Religion in Schools and the Human Rights Dinner 2015

Looking back on today's show it was all about Freedom. Freedom of association, freedom of religion, freedom to choose and where those freedoms are taken away or clouded.

We covered:

Religious education in schools - to opt in or opt out? do we really have a choice?

and

Human Rights Dinner and the start of Human Rights Awareness week.

I did have lots of what's ons...but they seemed irrelevant to put in the podcast so it sounds like I end the show really abruptly! Perhaps it is better - short and to the point!

Religion vs Ethics in Primary School

Ethics and Religion in primary schools is a hot topic. I break this element of the show down and cover:

• The background of religious education in New South Wales
• The difference between General Religious Education (GRE) and Special Religious Education (SRE)
• The difference between GRE and SRE
• What is Primary Ethics
• Opting in and opting out
• Why it matters

Department of Education - Religious Education Policy
Primary Ethics, curriculum and information
Premier Mike Baird's friend called proposed ethics changes 'misleading and deceptive' - The Sydney Morning Herald
Opting out of religion only way to ethics - The Sydney Morning Herald
Secular ethics alternative to religion in state schools - The Age
Getting facts straight about religious education - ABC Religion and Ethics

The big question of the moment is should parents and students know about the option of ethics classes up front or should they only know there is an option once they have opted out of religious education?

Human Rights Dinner and Refugee Awareness week

What a dinner - great job Human Rights Law Centre and Justice Connect.

I don't think I could ever do justice to the work they do so I will just have to get an interview with their CEOs so they can share with you directly :-)

I hope they raised loads of money because the work they do is really inspiring and so needed. It is never too late to offer assistance and the links to their websites and to be able donate are below:

• The Gillian Triggs speech to the Human Rights Dinner: Freedom, Parliament and the Courts
• Magna Carta - The Great Charter...still the foundation of our human rights
• Refugee Awareness Week - I gave lots of what's ons in the live show that are not relevant to the blog so here is the link!
• Justice Connect
• The Human Rights Law Centre
• Stripping Citizenship - The Drum - there are many articles on this subject....on The Drum

With thanks to...

To Triple H for letting me loose on their airways - I love every minute! and to Glorious Music for letting me use their music in my show and on my podcast. Check them both out via the links