Religious club divides state school

Opposing sides in a divisive row over religious instruction at a Wellington state primary school have hired legal heavyweights Sir Geoffrey Palmer and law firm Chapman Tripp to fight their cases.

Seatoun School's board of trustees engaged Chapman Tripp when a group of parents sought Sir Geoffrey's help after the board banned meetings of a weekly lunchtime religious studies group attended by many of the school's almost 400 pupils.

In a written opinion, Sir Geoffrey said the ban breached the Bill of Rights Act's guarantee of freedom of religion. The lunchtime "KidsKlub" meetings were not in school time, were voluntary and were allowed under the Education Act.

But Chapman Tripp advised the board that it could stop the meetings, advice backed by the School Trustees Association, said board deputy chairman Bob Roche.

The parent who approached Sir Geoffrey, Vicky Casey, herself a lawyer, said the board's move reeked of religious intolerance and should be overturned.

Parents supporting KidsKlub are sending home their own newsletter to parents giving details of Sir Geoffrey's opinion, after an article Ms Casey wrote for the school newsletter was rejected.

KidsKlub, begun in 2002, is run by parents and grandparents and Ms Casey said the new board, elected last year, announced in February it would not let KidsKlub continue.

The board is meeting today to consider making a public statement on the issue.

- NZPA