The August 2020 update to the Education and Training Act requires state primary and intermediate schools to enforce an opt-in process for religious instruction.

So SEN member Tanya Jacob will not be proceeding with her planned High Court case against the Attorney General in October.

The court case, along with persistent media attention and Human Rights complaints, motivated a change to religious instruction in the Bill.

The Secular Education Network (SEN) was the group behind the move to ban religious teaching in schools.

Spokesperson Mark Honeychurch says that SEN is relieved the government has finally ensured that parents and caregivers should be made aware of any church-led religious instruction their child is receiving.

But whether this happens in practice is up to individual schools.

"The content of the church-led religious instruction 'classes' is not curriculum-based, but young children are incapable of recognising the difference.

To children, what is taught at school is fact.

It is up to us responsible adults in their lives to ensure that evangelism doesn't take place in class time," Honeychurch said.

However, SEN group member David Hines felt the opt-in did not go far enough and said in a separate statement he felt Jacob had "dropped the ball, with the finish line in sight."

"Tanya and I had this wider target in mind when we began our campaign.

It is distressing to see her now accepting a lower target and a campaign dragging on for further years."

"The petition objects only to religious instruction. The court case had a far wider target," Hines said.

"It included: religious observances (such as hymns in school assemblies), chaplains in schools, Christian youth workers, discrimination in secondary schools, Christianised karakia, and a broader definition of what secular education means."

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• Image: cathnews.co.nz

The survey was launched last week by an independent charity, the Religious Diversity Centre (RDC), in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

The survey asks whether "religious instruction" in state primary schools should be replaced by "neutral teaching" about world religions.

On its website, the RDC says its mission is to "foster appreciation, understanding and deeper relationships among the religious, spiritual and secular communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, and provide an independent and informed voice on religious and spiritual issues in the public sphere."

In the introduction to the survey, a distinction is made between religious instruction and religious studies.

Religious instruction is defined as being designed to prepare or encourage student participation in the religion in which they are being taught.

Religious education is defined as being designed to teach about religions from a faith-neutral perspective to foster an understanding of what people believe and do, and why.

Launchpad chief executive Geoff Burton, denies that it "prepares" or "encourages" students to participate in Christianity.

Launchpad was formerly known as the Churches Education Commission which runs religious instruction in about 550 state schools.

The Secular Education Network (SEN) spokesman David Hines, also objected to the questions in the survey.

"Members who have read the questionnaire are concerned that it does not distinguish between primary and secondary schools. Some would support religious studies in state secondary schools, but not in state primary schools," he said.

Click here to participate in the survey

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• rdc.org.nz
• qualtrics.com

They say the Education and Workforce Committee's report to the House of Parliament last week on the Education and Training Bill: "sanctions bible classes for primary school children in state primary schools, even though the new bill, like previous laws, states that schools must be secular."

The proposed Bill amends the 1964 Education Act's provisions regarding religious instruction.

Section 54 retains the provision that "if a State school's board, after consultation with the principal, determines school buildings may be used for the purposes of religious instruction or observances conducted in a manner approved by the board."

The section states that "any 1 or more classrooms at the school, or the school as a whole, may be closed during the school day for any period or periods not exceeding 60 minutes in aggregate in any week or 20 hours in a school year, for the purposes of religious instruction or observances conducted by voluntary instructors approved by the school's board."

Currently, an opt-out approach applies.

But the new law makes provision for an opt-in provision to ensure that attendance at religious instruction only occurs with parental consent.

Secular Education Network spokesperson, Mark Honeychurch, says that the change does not go far enough.

He says it is a discriminatory and outdated law and it must be changed.

The Secular Education Network is also taking the Attorney General, representing the Ministry of Education, to court in October, arguing that provision of religious instruction in state schools is discriminatory.

Sections 54 to 58 of Bill apply to religious instruction and observances in State primary and intermediate schools only.

