Report of the committee on religious education – Victoria, 1974 (Russell report)

(In 2011 this report was held in the following libraries, National Library of Australia, State Library of Victoria, State Library of N.S.W., and libraries of the following universities: Charles Sturt, Deakin, Edith Cowan, Griffith, La Trobe, Monash, Melbourne, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. The Humanist Society’s copy may be perused by phoning 03 9870 8998.)

Three conclusions were that:

• That religious instruction in State schools be progressively replaced by the kind of religious education delineated in the body of this Report.  [The Report – see below – describes what in 2012 might be referred to as ‘general religious education’ as defined in the Education Act 2006, namely, ‘In this section "general religious education" means education about the major forms of religious thought and expression characteristic of Australian society and other societies in the world.’  - HSV]
• That the programs of religious [HSV prefers 'world-view'] education in each school be conducted by Departmental teachers, …
• That when religious education along the lines recommended in this Report has been satisfactorily established in the schools, the Minister then consider the desirability of seeking the repeal of Section 23 of the Education Act [now Section 2.2.11 of the Education Act 2006] .

(For comments by the Humanist Society of Victoria Inc., see sub menus on (a) the HSV submissions, (b) Disapproval statement and (c) Detailed criticism .)

Table of Contents. Files are in image form except where noted as transcript, therefore searchable.

Russell report Title, Preface, Contents

Russell report Ch 1 Introduction

Russell report Ch 2 Religious teaching in Victorian state schools since 1872

Russell report Ch 2 (Transcript) Religious teaching in Victorian state schools  since 1872

Russell report Ch 3 (Transcript) Recent developments in the provision of religious education in state schools in Australia

Russell report Ch 4 The changing forms of religious education

Russell report Ch 5 The attitude of teachers, students and community to religious education 

Russell report Ch 6 Some implications for religious education of current understanding of child development

Russell report Ch 7 Our pluralist society: some implications for religious education

Russell report Ch 8 Changes in Schooling which affect religious education

Russell report Ch 9 The term “Secular Instruction”

Russell report Ch 9 (Transcript) The term “Secular Instruction”

Russell report Ch 10 The school curriculum and the rights of parents, the public and the teaching profession

Russell report Ch 11 Religion and the study of religion

Russell report Ch 12 The possibility of educating in religion

Russell report Ch 13 Why religious education ought to be included in the school curriculum

Russell report Ch 14 Some methodological considerations

Russell report Ch 15 Exploring guidelines for programs as below 

Russell report Ch 15-I Jnr Primary

Russell report Ch 15-II Snr Primary

Russell report Ch 15-III Jnr Secondary

Russell report Ch 15-IV Snr Secondary

Russell report Ch 16 Staffing and teacher education

Russell report Ch 17 The contribution of churches and other institutions and organisations

Russell report Ch 18 Legal and organisational considerations

Russell report pp 285 – 289 Summary and recommendations

Russell report pp 285 – 289 (Transcript) Summary and recommendations

Russell Report pp 339 – 340 Humanist Society  submission