NSW schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics. Approved providers deliver these, where available.
Write to the school if you wish to withdraw your child from special religious education, sometimes known as scripture. Special education in ethics is an option for your primary-age child if you withdraw them from special religious education. For more information, visit Religion and ethics.
Special religious education
Students at Gymea North Public School attend weekly Special Religious Education (SRE) lessons taught by volunteers from our local community. These volunteers are authorised representatives of approved religious groups. Presently, there are SRE classes for Protestant, Catholic and Greek Orthodox faiths.
Our Scripture teachers access their curriculum and resources from:
Protestant: https://godspace.org.au/curriculum/sre-ri-curriculum/
https://cepconnect.com.au/curriculum
Greek Orthodox: http://www.greekorthodox.org.au/?page_id=3854
Catholic: https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/publications/curriculum-resources/
If you wish to withdraw your child/ren from SRE classes please advise the school in writing.
Special education in Ethics
Ethics classes support children to develop a life-long capacity for making well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through the give-and-take of reasoned argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence rather than according to habit or peer pressure. Our volunteer ethics teachers, which are trained members of the school and broader community, use detailed lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. Ethics teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills. Ethics teachers support student learning by:
modelling the inquiry process – by asking questions and encouraging discussion
showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
staying neutral – ethics teachers are trained to keep their own views out of the discussion
creating a positive learning environment – by allowing students time to think, and encouraging students to share ideas and give reasons
For more information visit https://primaryethics.com.au/our-curriculum/