What People Are Saying About CRE

Here is a selection of Letters to the Editor of Melbourne newspaper The Age, in response to published attacks on the CRE program.

The Importance of Jesus

Christianity is the belief system based on the life and teaching of Jesus. In Australia, 64% of the population in the last census identified themselves as Christians. I suggest that Jesus remains the single most influential figure in human history. Mandela, Ghandi, Tutu, Teresa and Francis were influenced by him. Our calendar is dated from his life. Our language is riddled with his sayings. The principles derived from his teaching underlie our society, institutions and culture. Our social service sector would collapse without the massive contribution of Christian based organisations. (“Thank God for the Salvos!”) Millions of people around the world take his words seriously and strive to put them into practice.
Our children presently have the legislated right to be taught about Jesus and his teaching by qualified and accredited volunteer teachers in our schools, following an agreed curriculum. Other faiths also have the right to offer religious education. It is good to debate this right. Let’s focus on the central issue. Should our children lose the right to learn about This Man?

Geoff, Doncaster East

Not Discrimination

Australia was founded on Christian principles and values, and the benefits we enjoy in our society today stem from that Christian heritage. So it is fitting for our children to be given the opportunity to learn about that heritage. In reply to recent articles and letters in the Age, I would like to point out that many ACCESS Ministries volunteers are trained former school teachers and other professionals, and the school where I teach is very supportive, the children opting out certainly not being made to feel discriminated against.

Alison, Mitcham

Respect

I have been a volunteer CRE teacher at my local Primary School for the last 5 years. I make sure to honour the trust placed in me by the staff of the school and the parents. I make sure I follow the approved curriculum, which is values-based. I accept all the children for who they are whether they have a Christian faith, another faith or no faith. I am careful to respect all religions. About a third of the class are excluded by parents and they go to the neighbouring class and work on unfinished work. One of the values of the school is respect and so those who participate in CRE and those who do not participate are respected. Some of the excluded children are happy to greet me and make me feel welcome at the school. I teach Christian Religious Education, not to convert children, so that children have an understanding of the God they choose to believe in or not believe in. While I read of inappropriate things said by some CRE teachers who need to be disciplined or have their accreditation withdrawn, I believe there are many CRE teachers like me who enhance a child’s holistic education.

Neil, Edithvale

Children love CRE

CRE teachers are volunteers who know they will be able to prepare and present lessons EVERY week of the school year.
Would you consider doing that unless you had talent and ability? Would you persist unless you were good at it?
I have taught CRE for 20 years and have been amazed by the quality and energy of those other teachers I meet at our regular training days.
ACCESS ministries does have a proper curriculum which Instructors must use.
This is very detailed and written by trained teachers.-so the Teachers Book itself equips instructors as if they are trained teachers!
Also overlooked in this debate is the fact that children LOVE CRE.
Children say "Hooray" when its CRE time and "That was too short" when the half hour ends.
Children who are withdrawn know they are missing something the others enjoy!

Alison, Hawthorn

Very Surprised

I am very surprised that Jewel Topsfield (“Religious instruction has no place in our secular schools”) falls for the view that ‘secular’ means non-religious in this State as applied to education. ‘Secular’ means managed by the State. Religion is not precluded.
I am very surprised that Topsfield uses arguments based on an Eagles’ song incident that didn’t happen in Victoria, is not recent and not within a curriculum based program.
I am very surprised that Topsfield uses a church attendance figure of less than 10 % against CRE, claiming the statistic should count against the subject being taught. The same could be said for football attendance. But which school would deny Chris Judd access to its students for a footy clinic?
I am very surprised by claims or inferences that CRE teachers try to convert and ‘indoctrinate’ with ‘claptrap’. They are trained to educate children within a carefully defined framework sculptured by ACCESS ministries with Government endorsement..
I am very surprised that an odd thing said in CRE (and I agree odd things have been said) is used to attack an educationally robust CRE syllabus. Many a Government teacher has said an odd thing; I have heard it in class room situations, but the whole system isn’t deficient.
CRE gives children an understanding of the facts about Jesus Christ, Christmas, Easter, the Bible’s historic and literary worth and how biblical truths flow through into our laws producing a civilized society.
Parents can write to exempt a child as they wish. The provision as you know has been there since before 1958 (the earliest data I have). Children not exempted do CRE because of the value it brings to the total educational curriculum in the State.
Teaching CRE in State Schools was overwhelmingly endorsed in 2006 when the Act was renewed. The Government, parents and the community accept the wisdom of CRE teaching in its current form and with the current opt out provisions.

Neil, Forest Hill

It's not God's doing!

