Evangelists allowed to establish beachhead in a public school

('Churches fund high school classroom' Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July, page 3, http://bit.ly/smh100714).

Dr Kaye said: "A consortium of Baptist, Pentecostal and Assemblies of God Churches in the Lake Macquarie area have funded the development of a Special Religious Education (SRE) Centre at Warners Bay High School.

"The $30,000 centre is being constructed by enclosing a lunch shelter in the school grounds.

"The centre violates the spirit of the Education Act and its commitment to non-sectarian and secular education. "Education Minister Verity Firth has failed to protect the secular nature of public schools. "She has allowed a group of churches to occupy part of the school to peddle the creationist myth.

"Many parents chose public schools because they do not want their children proselytised by aggressive evangelists like the Globe Church.

"The Warners Bay Christian Education Association has effectively annexed land at the High School for a chapel. Students who are do not subscribe to the Association's religious views will be alienated from a space in their own school.

"The local Christian churches have been handed a beachhead in a public high school to launch a recruiting campaign. This is an insult to the parents and teachers who are committed to a secular space for students.

"The SRE centre acts as an implied endorsement of the churches that have sponsored it.

"The authority of teachers and the school is being used to promote a particular set of religions. That is counter to the Department's policy and guidelines and it is entirely inappropriate in a public education setting," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455