Welcome to the Humanist Society of Victoria Incorporated (HSV). It works to build a more civilized society, fostering ethics based on human values.
It considers that reason, free inquiry and a scientific approach enable us to understand the universe and our place in it.
It defends freedom and democracy and provides a positive alternative to religious and dogmatic creeds.
It supports separation of church and state, and secular education.
Let’s hear from you
Contact us as below or comment on recent articles in the press about children and religious instruction:
Direct email: victorianhumanist@gmail.com
For information on how to join the society click here.
We are also on Facebook, join us here.
No related posts.
Re. religion in schools, surely the issue of what is logical and fair is secondary to people’s opinions. If research was able to demonstrate that a majority, or a substantial minority, were dissatisfied with the current arrangements then the department would have to act. Have you thought of running a petition? Or selling the department the idea of commissioning some research on parent attitudes?
I second the notion of Joe Pickin – please do some good scientific surveying of parent and teacher attitudes and/or set up a petition. I’m a teacher in a state primary school that runs CRE through Access Ministries. I won’t go into the details of the hideousness of what I witness every week, but I beseech you to ask around. I don’t feel I have a voice on the issue, and I would LOVE one.
I chose to work in a state school, and not a religious one, with intention. Whey then, is my class of young impressionable minds being taught to believe in God and Jesus and the Bible? Here I am trying to teach critical thinking skills, and there they are teaching faith and to believe what they are told because they’re being told it. Please help. I am certain there are many, many more teachers out there who on the face of it welcome the CRE teachers each week because we are decent human beings, but DO NOT agree with their being there.
Dear Natalie, I’m still learning about our website and we’ve decide to change hosts. Are you happy with our VCAT action as described on http://www.victorianhumanist.com/campaigns/ ? I’ll be putting up our complaint when I’ve learned how to do so.
Harry Gardner
“Yes, Joe Picken. We have data from 140 parents of one school, which showed that only 44% wanted CRE and the remainder were divided between general religious education, values based education, no religious education. This survey was sent in a long letter to all primary school councils and interested parties. The Education Department has a copy and its approved CRE provider has answered it on http://www.accessministries.org.au/news/id/10, together with several times in the media (e.g. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/urban-affairs/schools/by/evonne-paddison) and also on its website from time to time.
“Currently we are looking at drafting a wider community survey.”
On 17 May Natalie replied: I second the notion of Joe Pickin – please do some good scientific surveying of parent and teacher attitudes and/or set up a petition. I’m a teacher in a state primary school that runs CRE through Access Ministries. I won’t go into the details of the hideousness of what I witness every week, but I beseech you to ask around. I don’t feel I have a voice on the issue, and I would LOVE one.
I chose to work in a state school, and not a religious one, with intention. Whey then, is my class of young impressionable minds being taught to believe in God and Jesus and the Bible? Here I am trying to teach critical thinking skills, and there they are teaching faith and to believe what they are told because they’re being told it. Please help. I am certain there are many, many more teachers out there who on the face of it welcome the CRE teachers each week because we are decent human beings, but DO NOT agree with their being there.
[...] 11 April Joe asked about surveys on SRI and on 17 May Natalie replied, as does HSV now also. Please see Contact Us for the answer. (Sorry to be so [...]