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]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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. 

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Nobody said to tke them away.

The conversation is about the politics of those that are not from a religious group being excluded in future.

[bella_again]

I guess it depends on how you look at it Martini.  Spirituality doesn't just cover a particular faith and chaplians generally only give spiritual guidance when asked by a student to do so, they are not allowed to otherwise.  Secular schools still have people who have  a belief system/faith why can't they have the option to be supported? It is only a part of what they do, its not forced on anyone.  Chaplains still support lots of people from diverse backgrounds and different or no belief systems.

As for the qualification post, noone operates outside of their knowlege or skills, they are not allowed to.  If they are not trained in those areas they should not practise in those areas and I agree on that.  However there are many that are trained in those areas and they do practice them successfully  in the school enviroment.

A chaplain doesn't have to be a negative, you just need the right person for the job with the right skills and common sense just like anyone else.

[azureline**]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

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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.

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A Chaplain who just happens to be Catholic, does not mean they are clergy or bound by anything other than their own conscience, surely. I can't think of any Catholic I know who adheres and believes in every aspect of the Catholic Church. It is up to our own conscience.

[freakiness]

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@azureline** wrote:

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A Chaplain who just happens to be Catholic, does not mean they are clergy or bound by anything other than their own conscience, surely. I can't think of any Catholic I know who adheres and believes in every aspect of the Catholic Church. It is up to our own conscience.

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It's not the issue of them being catholic, the issue is that non religion based groups have been eliminated.  The choice as been removed by a government that says they are all about free choice.

[lakeland27]

i dont think a large number are catholic . most of the suitable types work in catholic education. they tend to come from elsewhere , don't let them near the science room.

[azureline**]

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@freakiness wrote:

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@azureline** wrote:

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A Chaplain who just happens to be Catholic, does not mean they are clergy or bound by anything other than their own conscience, surely. I can't think of any Catholic I know who adheres and believes in every aspect of the Catholic Church. It is up to our own conscience.

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It's not the issue of them being catholic, the issue is that non religion based groups have been eliminated.  The choice as been removed by a government that says they are all about free choice.

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It was Martini's issue relating to homosexuality, this post was a follow on from that conversation.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@freakiness wrote:

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@azureline** wrote:

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A Chaplain who just happens to be Catholic, does not mean they are clergy or bound by anything other than their own conscience, surely. I can't think of any Catholic I know who adheres and believes in every aspect of the Catholic Church. It is up to our own conscience.

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It's not the issue of them being catholic, the issue is that non religion based groups have been eliminated.  The choice as been removed by a government that says they are all about free choice.

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It was Martini's issue relating to homosexuality, this post was a follow on from that conversation.

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I just brought that up as the first example that popped into my head of how religious values (and the role of chaplain is specifically about religion otherwise they would have called them counsellors) would affect the judgement of the person offering advice. I don't believe that a chaplain would offer advice that did not sit within their bounds of value.

But either way, the point is that no school (and particularly public secular school) should have to be forced  to have a religious based counselling service. 

[freakiness]

[boris1gary]

it's a disgrace....

Chaplaincy program leaves secular workers with no more than a prayer

Last week's budget delivered a double blow to youth welfare worker Joanne Homsi. For the past 18 months, Ms Homsi has worked in two high schools in the St George and Sutherland area, supporting students with drug and alcohol issues, low confidence, family problems and suicidal thoughts.

As well as talking with students, she has connected them to mental health centres, remedial learning programs and other services.

Ms Homsi loves the job, and the schools value her work. But in December she will be looking for a new job - and there will not be a safety net to catch her if she cannot find one. Because she is under 30, she would have to wait six months before she can receive any unemployment benefits under tough new rules for young job seekers.

Ms Homsi's three-days-a-week position was funded by the federal government's National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program. The government is continuing the program, at a cost of $245 million over five years, but will remove the option for schools to hire a non-religious welfare worker.

The 623 schools that made this choice will have to hire a chaplain or go without. "I'm very saddened and concerned about the change to the program," she said.

School chaplains have a role to play, but not everywhere, she said. She noted St George is a multicultural area where Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims, Buddhists, Greek Orthodox and non-religious students study together. "These schools had a choice between a chaplain or a youth worker and they chose to have a youth worker," she said.

"I've been available to everyone regardless of their religion or culture. I've provided students with a non-judgmental approach to very sensitive issues and that has been beneficial to everyone."

Parliamentary Secretary for Education Scott Ryan said the government is restoring the scheme to its original vision after Labor expanded it to include student welfare workers in 2011.

"The Coalition was critical of Labor watering down the focus on chaplains when the original chaplaincy program expired," Senator Ryan said.

Australian Council of State School Organisations president Peter Garrigan said: "The chaplaincy program in its entirety should have been scrapped and the money given to provide … services like psychologists, speech pathologists or dentists. But if the program has to operate there should be a non-religious option."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/chaplaincy-program-leaves-secular-workers-with...

[freakiness]

No, no, she'll be right. She'll only have to wait 4 months for the dole because she worked for years before December.

There must be something wrong (with her) if she survive 4 months couch (or under bridge) surfing without food.