Editorial: Religious education must include many faiths

Religious education was part of the curriculum at the state primary school I attended.

A brave volunteer from a local church would show up to share his faith.

Most of the class feigned interest.

Some were outright hostile and, inevitably, one pupil would end up cooling their heels in the corridor.

A nervous man of strong faith, the volunteer struggled to control the class and the lesson usually ended with him loudly singing a Christian hymn as the class descended into chaos.

Two or three students were spared this weekly ritual because either their parents did not want them to attend or they had a different faith.

They would spend the hour quietly drawing pictures in another classroom, which, to me at least, seemed a more constructive use of their time.

The downside was this also highlighted that they were different from the rest of us.

No one wanted to be thought of as "different" when I was at school. Looking back, it seems odd that they should have been isolated in this way but religion in schools was not up for debate then.

It is now.

The role of religion in our education system came under the spotlight again this year when Auckland's St Heliers School controversially decided to remove religious classes from its timetable and offer them outside school hours, after several parents complained to the school and the Human Rights Commission.

The complainants argued the Christian-based lessons discriminated against non-Christian families and should not be part of a secular programme.

A UMR poll showed only 27 per cent of 1000 people surveyed felt New Zealand schools should include classes on Christianity taught from a Christian perspective.

The leaders of Bay schools have differing views on the issue.

Brookfield Primary School principal Robert Hyndman, who is also president of the Western Bay Principals' Association, says it is up to schools to decide whether to offer religious education classes. His school offers an interactive programme from an external Christian group "Cool Bananas" twice a term.

The school also runs weekly sessions from non-religious group Kiwi Can.

No parents had complained, and they were told on enrolment the programmes were voluntary, he says.

Greerton Village School chose to hold religious education out of class time a few years ago and it now does not offer it at all. Principal Anne Mackintosh says the school's approach ensured children, who did not attend the classes, did not feel excluded.

Both approaches seem reasonable and justified.

However, I am increasingly of the view that religious education - if it focuses on a single faith - should not be part of the state education system.

We live in a multi-cultural society with many faiths and that should be reflected in the classroom.

If religious education is to be taught then it should cover all religions in the hope of fostering greater awareness and understanding.

At the very least, this will ensure no pupils are excluded.