Letters to the editor October 2008

AMS Staff | 29 September 2008

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Your say: public better than private

I read with interest the articles about “public vs private” schooling. Both my wife (private school-educated) and I (public school-educated) believe that the deciding factor for us in choosing a school for our daughter will not be driven by the public vs private debate but by which system will best enable us to nurture our daughter in her growth in the life of faith.
While most folk might assume that I am suggesting that the private system is to be preferred for my daughter, we are more inclined to want to educate our daughter in the public system. The reason for this is that it’s a lot easier to debrief her from the secular humanism she will be exposed to in the public system than the folk quasi-Christian, downright unreflective unbiblical “Christianity” she will learn alongside good stuff in a Christian or church school: that which is close to us more easily gets in under the radar and confuses.
As youth leaders, we find it easier to present the biblical Jesus to kids from public schools where Christians are mocked than those from independent schools who have all sorts of Christian-sounding but unbiblical ideas put in their heads during the week.

The Rev Glenn Farrell
Jamberoo, NSW

It seems to me that the majority of Anglican ministers send their children to faith-based schools. I wonder if this unduly influences the choice that Christian parents make when deciding where to send their children to school.
As a parent who has opted to send their children to State high schools, I particularly agreed with Mr Wing’s comments about the State school system. Many Christian parents fear that sending children to State schools will jeopardise their faith, yet fail to realise that living in a post-Christian society, the faith of our children in State schools is rarely an issue. Christian children schooled in State schools quickly learn how to negotiate life in the secular world, and with good Christian values at home, they can learn how to live within the world and yet not be of the world.
From our own experience, our teenagers’ faith and passion for evangelism has been sharpened by their exposure to children of various ethnic backgrounds; they have no fear of entering into dialogue with Muslim children, and it has opened the way for us as a family to build bridges with Muslims in our area.
At our church we have people who have been schooled in State schools and faith-based schools, and yet the majority of young adults in leadership positions are from State schools. Looking at the quality of leadership that has come through the State system has given us further confidence that it is a great environment for our children to grow and develop into future Christian leaders.

Sita Matthews
Carlton, NSW

Public schools are secular and non-religious by nature, due to the mixed backgrounds of students. If Anglicans think it’s important to teach children the ways of Christ, maybe look at significantly lowering school fees, making Anglican schools accessible to a much larger group of parents who see themselves as Anglicans – as I do – but cannot afford to send their children there.
I have recently enquired about sending one of my children to an Anglican school and there was no way I could justify the massive financial burden. The fees paid to your schools have made them into elitist establishments. Is the Anglican Church only for the rich in Australia? It seems that way. Take a look at any regular Roman Catholic school and the fees are a small fraction of Anglican school fees.
If you wish to increase the Anglican congregation in Australia, try making your schools affordable.

Richard Jamison
Sutherland, NSW

Is it wise to use our children as tools for evangelism (SC, Sep)? Most children do not have the maturity to withstand the consequences of being different from their non-Christian peers in State schools. My experience of current 18-to-24-year-old relatives is that those who attended Christian schools tend to have a church as their social hub and those who attended State schools tend to have a pub as their social hub. Never sacrifice your children on the altar of our evangelism.

Rewa Bate
Tea Gardens, NSW

Your ‘unbiased’ article on education (SC, Sep) lost all credibility when two advertisements for private Anglican schools appeared on the same page. The constant bias to ‘Christian’ schools makes Anglicans with a genuine love of Christ feel second-rate because they favour the public education system.
Regardless of the constant spin SC and the previous Federal Government put on ‘Christian’ schools being superior in ‘values’, these indisputable facts stand out.
First, the Diocese is not putting enough resources into providing more quality Scripture teachers in public schools.
Second, our Lord was inclusive. He valued all and associated with those who had been discarded by the rest of society. Public education and its values does this and shows a truly Christ-like inclusiveness. SC should respect and support Christian parents who choose this truly inclusive system.
Pity our society in the future if the public education system continues to be undervalued, underfunded and unappreciated.

John Cotterill
Kingsford, NSW

Lambeth tactic flawed?

While our Archbishop considers the Sydney Diocesan strategy for Lambeth 2008 (namely to boycott it) to have been correct (SC, Sep), many feel that the Diocese has made a tactical error.
As the Bishop of Rochester, who attended GAFCON and not Lambeth, permitted the suffragan Bishop of Tonbridge to attend the latter, we should have released (for example) the Bishop of South Sydney or the Bishop of North Sydney to continue the good work of GAFCON at the Lambeth Conference.
These bishops could have used their excellent talents in encouraging not only those bishops supporting GAFCON but also other potentially supportive ones, who are not as forthright on the current problems affecting the Anglican Communion.

Peter M G Young
Mosman, NSW

Mamre story offends

I am writing as School Chaplain, and someone that has been part of the Mamre Anglican School community for some time. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the body of your article on the changes at our school, I am left wondering why you chose the heading (which is in big bold letters) ‘Anglicans pick up pieces’. I pray that it wasn’t your intention, but it has severely hurt many of the staff members. Several have approached me already this week to voice their disgust and disbelief at the choice of such a heading. They already feel hurt that their school is going through several big changes, and this article heading is not appropriate or sensitive in any way.

Nathan Asher
School Chaplain
Mamre Anglican School (formerly Mamre Christian College)
Kemps Creek, NSW

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