The government in New Zealand is considering making it mandatory
for parents to give written consent for their children to take part
in religious education and activities at state primary schools.
The Education Ministry will tell parents that religious instruction or events should be held on an opt-in basis rather than an opt-out basis, as at present.
Ministry senior manager Martin Connelly said the advice followed a “modest stream” of concerns that schools could be breaching the Education Act, which requires schools to be secular in the way they offered religious instruction. They could also face action under the Bill of Rights if parents felt that their children were “humiliated” in front of classmates by leaving religious classes in what were supposed to be secular schools.
“A school that would have an opt-out clause would say: ‘Next week we’re going to have a religious assembly. Anybody who doesn’t want to go must get excused.’ An opt-in would say ‘Next week we’re going to have a religious assembly. Those who wish to come, please turn up at 12 o’clock.’ What we are suggesting is that the opt-in is likely to be fairer to people who might be humiliated by having to stand up and walk out.”
Mr Connelly said the advice would apply mainly to primary and intermediate schools, as state secondary schools did not have a requirement to be secular, though any religious teaching or events had to be voluntary. He told the NZ Parliament’s education select committee that the advice was to help schools to avoid potential disputes, and there were no plans to change the law on religious instruction. However, schools would be warned they were breaking existing law if they said prayers at assemblies or held religious instruction or events such as carol singing where all pupils were expected to attend. The advice would be sent to schools in the next two months.
The religious lessons are run on a voluntary basis by the Churches Education commission. Petrea Medland, the spokeswoman for this scheme naturally thought it would be “incredibly sad” if pupils had to opt-in to the classes. At present, some 10,000 children are opted out by their parents, while 118,000 children are subjected to the 20 hours a year of religious lessons.
See also: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10397779