Complaints put brakes on ethics class trial

From Australia-

VERITY FIRTH is refusing to guarantee a 10-week trial for secular ethics classes will start next week in state primary schools as expected, after a flurry of complaints from religious leaders.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Minister for Education yesterday said getting the curriculum right was ''more important than the timing of the trial''.

She said the Board of Studies had yet to sign off on the final version of the curriculum before gaining ministerial approval.

''When the minister announced the trial she said it would be reviewed by the Board of Studies,'' the spokeswoman said.

''While it's a trial, it's a significant change to a long-standing arrangement in our schools and subject to considerable public debate.'' The trial, overseen by the St James Ethics Centre, was expected to start next week at Darlinghurst, Bungendore, Rozelle, Hurstville, Haberfield, Ferncourt, Baulkham Hills North, Leichhardt, Randwick and Crown Street public schools.

The first lesson for students in years five and six, covering issues such as truth and fairness, was scheduled at Haberfield Public on Tuesday at 9am.

The pilot ethics program was fully funded and was endorsed unanimously by the Federation of Parents and Citizens' Associations of NSW in July.

More here-

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/complaints-put-brakes-on-ethics-class-trial-20100416-skfy.html