Could someone please explain the role of a School Chaplaincy Program in a secular school?

[i-need-a-martini]

I don't understand how parents at secular public schools can accept this?

[azureline**]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

bella - they haven't dropped funding. I think they have actually increased it significantly. The only thing they dropped was the ability to hire someone outside of a church.

In regards to our school, it is an innercity school that caters to wide religions and ways of life. The children are taught religion so my kids know as much about Christian religion as they do about Judaism, Bhuddism, Dreamtime, Islam. However they are not taught it as a religion but as part of global culture.

The school has a strict policy that religion is taught at home and not at school.

In terms of chaplaincies not forcing anything on the school - I disagree. The appointment of a chaplain instantly forces a presence of religion in a school.

And if their religion is instrumental in the counselling they supply, then it is also forcing religion onto individuals.

For example, lets take youth suicide. Extraordinarily high and highest amongst homosexual teens.

In my school homosexual teens are supported. And there are quite a few of them and it is very open. It is one of the things that I am most proud of. 

So what happens in a school where a homosexual teenager is having difficulties with his/her feelings and their only counsellor is a Catholic chaplain? How much support can that person possibly give them given that homosexuality is a sin? And what are the chances of them remaining neutral given their religious beliefs?

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It isn't a sin to be homosexual. A Catholic chaplain would know that and act accordingly, I would hope.

[bluecat*dancing]

It is the religious aspect that is the problem and it does not have a place in secular schools. That the government is providing Christian personel at the expense of secular practitioners is the problem.

http://www.education.gov.au/national-school-chaplaincy-and-student-welfare-program

'The National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP) provides funding to schools to access the services of a school chaplain or student welfare worker.

Funding under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program ceases on 30 June 2014, with services under the programme terminating on 31 December 2014.

Effective from 1 January 2015, the National School Chaplaincy Programme will replace the existing National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program. '

[catsnknots]

Youth suicide is rising, and depression amongst our youth is at epidemic levels and bullying is a major problem. There is often no money to provide a psychologist at schools or even a counselor. Take this service away and it will only hurt the children. Other religious organisations may apply to give this service but they don't so pretty much is is from the chaplaincy that these people come 

Chappies provide a non religious support system for many kids in need. They are a shoulder to cry on, a person to hear their issues, have access to information to pass onto these kids about where they can get help. They may also provide meals for kids at school like the program at my sons old school. Many children from poor families get a great meal to start their day. 

They also provide a safe place for many kids to go at break times so that they can feel safe and cared for. Their are games to paly and other like minded kids to hang out with rather than being bullied and feeling alone during what can be a very long break for many kids. 

Take this service away from my sons old school and heaps of kids won't get those meals, kids at risk of suicide will no longer have that support system and those vulnerable kids will once again be subjected to long periods of being alone. (my sons school has breaks of nearly an hour for morning and afternoon recess) 

They are not there to give religious education.. that is a totally different program that when my kids went to school was billed on a totally differnt program that you could opt out of. 

[bella_again]

I do hear you Martini and thanks for anwering. In regard to homosexuality  they would have to support anyone who comes to them regardless of life decisions, they can not force their personal views on anyone.  I have a friend who is a chaplain and she has people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds and belief systems come to her.  She supports each one fully and cares about each one regardless.    She refers those who need more indepth theraputic help to appropriate counsellors and support groups, whislst still supporting them in the school.

As a trained counsellor myself I too have a beleif system. If I were to work anywhere I would never force that on someone. We all have belief systems.  I wonder whether its more about the person that is employed and their suitability. The horror stories worry me lol but a decent chaplain won't cross the line.  The programs that they put in place are not always religous in nature, it may be they play a supporting role to teachers and are just there for a chat when the kids need it.  It depends on the flexibility of the school.  Some school want the religious component others dont and fair enough.

I have meet people from a lot of diverse backgrounds and never forced my belief system on anyone and I know of others who are counsellors, pyschs and pastoral care workers who don't either.  I don't think chaplains are any different, the school just needs to ensure their guidelines are very clear.   If they were to tell a student that their actions are sinful that would be grounds for instant dismissal I should imagine.

Actually we had a clinical psychologist come into one of the schools my girls were at.  She had some extreme new age techniques/exercises she wanted to test on the kids.  A number of the parents were quite concerned about her behaviour and did not want their kids to go near her.  She was later dismissed.  Just giving an example to say that sometimes it really is more about the competence of the person.  Maybe the religious side isn't as much of an issue as the person's suitability.  I don't know just putting it out there. 

[bella_again]

Wow interesting I have not heard of one not having qualifications before.  I'm glad she is good at what she does but I do think that the baseline should be at least having either a dip or degree in counselling/social work etc.I hope she studies to, she would even be better adding to her skills.

I know a lot of agencies here like ACCESS and others require that.  Some chaplains were hired directly by the school, don't know if they can still do that?

Schools definitely need appropriately qualified professionals counselling children.  There are so many issues and in an age where families are more and more dysfunctional the need for support is even greater. I think we all agree with that.

[i-need-a-martini]

Here is a section from the Chaplaincy website that explains what they do:

Spiritual guidance:

• Supporting students who wish to explore their spirituality;
• Providing guidance on religious, values and ethical matters; and
• Facilitating access to the helping agencies in the community, both church-based and secular, with the approval of the School Principal

How is this appropriate in a secular school?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@azureline** wrote:

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It isn't a sin to be homosexual. A Catholic chaplain would know that and act accordingly, I would hope.

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Whilst the church says it isn't a sin to be homosexual, it is a sin to act on those feelings and have sex with someone of your own sex.

However Catholicism it regards homosexuality as morally wrong and that a sexual union can only occur between a (married) man and woman.

How does the saying go? Love the sinner but hate the sin?

I doubt very much that a Catholic chaplain wuld be able to get beyond that.

[i-need-a-martini]

School chaplains do not have to be qualified in anything. Again here is an section from the website:

It is important to note that school chaplains cannot provide services for which they are not qualified, for example, counselling services or psychological assessment, or medical assessment.

[lakeland27]

this is a kind of infiltration by stealth as happened in the US military establishment where chaplains play a big role, interesting parallel .https://www.au.org/church-state/april-2013-church-state/people-events/new-report-says-military-threa...

 it never fails to make me laugh when i hear so called right-wing libertarians talk of freedoms when they are the people who enact social engineering programs such as this.

[donnashuggy]

Who made this stupid decision?

Are we going to end up with another Royal Commision?