I reply to "Backlash as God forced into schools" 27/3/11. I have been teaching CRE for 18 years, and during this time have noticed posters around the school with the message, "Treat others as you wish to be treated". This message is actually the Golden Rule which comes from the Bible! Yes, these are the words of Jesus (see Matthew 7: 12). If the Humanist Society is unhappy with Christianity being taught in CRE classes, then perhaps these posters should be removed.

The students at my school who don't attend CRE go to another class of the same year level where hopefully they revise work already done, or are introduced to new work. They certainly don't sit at the back of the CRE class!
Yes, the children are told in CRE that God loves them. They are also taught about Jesus and the way in which he wants them to live and treat other people. They are encouraged to be kind and helpful to others, to put themselves into other's shoes in order to help realise the hardship which others may be going through.
I would encourage parents to let their children attend CRE. In this day and age of bullying and dog-eat-dog, it is important to learn to love our neighbour.
God does not force himself on us. He has given us the ability to make our own decisions, to accept or reject him. But we can't make that choice without hearing the message first!

Cynthia, Mount Waverley

Misunderstanding

The shrill cries of “indoctrination” and “forcing God into schools” from those who oppose Christian education (CRE) in primary schools reveal a misunderstanding of what CRE involves.

I am a CRE teacher, and in my training was told to encourage questions from students and to treat all viewpoints with respect. We’re not in the schools to preach, but to help students learn about the Christian faith and to understand the help, inspiration and hope it brings to many people.

It is right for teaching about Christianity to be given a special place in our education system, for it has played an important role in shaping Australian society. Our values, laws, institutions, charities, literature and national history have all been strongly influenced by Christian beliefs and ideals. Kids today will be the better for understanding these things.

Andrew, Balwyn

The CRE Debate

CRE is just one of the SRIs (Special Religious Instructions) taken in schools by volunteers. Programs exist from other faith providers which reflect the religions that are held by respective school communities.

Christianity has a part in Australia’s heritage, history and laws. Much of what makes our country a good place to live has come from individuals and groups who, because of their Christian faith, have sought to help those in need. Care, acceptance, compassion, and respect are values expressed in this work.

In CRE, these values and more are explored age appropriately using bible characters and stories. CRE gives students an opportunity to engage with the deeper things of life, how they view themselves and how they relate to others, helping students to make good life choices. They hear the Christian understanding of Christmas and Easter and discover what Jesus Christ did and said, exploring what Christians believe about our place in the world and our responsibility towards it.
In CRE, respect is held for the perspective of students and their families. Classes are a safe place to talk about beliefs and ideas. The CRE position is “this what the Bible says”, “some people believe” and “Christians believe”.

CRE explores and supports the values that our primary schools promote, that are important to our society, and is an asset to our children’s education.

Gaye, North Essendon

IT'S HALF AN HOUR PER WEEK!

I refer to the front page article in the Sunday Age, 27 March 2011, 'Backlash as God forced into schools'.

Believe it or not, all the fuss is over a half hour lesson per week!

In the school where I work they use an opt-in approach to CRE. Of their own choice about 80% of parents opt in. Not all these parents are believers themselves, but they choose to give their children the opportunity to hear of God, listen to Bible stories and their application to everyday life and to choose for themselves. As for the children, they look forward to the lessons each week. Many have told me CRE is their favourite subject. One boy, who came from a school where CRE was not offered, even said he wished we could have it every day! Most children desire to know about God, and enjoy hearing Bible stories. Who are we to deprive them of this opportunity?

The Bible, after all, has had significant influence on the idiom of English language ( Shakespeare, for one, refers to it frequently), as well as contributing to the oral history tradition of both Western and Middle Eastern cultures. Australia is a multi-cultural society. Religion is part of culture. Surely, for those who do not acknowledge this, the weekly sessions could be seen as a half hour lesson in tolerance and respect for the faith and beliefs of others.

In every other respect the school system in this country is secular. Our children are exposed to secular humanism every day of their lives, whether we like it or not. We as a family value this half hour per week where they are free to ponder and express their faith without fear of ridicule.

Miranda
Hurstbridge


The CRE program - a privilege

The CRE program in Victorian schools is provided for in an Act of Parliament, has been the privilege of school students to be involved in for many years in our State's history, and offers the space for children to reflect upon and make some sense of all the various aspects of their lives. I believe it is a right for children to learn of the Biblical world view which has shaped the Western world, including Australian society, without which our students' education would not be complete. The program is appropriate for the classroom setting, and is well-accepted at our local primary school where 90% of students participate. Let us not deprive Victorian children by seeking to alter a provision that enriches the lives of our young ones.

Ruth,
Beaconsfield Upper