Source

• legislation.govt.nz
• scoop.co.nz

The Secular Education Network is appealing to the High Court for a ruling that these classes are discriminatory and contrary to the Bill of Rights Act, and that school time should be reserved for professionally taught education. Read more

They would also have to be explicit about what will be taught and whether it endorses a particular faith, draft guidelines released by the Ministry of Education Read more

Read the draft guidelines

"The proceedings were originally filed with the Human Rights Review Tribunal in October 2016 and little substantive progress has been made since then," the spokesperson said. Read more

Tanya Jacob, the South Island representative of the of the Secular Education Network (SEN), said there are "really quite serious concerns, even concerns about potential for grooming, keeping secrets with children that they're not allowed to go home and tell their parents".

Asked is it scaremongering to use the word grooming, she said: "I think it's accurate, whether it's religious grooming or potential for other sorts of grooming."

CEC teaches in around 600 schools and says its lessons focus on Bible stories and teaching life values.

A spokeswoman, Abbey Reeve, said Jacob's statement was "really inflaming stuff that parents would be very scared about. But it's not true, there is none of this keeping of secrets, there's none of this hiding stuff".

Another spokeswoman for CEC, Tracey Kirkley, said SEN's claims were "not at all consistent" with current Religious Education programmes. The content they were protesting about stopped being taught in New Zealand schools some eight years ago.

Three members of SEN were handing out pamphlets outside Wharenui School in Riccarton on Wednesday.

The pamphlets show a picture of a little girl simulating choking herself.

The group said this was an illustration of an exercise children are asked to do as an example of what happens to non-believers.

However, pastor Phil Stedman from the church providing the lessons denied children had ever been asked to do this.

"I have no idea what it's about, to be honest. We would never in our wildest dreams go anywhere near using a story like that. And I think that is a complete misrepresentation of the sort of thing we teach."

Stedman said while he believed in hell, this was not something children were taught about.

Watch: 'There are no secrets' - parents and church clash over religious education in schools

Source

• TVNZ
• RNZ
• Stuff
• Image: Stuff

The survey received 1663 responses from a total of 1833 state primary and intermediate schools.

The SEN website has a resource that shows which schools received the survey and which of them responded to it. Read more

In May, the Secular Education Network filed a case with the Human Rights Review Tribunal claiming that preferential treatment of Christianity in schools was prohibited under the Bill of Rights. Continue reading

The High Court had earlier this year struck the so called Bible in Schools case out but Court of Appeal Judges Rhys Harrison, Forrest Miller and Helen Winkelmann have reinstated the case.

The Court of Appeal judgment said McClintock's complaint was that the Red Beach Primary School had allowed representatives of the Life in Focus Trust to teach a programme called Values in Action in classrooms.

"Mr McClintock's essential complaint is that the board has attempted to conceal the true nature of the programme, which he says is one of religious instruction."

"He accepts that attendance at the LIFT classes is optional. But he complains that his daughter is being treated unfairly as a result of his decision to withdraw her from the classes."

Despite several orders and trial re-schedules, McClintock missed a final Hight Court deadline to file and the High Court threw out McClintock's case.

The Court of Appeal said McClintock's lawyer had been "guilty of continual delays and unexplained breaches of successive orders made in the High Court". His defaults were "serious and unexplained", the court said.

However, it said the appeal nevertheless succeeded. The court ruled that the proceeding was not ready for trial when it was struck out, as it still needed McClintock to provide an amended statement of claim that complied with High Court rules.

As part of the ruling, McClintock will file a notice of discontinuance against the school board, in full and final settlement of his claims against the board, while the case will continue against the Attorney-General, with McClintock to file an amended statement of claim.

McClintock was also instructed to pay all outstanding High Court cost orders.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

AUT history professor Dr Paul Moon's comments come after a High Court judge last month threw out a test case because the parent challenging the legality of the Bible in Schools programme failed to file documents in time.

Dr Moon said while that court action had failed, it would not be the last attempt to remove Bible teaching from the country's state schools.

"Banning religious practices in schools, may inevitably extend to removing karakia from schools as well," Dr Moon said. Continue reading

He took the board of Red Beach School on the Hibiscus Coast to court because he alleged the school's Bible in Schools classes showed disrespect for his daughter's rights to freedom of religion.

