability of children to tackle complex social issues, issues that can prove divisive even for adults. It has ignored concern that course staff are putting their own personal values in the minds / mouths of the children.

For the first time, this inquiry will get to the bottom of the 'Special Education in Ethics'", said Rev Fred Nile prior to the Government moving the following motion in the NSW Upper House:

1) That General Purpose Standing Committee No.2 inquire into and report on the Education Amendment (Ethics Classes Repeal) Bill 2011 and in particular:

  • a) the stated objectives, curriculum, implementation, effectiveness and other related matters pertaining to the current operation of 'special education in ethics' being conducted in State Schools,
  • b) whether the Education Amendment (Ethics) Act 2010 should be repealed.

2. That the committee report by 4th June 2012.

In reply, Rev Nile stated in Parliament, "I thank the Government for moving the amendment, which I fully support, to refer the bill and a numbers of matters raised in the amendment to General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2 for investigation. I am sure that the committee will do a good job, conduct a thorough inquiry and get feedback as to the operation of the ethics course. The committee will have the opportunity to inspect ethics classes being conducted to see exactly what is happening.

I put on the record my complete rejection of the statement by Dr John Kaye. He said that I want to impose my religious views on children. That is not true. I fully support the right of parents in New South Wales to choose whether their child goes to special religious education classes. I have always accepted the right of parents to follow their conscience on all other matters. I have been consistent in that. I have no objection to children being involved in worthwhile activities, such as homework and reading, if they do not attend special religious education. However, I have an objection to the current philosophical ethics course which does not teach ethics and should not be called ethics. It does not teach right or wrong. It is a falsehood being imposed on this State. Maybe something else will arise, but at this stage the so-called ethics course does not meet the need. I thank the members for their participation in the debate. I commend the amendment to the House".