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?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

To bring it back on topic, it seems there are people out there that have big problems with chaplains in secular schools.  Maybe I'm wrong but I have assumed the majority of these people would be athiests.  

Therefore it's not just the belief in the absence of God or blind faith in science, it is also the blatent abhorrance of all things Christian. 

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Yes there are a whole lot of people out there who have problems with chaplains in secular schools.

But atheist or not, has it ever occurred to you that not everyone in this country follows a christian religion?

And just because you are atheist or of another religion, does not mean you have a "blatant abhorrance of all things christian". It may simply be that you feel, as I do, that it is highly innapropriate to have something as blatant as a christian counsellor advising vulnerable and impressionable children instead of someone who can advise outside the confines of the bible value system.

[k0llectable5]

But they dont preach or teach religious ideology so how is it inappropriate? Are you saying that a Christian chaplain is not welcome to support a distressed muslim or athiest child?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

But they dont preach or teach religious ideology so how is it inappropriate? Are you saying that a Christian chaplain is not welcome to support a distressed muslim or athiest child?

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Have you not read any of the examples I have written on here?

It has nothing to do with "not welcome" but all to do with not appropriate.

A trained psychologist is the most appropriate person to support a distressed child of ANY religious persuasion. A chaplain is not trained and certainly not trained to not show bias based on their religious values.

If my child was having a problem with his sexuality and was unable to discuss his distress with me, the LAST person I would want him discussing this with is someone who would have a religious slant on the issue.

But thanks to the changes instigated by this government, schools no longer have the ability to select a NON-religious professional to fill this role in schools.

I should also point out that the chaplaincy program is a christian program. What role does a christian chaplain have in a jewish school or muslim school? Those schools no longer have the ability to select someone of their OWN religion either.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I think anyone trained in counselling is appropriate to do counselling in a school, not necessarily only someone with a degree in psychology.

[fourandsixpants]

i agree! Kids don't care if someone has a degree in psych. Children have a very accute 6th sense and they will open up to someone who has a genuine care and will go to lengths to listen and help-and trustworthy. It takes a *special person to do this job.Degrees alone never helped anyone IMO!

[i-need-a-martini]

But we have already established that you don't need any training to be a chaplain according to their website and their charter.

That might be OK when we are talking about littlies at primary school but it is certainly not OK when we are dealing with complex problems of highschoolers.

And it's not just about kids opening up to someone they can trust. Of course kids do that. But this is about the quality of the advice that comes back to those kids from the person that they have just trusted.

This role is not just about 'listening'. This person is supposed to provide advice and to refer the kids to other sources of assistance.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

And there are other professions trained in counselling who can do exactly that without being a qualified psychologist.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
And there are other professions trained in counselling who can do exactly that without being a qualified psychologist.

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The minimum training requirement is a Cert in Pastoral Care. They need this in conjunction with either a Diploma in Theology or a Diploma in Ministry.

If my 15 year old was contemplating suicide, I'd want the best, non-biased support possible for him. For some schools, the best people to provide that care may be a religious chaplain. For other schools (and in particular non-secular schools) the best person may not be a religious chaplain.

That is why the role was changed some years ago to include non-secular welfare trained advisors. It could be a psycholgist (which is what my school has) or it could be a trained social worker. Or it could be someone with a child protections background. Depending on what the school needs.

Now there is no longer a choice. Schools HAVE to take on a "committed Christian" if they want the funding. If they have employed anyone outside the church, the roles will cease in 2 months time.

As an aside, that would also mean that a Muslim school couldn't have a Muslim welfare person. 

[daydream**believer]

Im an athiest and i love our school chaplain.

Ive spoken to her many times when i have been having a hard time.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Different argument. My point is just that there are other counsellors, religious or non religious, than psychologists who have are often better utilised in other roles.