The NSW Government has been trialling "ethics" classes in some schools as an alternative to Special Religious Education or "Scripture" classes. This has led to some fears that SRE would be allowed to die.
However the NSW Department of Education has now ruled that the classes must be taught by volunteers, putting them on the same footing as SRE.
From SMH:
Ethics class will have to find its own teachers
HEATH GILMORE June 22, 2010
THE long-term viability of ethics classes in NSW schools is at risk following a departmental ruling that prevents full-time teachers taking the classes.
As part of the current ethics trial, some of these teachers have been taking the classes, which were introduced as an alternative to religious studies for students in year 5 and 6 at 10 public primary schools.
However, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education said this arrangement would end if the classes were permanently introduced across the state.
''If the trial is expanded, [full-time] teachers will not be able to conduct ethics classes while they are on duty,'' she said.
This ruling would bring the ethics classes into line with the rules governing teacher involvement in scripture classes. It would also place the burden on parents or other groups supporting the ethics classes to finance the teaching of them statewide.
Full article here
Good news indeed!
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