Latest Religion in Schools
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Religious Instruction by Informed Consent
The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists applaud the Government and Education Minister Chris Hipkins for proposing legislation that will introduce mandatory informed consent for religious instruction in state primary schools. The The Education and Training Bill 2019 modifies the existing legislation which previously permitted schools to include children in religious instruction without the […]
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Education Minister orders review of religious guidelines
Three years ago the Ministry of Education committed in mediation to prepare guidelines for schools in relation to religious instruction in schools. The Ministry then refused to continue work while human rights litigation was in progress. Recently there has been an about turn with recently released official information request Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins requesting […]
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Robson’s morals are not a good example
If there was ever a good example of why religious instruction in New Zealand primary schools is a bad idea Geoff Robson’s opinion piece would be it. If we want our schools to be a tolerant environment where children from any background or belief system can attend without being excluded, ostracised or bullied, giving religious […]
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Rationalists lay complaint against Human Rights Commission
A complaint against the Human Rights Commission has been laid by the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists, citing the HRC’s failure to address state sanctioned religious discrimination in primary schools. Peter Harrison, President of the Rationalists said “It is about time that the Human Rights Commission take a long hard look at how […]
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Bible in Schools case sunk by Supreme Court
An Auckland father’s case against school Bible classes has been ended by the Supreme Court. Auckland father Jeff McClintock sued an Auckland school after they persisted in placing his daughter in Bible worship classes without his consent. The classes, called “Values in Action”, are taken by Church volunteers during school time and involved Bible reading […]
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Secular Education going to Court
David Hines and his team have set up a GiveALittle Donation Page to allow people to contribute to the legal costs of supporting Secular Education in a Judicial Review to be held in late April. David Hines and a group of parents affected by religious instruction have filed to join court action against the Ministry […]
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Red Beach School Taken to Court
Red Beach School’s refusal to attend mediation over Religious Instruction sessions left a long suffering dad with no option but to file for a Judicial Review of their decision by to hold religious instruction classes. The school included Jeff McClintock’s daughter repeatedly in religious instruction classes against his express wishes. Red beach runs a religious […]
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Get Out of Religious Instruction Promotion
The Secular Education Network are running a promotion to encourage parents to decline consent for their children to attend religious instruction. It is in the form of a card which can easily be filled in by parents and given to the school.
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School Target of HRC Complaint
A parent at Red Beach Primary School has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission over the religious instruction program called ‘Values in Action’ run by the school. McClintock says that when he picked the school he did so over other schools in the area with religious programs. Despite the school not making it […]
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Minister Responds to Open Letter
In early April the Minister of Education, the Honourable Hekia Parata replied to a Open Letter sent to her the month earlier. After thanking the Secular Education Network for the letter she begins by stating that “A fundamental aspect of New Zealand’s education system is the governance of schools by Boards of Trustees that set […]
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Secular Education Roller Coaster
The first quarter of 2014 was a roller coast ride for the Secular Education Network, with many schools changing their religious instruction policy in response to complaints from parents. In this review we cover the successes and disappointments from January to march for the Secular Education Network. Roy Warren Appears on TV1 Roy Warren, a […]
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Three religious instruction classes questioned
Three new schools have been hit by Bible in Schools protests in the past five days, following the successful protest at St Heliers School in Auckland last month. The first is at Milson School in Palmerston North. On Thursday afternoon (February 27) Belinda Lewer learned in a school newsletter that her youngest child will be […]