The High Court case was struck off because submissions were not filed on time.

Last Monday The court ordered McClintock to file his submissions by the next morning, but he said the documents didn't arrive in time.

2 other campaigners had been given permission to join the case as interested non-parties and present limited evidence and submissions.

This had delayed submissions, but it was still unfair to throw out the case, Mr McClintock said.

"I was initially very angry, mostly because it wasn't the opposition beating me but me beating myself," he said.

"Since the case was never heard no precedent had been set about Bible lessons in classes."

This meant the case could still be heard if the appeal was successful or a new case was lodged.

"It is frustrating waiting this long but we are prepared to wait longer because there are so many parents affected."

The Human Rights Commission and the Churches Education Commission (CEC) were also involved in the case.

A CEC spokesman said they were passionate about continuing Bible classes in state schools.

"There is real depth to this debate and a lot of the key issues have not yet been addressed."

CEC teaches Bible lessons in more than 650 public schools, making it the largest provider in the country.

The cancelled hearing had been set down for April 26 at the High Court at Auckland.

Source

• m.nzherald.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

A case is being taken by Jeff McClintock against Red Beach School.

He laid a complaint with the commission several years ago after his daughter was put in a corner when she opted out of the teaching of Bible stories, which happens for 30 minutes a week.

He is also fighting against laws that permit the Bibles in Schools programme, which operates in more than 600 state primary schools.

Mr McClintock's case is scheduled to come to court on April 26.

Applications from the commission and network campaigners David Hines and Tanya Jacob to join Mr McClintock's action will be heard in the High Court in Auckland on April 6.

According to Mr Hines, Red Beach School has objected to them joining Mr McClintock's case.

The Churches Education Commission, which runs Bible in Schools classes, can call limited evidence.

In a statement, the network members said they want the case extended to include secondary schools, evangelistic youth workers and religious songs and prayers in school assemblies.

They also want to call evidence from members of non-Christian religions.

A Give-a-Little page set up by Mr Hines and Ms Jacob to support their action had raised $6070, as of March 21.

The pages stated tens of thousands of dollars needed to be raised.

The page also noted that the Human Rights Commission has set up a mediation between the Secular Education Network and the Ministry of Education.

"That negotiation is continuing and could lead to new guidelines to schools to reduce religious discrimination," the page noted.

Sources

• New Zealand Herald
• Give-a-Little
• Secular Education Network
• Image: West Oak Today

Victoria University professor of religious studies Paul Morris said the syllabuses used by the Churches Education Commission, which runs religious classes in about 600 state schools, taught religion, rather than taught about religion.

Morris reviewed two CEC syllabuses obtained by the Secular Education Network called Launch 1 and Life Choices. Continue reading

A SEN spokesperson, David Hine, said the group of protesters included atheists who wanted no religion to be taught in state schools, as well as religious people who believed all religions - rather than only Christianity - should be taught as part of the school curriculum.

Hine said SEN members were joined by people from Auckland churches and the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists.

Thursday's hearing at the High Court in Auckland was procedural, with the Churches Education Commission (CEC) seeking to take part in the case.

The CEC provides school Bible lessons 667 state schools.

Justice Susan Thomas reserved her decision as to whether CEC would be joined.

The High Court is expected to hear the full legal bid later this year.

Hine says about nine religious leaders have joined SEN campaigns in the past eight months, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders.

SEN said it has had a boost in membership since news of the hearing was published in the Herald on Sunday last weekend, alongside reports of a religious sex education pamphlet being used in a Christchurch school's health lesson.

About 60 new people joined the network in the 24 hours following publication of the reports, Hine said.

He says 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.

Hine claims the legislation that allows Christian teaching in state schools is against the Bill of Rights Act.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• New Zealand Herald
• New Zealand Herald
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: Radio New Zealand

The lawyer representing the McClintock family, Richard Francois, is also seeking to repeal Section 78 of the Education Act, a move which could lead to religious studies being removed from state schools

Given the potential impact of the legal bid, the commission — the country's single biggest provider of school Bible studies — will argue on Thursday in the High Court at Auckland that it should be able to give evidence supporting the retention of religious teachings.

