I really enjoyed this short conversation with Neil Johnson on education and the threats to Christian education in Australia…
Let me know your thoughts…
The Blog of David Robertson
The Blog of David Robertson
I really enjoyed this short conversation with Neil Johnson on education and the threats to Christian education in Australia…
Let me know your thoughts…
At Primary school we had a wonderful Anglican Canon (‘Canon Jack’) who gently teased out Conscience-Christ-Creation. I only ever went to Sunday school twice under duress, just before being compelled to get confirmed. I was agnostic and wary of making a public commitment on matters I was not sure about, but felt pressed to get confirmed. At secondary school we had an excellent RE Dept with Taffy and Holy Joe (a Welsh man and an Irish man). Years later-almost 50 in the case of the Canon-it’s amazing how much me and my brother remember of his first rate 1970’s tutorials. I shed atheism or agnosticism in 2001. To teach children about the values and evidence for the Easter faith is wonderful. Will you be able to look down on the results in 50 years? We rightly lament Anglican abuse foul ups. The Pilavachi scandal in England is not edifying. Likewise, the breaking Church Times story of an alleged exorcism (or attempted exorcism) of a gay man in Sheffield is not positive. Those who teach the young the rudiments of faith produce an infinitely better positive witness over the longer term.
It always amazes me that you have such freedom on the airwaves and press etc . Long may that be the case. You are familiar with Scotland’s lack in Christian Education. I guess the worst thing that we can do is compare and measure scriptural teaching in schools and revert to “back in my day ! ” But I find it difficult not to make a comparison from 1960 to today’s 2024 .
My grandson has just completed his higher exams and has often looked for a few points of appreciation from his old Papa by informing him that he is at the top of his year in Religious Education. This comes from a sixteen year old , who by God’s grace professes Christ , yet cannot recite the Commandments , Beatitudes , 23rd Psalm ,Ecclesiastes Ch12 or the importance of Catechism . All of which were part of a compulsory biblical education system which backed up the Sunday School movement of the fifties and sixties.
His religious education is comparative , with the view that all religions are equal , and of equal importance in respect . I encourage him with the view that religion , whatever the culture or style it comes in , cannot save or do anything but harm to those who are blinded by its dogmas . I point out that Christ was not religious , in fact , he was opposed to such , and that it was “the religious” that spurred on his crucifiction. His own ambition is to be a teacher . Please pray for his generation !
OK, As I reminisce , my day may smack of spiritual rosiness but many who learned the scriptures being taught in Sunday Schools and by strap bearing teachers in school bible class never made a profession , or confession to a Living Saviour in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet I would encourage all schools to have a biblical programme in their curriculum for the health of the nation and to the glory of God.!
I understand SRI does ‘exist in Victoria’
SRI is not part of the curriculum and cannot take place in school hours. SRE is part of the curriculum and takes place in class time….