This is my latest article in Evangelicals Now
letter from AustraliaChristian schools boom in Australia
One of the big differences between the UK and Australia is the number of Christian and independent schools.
Recently the Australian Broadcasting Corporation carried a report about the number of pupils attending independent schools rising to 40%. Interestingly, they assumed that this should be seen as a negative development. Over the last decade there were 320 new Catholic and independent schools, and only 279 new Government schools. 34% of pupils now attend schools with a particular religious emphasis. There are over 50 Muslim schools with 40,000 pupils. There are 820,000 pupils in Catholic schools, and 715,000 in independent schools (over 80% Christian). The number in state schools is 2,619,000.
So why should this be seen as a negative development? Julian Hill, the Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, suggested one main problem – that children may not mix outside their own faith or ethnic group – and that some (especially home schoolers) would be taught “extreme or conservative” curricula. He asked in a recent speech: “What is being taught to these kids? Are they mixing with broader society?”
This is an excellent question – but it has wider implications than Mr Hill seems to imply. It is not just religious or independent schools where there is a danger of ghettoisation or the lack of exposure to different points of view. The same applies to the State schools – where the doctrines of Green progressivism are taught as though they are scripture. Mr Hill seemed unaware of the “extremes of progressive” curricula. Sadly, like many Western education systems which have lost their Christian foundation, the Australian state education system has moved from the position of teaching children “how” to think, to teaching them “what” to think. Indoctrination into the doctrines of the elite is now the de facto norm. Which is why so many parents are prepared to sacrifice other parts of their lifestyle in order to provide an education which is more in accord with their own worldview.
The Minister suggested that Australia might like to look to Singapore where a “co-curricular” activities system seeks to bring students from diverse backgrounds together. Personally, I think this is an excellent idea – I have no qualms at all about Christian pupils meeting with people of different faiths. And I delight at the prospect of children from fundamentally progressive schools having to face the possibility that there is genuine life outside their own educational bubble. Whether the teachers’ unions or politicians will ever permit such diversity is another matter all together!
David Robertson, is the minster of Scots Kirk Presbyterian Church, Newcastle NSW and blogs at http://www.theweeflea.com
Letters to a Post-Christian Nation 6 – Education. New Life
I don’t accept the premise of Julian hills advisors. The vast majority of Christian and other faith based schools sin Australia are open enrolment . In most Christian schools 70 – 80% of families come from non-churches homes?
The diversity of worldviews held by parents and students in these schools is very wide.
I think minister Hill and his advisors need to get out more into actual schools.
I’m a beneficiary of an education system where everything was free and well resourced. We had good libraries, museums, etc for cultural education. We also had ministers from all faiths come into the schools for RE lessons. Our schools were also multicultural – we also had a hippy commune nearby from which the pupils contributed to the general culture and ethos of the school. We did not appreciate these factors as adolescents but when we meet as grown ups we all agree it was a good school and education. If you want to have separate schools these should be open access and not charge for the privilege of education. Note here there is more going on than just the school and education. There is free education provision and outside school there is a wide range of cultural access – including religion. Also we had freedom to roam – free from the chains of “social media” and remote “influencers”. In this environment alternative viewpoints – ranging from local worthies to hippies were all given credence. There is a need to get back to holistic education but in the frenzied environment kids have to exist in today I don’t know if this is possible. I don’t think faith schools – of whatever kind – are the answer. I think they may be more divisive than unifying.
Very Interestin article again, David on Christian Schools in Australia..!
My understanding is that the first nation to teach students ‘What to think’ as opposed to ‘How to think’ was China…
I was in Zambia in January on a potential bizcation, and was surprised and delighted to research and observe that more than half of Primary & Secondary Schools in the were overtly Christian, displaying their signs and banners all over the entrances etc.
Also many colleges and universities were promoted as Christian, and as I thought and mulled, on return to broken britain, ( I deliberatly use lower case letters..!) the outcry etc etc there would be in this now secular nation, if schools, colleges and universities were to follow Zambia’s example..!