Public schools in Australia are widely referred to as offering a secular education, which, by definition, should not have a connection with religious or spiritual matters.
However, the singing of Christmas Carols and a strong emphasis on indigenous studies – including spirituality – is evident in many schools.
Curious to understand the origins of secular education better, I recently read The First Report of the Commissioners of National Education for the Colony of Victoria for the year 1852. It makes for fascinating reading.
A teacher should be a person of Christian sentiment, of calm temper and discretion; he should be imbued with a spirit of peace, of obedience to the law, and of loyalty to his sovereign.
The commissioners who were responsible for schools at the time devolved power to local communities, and also maintained that any school that wished to be part of National Education for the Colony of Victoria must maintain Christianity as an intrinsic value.
Here’s a little of what the report includes:
· A copy of the following lesson be hung up in each school: “Christians should endeavour, as the Apostle Paul commands them, to ‘live peaceably with all men’ (Rom. Ch. xii. v. 17), even with those of a different religious persuasion”.
· A teacher should be a person of Christian sentiment, of calm temper and discretion; he should be imbued with a spirit of peace, of obedience to the law, and of loyalty to his sovereign.
· If any other books than the Holy Scriptures…are employed in communicating religious instruction, each work is to be made known to the Local Patrons by the pastor or religious instructor…
· Opportunities and facilities are to be afforded to the children for receiving such religious instruction as their parents or guardians approve.
· The patrons of every school have the right of appointing such religious instruction as they may think proper to be given therein, provided that each school be open to children of all communion.
The report goes on to describe common instruction, teaching apprenticeships and annual examinations of teachers to determine their suitability for ongoing employment.
More important, it seems that secular education was never intended to ignore religion or faith, but rather to tackle the issue of land distribution for schools between Christian denominations. And we must not forget that early schooling was dominated by the social and moral needs of our early immigrants.
The report goes on to describe common instruction, teaching apprenticeships and annual examinations of teachers to determine their suitability for ongoing employment.
Today, some would argue that the referendum on same-sex marriage, the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in Religious and other organisations, or the increasing number of those practising Islam, are indications that Christianity is losing its way. I would argue that Christianity is under threat, and with it, our secular education, our public schools, and the social and moral fibre of our nation.
I would argue that Christianity is under threat, and with it, our secular education, our public schools, and the social and moral fibre of our nation.
Stumbling across The First Report of the Commissioners of National Education for the Colony of Victoria for the year 1852 was fascinating reading for me. I would hope that this and other historical documents of similar significance become the light and the hope of maintaining and celebrating our Judeo/Christian foundations.
Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Lacey All rights reserved.
Parent, educationist and advocate of agitating change in Australian education. By raising the bar we can face any global challenges facing Australia and Australians.
Contact me at cheryl@cheryllacey.com to learn how we can work together.
