Fairness In Religions In Schools Campaign

[davo]

Just helped get up a new website, it's just the start but will be added to and updated shortly.

http://religionsinschool.com

FIRIS is committed to work with the community locally and nationally to help turn public support for inclusive education into a campaign for reform that the government cannot ignore. We are a grassroots campaign to encourage education of religion in the government schools that is reflective of our modern multicultural traditions and not one designed to instruct children in the particular faith of one community alone School is for learning through enquiry, not indoctrination. Our Aims: In a pluralist, multi-cultural society, the state should promote recognition and acceptance of different values and beliefs. Given the dangers of segregation and the importance of community cohesion we need schools that welcome all and are committed to non-discrimination. Schools should promote a culture of questioning, of knowledge, of respect and of exploration of values, where students develop their own identities and sense of place in the world. We believe that state schools in Victoria should:

1. Maintain a school curriculum that that does not require any student to withdraw from class on account of pupils or their parents religion or beliefs.
2. Formally cease the practice of volunteer run special religious instruction (SRI) during the school day
3. Follow an objective, fair and balanced syllabus for education about religions and beliefs.
4. Treat all religious organizations who wish to use the school facilities outside of the school day with transparent and equitable polices.

shortlink for tweeting http://wp.me/P1qmUV-4

[bruce1937]

A great site, I hope it gets the publicity it deserves.

[davo]

Big slab of text atm, more to come however good info for families in Victoria.

[Blamer]

Yeah this is excellent. Necessary, and well focused.

I subscribed to the newsletter, but it doesn't look like the RSS Feed is setup ('file not found').

[AFA Admin]

Hello Blamer

This is an automatic message that all new users receive.

We like people, and we like facts too!

We're friendly but we're skeptical, and if somebody calls for proof, it's not an accusation. Only the strong ideas thrive here: we try to respect people. (We do not tolerate personal abuse.)

If you're an AFA member and need your membership status recognised in forum access, please send a Private Message to Admin, including the name on your AFA membership.

You may already have visited these other handy places:
* New Member Information
* Welcome from AFA president
* For those interested in learning, I recommend the Atheism Resource Thread maintained by Fearless.
* And a quick look at our reserved spot for belief-based discussion, Fantasy Island, includes Wolty's List, a sort-of "things we've seen before" for those of faith.

If you've got questions, please ask. Moderators have red name tags, but many of our friendly people may have the answers you need.

Enjoy the forums. We hope to see plenty from you in discussions.

Have fun.

[davo]

Originally Posted by Blamer

Yeah this is excellent. Necessary, and well focused.

I subscribed to the newsletter, but it doesn't look like the RSS Feed is setup ('file not found').

Yes, the news is switched off atm, we are just in process of building the site, because it made an article in the newspaper and they linked to it, the cat was a little out of the bag. Hence I posted here as the information on the front page is useful however.

Stay tooned! And welcome

[Bolero]

Great work, davo.

Now we just need one for Queensland.... HAHAHAHA!

[Perspective]

Originally Posted by davo

Just helped get up a new website, it's just the start but will be added to and updated shortly.

http://religionsinschool.com



shortlink for tweeting http://wp.me/P1qmUV-4

Fantastic! I'm going to pass this on to my daughters school Principal and school councillors while they 'deliberate' over my last letter.

[Blamer]

For those of you in Brisbane and on facebook,

@DanDare2050 tweets:

Get Secular Back in the Public Education Act
Drop in Day Sunday 27 March http://on.fb.me/eMNsYO
#chaplains #highcourtchallenge

Cheers,
- S ..

[sosman]

Its not surprising that this doesn't happen regularly in secondary schools (not to say that religious groups like bridgebuilders don't worm their way in to programs). The questions that kids are capable of asking at secondary age would make turn SRI into a debacle.

Nevermind, if your primary kids are up for it, send them to SRI and ask about Joshua's Genocide in Jericho etc. I don't have the links on me but there are a couple of cool illustrated kids bibles now, one that I recall has a picture of a she-bear ripping kids apart after they called elijah or elisha "baldy" on the front. Send your kids to SRI and hand out a copy or two. Prime them on the holidays that the church stole from pagans and the real history. Ask the teacher if they still believe "homosexuals should be put to death"? Make sure they ask the question loud enough for everyone to hear. In days you will have a letter come home along the lines of "you should consider opting your child out". That is your opportunity to really mess with their mind.