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Court fight over religious classes

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Thu, 21 May 2015, 6:14AM
File photo (Getty Images)
File photo (Getty Images)

Court fight over religious classes

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Thu, 21 May 2015, 6:14AM

UPDATED 12.59PM: A Christian education group says it would be "unjust" if it wasn't allowed to argue its points in a legal challenge of religious teachers in state schools.

Jeff McClintock, an Auckland father whose daughter was "stigmatised" and "humiliated" when she was opted out of a Bible class at Red Beach school, is taking action.

He wants Section 78 of the Education Act, which allows for religious classes in otherwise secular schools, removed from the law.

The Churches Education Commission, which provides courses to 667 schools, argued at the High Court in Auckland today that the autonomy of school boards would be at stake.

It also argued that the CEC is best placed to tell the court about how religious lessons are practised in New Zealand.

McClintock's lawyer Richard Francois argued against the CEC by saying they were promoting "inculcation" and their classes were "doctrinal."

Francois said the CEC syllabus was "secretive" compared to the Ministry of Education syllabus.

He also argued that some kids' education was at risk if schools taught religious instruction instead of regular curriculum classes.

The judge's decision was reserved.

Outside the court, McClintock said the CEC must be scared.

"They've got professors of law opposing me and three legal teams with at least two lawyers on each team. I've got one lawyer."

Section 78 of the Education Act allows for state schools to 'close' for up to 20 hours a year so volunteers can teach kids about particular faiths.

There is some argument between those who say the classes are inclusive of all faiths, and those who claim the time is used to teach kids about one belief system in particular.

David Hines from the Secular Education Network emphasised that it's not religion they object to, but what he calls evangelisation and the brainwashing of children.

"Kids, who by age ten or twelve, are able to fight back. But little kids are not critical and tend to believe what they're told," he said.

A survey conducted in 2013 found over 800 schools provided RI classes in state schools. Over 1000 schools initially failed to respond, prompting one of the largest investigations conducted by the Ombudsman’s Office.

 

 

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