Mother upset at religion in class
Aussies carefree with holiday budgets
A MOTHER is outraged after her seven-year-old son, who doesn’t undertake religious instruction, claims he was placed in the same area as the students who do.
Carly Delaney said her son came home from his Cairns school before the recent holidays claiming he’d overheard what his classmates were being taught in RI.
Ms Delaney, who was a state school teacher between 2003 and 2013, said she was only aware of the issue happening once but was “extremely” concerned. It is a State Government requirement that students undertaking RI be separated from those who have opted out.
“As far as I know, the last conversation I had with my son indicated that they were in the same room and just separated into a different section,” Ms Delaney said.
“It sounded like they were in the library.”
Ms Delaney said her son has spoken about God and asked questions about religion outside of school, which was unexpected as religion wasn’t discussed at home.
It joins news the MultiFaiths Religious Instruction Peak Body officially formed last week after signing a memorandum of understanding late last year.
The body will “provide oversight” to RI, meaning it will work together to ensure the programs each faith group uses complies with the Education Department’s policies.
Calls are growing for the State Government to conduct a parliamentary review into the century-old provisions, with the Queensland Parents for Secular State Schools launching a petition. However, Education Minister Grace Grace has repeatedly said there were currently no plans to review the RI provisions of the Education Act 2006.
Ms Delaney, who signed the petition, said when she was a teacher it was a hassle having to organise and separate the children who undertook RI.
“It was taking time away from the essentials of learning,” she said. “Our state schools should be secular.
“There’s no room for church scripture, religion in our state schools.”
Ms Delaney said she hadn’t raised the issue with the school yet but planned to.
A spokeswoman for the Education Department said parents are encouraged to raise any concerns about RI with the principal of their child’s school.
THERE’S NO ROOM FOR CHURCH SCRIPTURE, RELIGION IN OUR STATE SCHOOLS.
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JETSETTERS are failing to financially plan for their getaways, with many relying on credit cards and life savings, resulting in a holiday hangover.
A survey of more than 1500 Aussies reveals nearly a third of holiday-makers don’t save ahead for their vacations, and half rely on credit cards and life savings. Australians collectively spend $63.6 billion each year – with the average individual spend being $3442 in Queensland on domestic and international travel, according to the Suncorp Cost of Travel report.
Thirty-five per cent of Queenslanders say they don’t save for travel, which is higher than any other state.
Suncorp spokesman Jason Stephens said 41 per cent of those who did save ahead usually saved for about a year before their holiday.
Flights were the highest cost for travellers, on average about $1443, followed by accommodation, $1206, food, $703, and experiences, $459.
The research also found one in four holiday-makers didn’t buy insurance when travelling overseas. “Aussies are happy to spend hundreds on flights, food and accommodation, but many aren’t taking steps to protect themselves and their valuables while they are away,” Mr Stephens said.
“We need to ensure our enthusiasm doesn’t cloud our judgment when it comes to deciding what’s an essential expense.”