On Monday, board member Murray Burton told TV ONE's Breakfast that religious studies provide valuable life skills and moral teaching for young students.

"We've proven it adds huge value. We're not there to proselytise or evangelise. We're there to sow some seeds and I think the fruit will speak for itself."

Mr Burton says he occasionally gets reports that students feel excluded when they opt out of religious classes.

However, he says schools generally handle those situations well.

"Unfortunately every now and again someone feels got at and that's sad. We'd like to be part of the solution for that as well."

He says the half hour to an hour that children spend learning religion can help them develop character, which helps in all other areas of study.

"We would argue that nothing is lost but everything is gained by just taking half an hour to focus on that."

The Education Ministry said it would be inappropriate to comment as it was a party to the case before the courts.

The present rules state:
• Parents can choose to withdraw their children from religious instruction.
• Schools are able to offer one hour a week of religious studies.
• Each school decides on whether Bible programmes are offered.
• Schools can schedule them at whatever time suits.

Source

• The Herald On Sunday
• TVNZ
• Image Urban Christian News

He was in the room for the duration of a religious education class that he had chosen not to attend.

Tanya Jacob says she pulled her son out of Harewood School in 2012 after first opting him out of the religious classes for three years.

She claims he was being "snuck back in the classes" or in conjoining rooms sorting books "within earshot."

Jacobs said she repeatedly asked to have her son completely removed, but then he was made to do dishes.

Harewood School principal Julie Greenwood said its board of trustees made the decision to bring volunteers in to deliver religious instruction while the school was officially closed for 30 minutes a week, for about three-quarters of the year.

But parents could opt out "and that's perfectly fine."

"While we offer this programme, those who choose to opt out are in no way discriminated against."

"The children are actively supervised in the library during the 30-minute sessions."

Jacob's son was the only child who opted out at the time, and "obviously systems were different". He was "not put to work", said Greenwood.

Jacobs is a member of the Secular Education Network, which wants religious instruction in schools forbidden.

She said her family was not opposed to religion, but schools that were meant to be "melting pots" of different religions and cultures were essentially "handing over a captive congregation" to one particular church group.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Grant's Brae School

Red Beach School north of Auckland has been in a long-running dispute with parent Jeff McClintock over its Values in Action lessons, which are 30 minutes a week and teach values through Bible stories.

Now Mr McClintock, a member of the Secular Education Network, has laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. His daughter attends a state school in Red Beach on the Hibiscus Coast in Auckland New Zealand.

Mr McClintock said he was laying the complaint now in an effort to improve things before his son Lee, 4, started at Red Beach next year.

Board chairman Antony Wentworth said the school was aware of Mr McClintock's desire to remove religion-based teaching. "The board has completed a number of reviews of this programme [including] responding to an inquiry Mr McClintock took to the Chief Ombudsman and the Ministry of Education in 2012."

• By law, state schools are secular, but can choose to "close" during school hours for half an hour of religious lessons each week.
• A survey by the Secular Education Network last year found one in three state primary and intermediate schools teaches religious instruction.
• One organisation running Bible lesson.

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Image: gbs2.wikispaces.com

Parents at four schools in Auckland and Palmerston North have raised concerns about Christian Religious Instruction (CRI) being taught and three of those schools have since made changes to their classes.

However, ministry spokeswoman Katrina Casey said there were no plans to change any policy around religious instruction in schools. Continue reading

Some parents are worried that New Zealand could follow the lead of France and enforce a strict secular educational environment.

It comes two weeks after St Heliers School announced it would move its Christian religious education programme to outside school hours following complaints to the Human Rights Commission.

The National MP for Tamaki, Simon O'Connor, said he had been regularly stopped in the streets of his constituency by concerned parents since the decision was made public on February 11. Continue reading.