*Pic: Terry Polglase, Parent Deidre Murray … and her daughter/student, Richard Griggs
“Religious freedom is a fundamental civil liberty but it does not extend to excluding children from enrolling at publicly funded schools because of their religion,” said Richard Griggs, Tasmanian Director of Civil Liberties Australia.
“Instead of increasing religious freedom, as the Government intends, the laws will actually do the opposite and see students turned away from schools because of their religion,” Mr Griggs concluded.
“Our Tasmanian Government should be confronting prejudice in education, not promoting it. In the interest of fairness all students deserve equal consideration when choosing a school” said Deidre Murray, parent.
“The argument that Tasmania needs to fall into line with other states is a cop-out and our state should lead on this issue, stand firm at this time, and send a clear message to the nation that Tasmanians believe in choice of school for families; not for publicly supported institutions” saidTerry Polglase, Tasmanian President of the Australian Education Union.
“Giving publicly funded religious and independent schools more power to choose who they enrol will not lead to improved educational outcomes for our state’s children. The amendment needs to be rejected by the Upper House and Tasmania should lead on this issue” Mr Polglase concluded.
Richard Griggs, Tasmanian Director of Civil Liberties Australia; Deidre Murray, parent; Terry Polglase, Tasmanian President – Australian Education Union
EARLIER on Tasmanian Times …
