Primary School in Western Australia Bans Lord’s Prayer
After a government school in Australia received complaints from parents, it banned students from reciting of the Lord’s Prayer during school assemblies, ending a 25-year tradition at the Western Australian school.
Citing the Western Australia Education Act, which states that schools must not promote one particular religious practice, denomination or sect over another, parents called for an end to the decades-long practice at Edgewater Primary School, according to The Sydney Morning Herald (TSMH).
In response, the school’s principal, Julie Tombs, sent out a survey to parents asking for their views on the tradition, but only 36 percent responded to the questions.
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On Monday, Tombs sent out a letter to parents, explaining that the prayer would no longer be recited before assemblies.
“We acknowledge that of the parents who did respond to the survey, many wanted to retain the Lord’s Prayer and it is right that we continue to recite it at culturally appropriate times such as Christmas and Easter, as part of our education program,” Tombs wrote. “However, at this school we have students from a range of backgrounds and it is important to consider all views and not promote one set of religious beliefs and practices over another.”
However, the school creed, which contained a reference to God, would still be recited, the letter said.
“My own view is that Western Australia is basically a Christian-based community and I think it’s desirable to have the Lord’s Prayer,” Premier Colin Barnett told TSMH reporters Tuesday.
“But that decision rests at the school level. Certainly schools can, and I would encourage them to have the Lord’s Prayer. I don’t think it offends anyone; it just simply reflects the values and backbone of our society,” he said.
“[It’s part of Australia’s] culture, our history; and it’s reflected in our institutions and laws,” Barnett added.
Anglican Dean of Perth John Shepherd expressed the same views as Barnett. “I think there is a place [for the Lord’s Prayer], just as there is a place for exposing children to the full knowledge of other faiths,” Shepherd said.
Although religious demographics in Western Australia have changed in the recent years, Shepherd said he thinks the prayer embodies “values to which we all ascribe.”
“I do acknowledge that it’s not simple,” he told TSMH. “I [just] think it is a valuable addition to the educative process.”
In Western Australia government schools, religious education is a recommended part of a rounded education, according to the School Education Act of 1999.
The act allows for up to one hour a week of special religious education, provided by churches and other religious groups. That hour can include the teaching of prayers, songs, and other material based on religious, spiritual or moral values.
Subject to the regulations, the principal of a government school may allow time for special religious education of students, but the total number of hours in a school year must not exceed 40. Religious groups are not allowed to recruit to their particular group.
A parent opposed to the special religious instruction can withdraw their child from the particular class with a written request to the principal asking for an exemption.
All faiths are widely respected and welcomed in Western Australia. The most commonly practiced are Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism. Roman Catholics make up about 23 percent of the population, while Anglicans make up 28 percent.
