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?

[freakiness]

http://www.kingstribune.com/index.php/weekly-email/item/2007-school-chaplaincy-the-high-court-and-th...

“We’re not religious, and I don’t want my kids exposed to religious mumbo-jumbo,” says the Toowoomba father-of-six.

“You can bring Santa to school. You can bring the Tooth Fairy, for all I care”, he told The Australian in 2008. “What you cannot do is tell the children that any of this is true.”

In August 2012 and, again, in May this year, Williams took on the Commonwealth government in the High Court of Australia, arguing that they have no constitutional authority to fund school chaplaincy.

...................................

In short, as Williams’ barrister pointed out, the arguments from the defence dealt with issues which have already been ‘quelled’.

On 9 May 2014, the High Court bench retired to consider its decision in Williams (2). Four days later, Federal treasurer, Joe Hockey delivered an ‘austerity budget’ which cut $80 billion from hospitals and education funding for the states. Yet, within a budget which enjoined already battling Australians to ‘share the load’, an unprecedented $243.8 million was committed to fund school chaplaincy for another four years.

If you are not concerned, as Ron Williams is, about chaplaincy’s threat to our secular public education system – if you are not outraged that children’s welfare and safety has been compromised to suit ideological and political aims – you should understand that the National School Chaplaincy Program is a symbol of the Commonwealth government’s disdain for financial transparency and accountability, the Constitution, the High Court, the Federation instituted by our founders, and the tenets of representative government. When we’re talking about chaplaincy, that’s the elephant in the room.

[k0llectable5]

“You can bring Santa to school. You can bring the Tooth Fairy, for all I care”,

What a bizarre thing to say.  So what are they going to say introducing these characters to children at school?  "Now kids this is Santa and this is the tooth fairy, they aren't true by the way, it's just something us adults have lied about and will continue to do so until you find out for yourselves in about 5 or ten years time..."  

What is the big deal with chaplains at secular schools?  It's not like they go around preaching to children about the bible ect sheesh. The same people that dont want chaplains I bet if you asked them would have no problems with their children learing about religions of all types.  I've heard parents say "I want my children to learn about all the different religions, not just Christianity..."  

Atheism is a religion...

[boris1gary]

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@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

“You can bring Santa to school. You can bring the Tooth Fairy, for all I care”,

What a bizarre thing to say.  So what are they going to say introducing these characters to children at school?  "Now kids this is Santa and this is the tooth fairy, they aren't true by the way, it's just something us adults have lied about and will continue to do so until you find out for yourselves in about 5 or ten years time..."  

What is the big deal with chaplains at secular schools?  It's not like they go around preaching to children about the bible ect sheesh. The same people that dont want chaplains I bet if you asked them would have no problems with their children learing about religions of all types.  I've heard parents say "I want my children to learn about all the different religions, not just Christianity..."  

Atheism is a religion...

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atheism is not a religion.

[kilroy_is_here]

As a deputy chair of a school board and head of the P&C , I could tell you exactly what there roll is , but I figure it would be a waste of my time, as you are not really interested in what there roll is , rather more interested in bagging them out based on your own biased views on religion

[kilroy_is_here]

And yes before the high and mighty grammar and spelling police get here yes I typed the wrong "their " twice build a bridge I was in a hurry

[k0llectable5]

Those that follow it (atheism) seem just as, if not more extreme in their views than those that follow spiritual based faiths imo.  

I am interested Kilroy.

[boris1gary]

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@kilroy_is_here wrote:
As a deputy chair of a school board and head of the P&C , I could tell you exactly what there roll is , but I figure it would be a waste of my time, as you are not really interested in what there roll is , rather more interested in bagging them out based on your own biased views on religion

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what roll are you talking about? atheism is not a religion, simple post - of course you know this as you are deputy chair of a school board. I don't bag other peoples religious convictions, thank you.

[boris1gary]

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@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

Those that follow it (atheism) seem just as, if not more extreme in their views than those that follow spiritual based faiths imo.  

I am interested Kilroy.

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people don't follow atheism, there is nothing to follow.

[k0llectable5]

I think that there is.  There is a belief in the absence of a God, which usually acompanies a blind faith in science.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

I think that there is.  There is a belief in the absence of a God, which usually acompanies a blind faith in science.

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Ahh I see.

So a blind faith in science is NOT OK.

But blind faith in something completely unfathomable is?

That makes loads of sense. NOT! Lol.