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Ethics Education Initiatives in

AustraliaPanel #2

in a Symposium by

the Humanist Society of NSW

At Parliament House, Sydney

6 May 2013Chair: Ian Bryce

Humanist Society of NSW

VP, Secular Party of Australia

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Ethics is part of the broader

Freethought movement

Topics in education may include:

Philosophy

Skepticism

Critical thinking

Science and reason

Humanism

Culture and Society

Comparative religion.

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Organisations

with a stake

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Humanist Society

in each state

Strongly in favour of ethics education

Would prefer implementation of seculareducation (ie without any instruction in a

particular religion)

Most states believe introducing ethics in

the RI timeslot would be a step forward

But some disagree.

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Federation of AustralasianPhilosophy in Schools

Association(FAPSA)

An umbrella body for State

organisations including

Victorian Association for Philosophyin Schools (VAPS)

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Secular Party of Australia

~700 members

Stands for separation of church and state

Prefers a truly secular Australia

Strongly in favour of ethics education, in

any modalityHas several NSW ethics teachers

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How to answer the naysayers?

In an open society, we cant foretell

the future

We strive for what is best now.

Clearly that includes ethics

education.

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If the secularists achieved their wish,

and ethics was put in the core

curriculum, sometime in the future

The ethics in the RI timeslot schemes

would leave a legacy:

Thousands of children who benefited

Several sets of curriculum materials

Many people experienced in

organisation, training, delivery

Hundreds of ethics teachers, many

qualified teachers, and could train

Parents who have seen the benefits

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Some past initiatives

around Australia

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Puppetry

Laurie Gardner and Ralph Baker

Puppets used to initiate discussion on

ethical principles

Vis public primary schools

Guest lecture modality

Reached 1,000,000 students (!) in 35

years

500,000 student-hours

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Science demonstrations in Vic

Harry Gardner and Robyn

Campbell

Vic public primary schools

Guest lecture mode

~20,000 students~60,000 student hours

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Applied Ethical Education

Humanism at Home and SchoolA new curriculum by Harry

Gardner - Vic

Includes ethics and science

Based on Community of

Inquiry model

Designed for primary and

homes

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Learning to think: Philosophy in

the ClassroomPhil Cam, Lynne Hinton

et al

Buranda secondary,

QLD

2007 - ?

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Mystery Investigators

Richard Saunders, Ian Bryce, Alynda Brown, Rachael Dunlop

Fun, science and critical thinking, 2002 - present

NSW public secondary - Guest lecture and science fairs

Has reached 4000 children to date

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Science, ethics and values

Dr Martin Bridgestock

One of 4 subjects on freethoughtideas

Griffith University

2003 present

~16,000 student-hours

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School Skeptics SocietyAdam van Langenberg

McKinnon secondary college, Vic

A lunchtime discussion group

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Panel