NSW schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics. Approved providers deliver these, where available.
Write to the school if you wish to withdraw your child from special religious education, sometimes known as scripture. Special education in ethics is an option for your primary-age child if you withdraw them from special religious education. For more information, visit Religion and ethics.
Christian Scripture is taught at Smiths Hill through a DoE approved provider (Generate) and is supported through local churches in Wollongong. The current Scripture teacher, Miss Mikhael, works with the DoE and also has qualifications in theology.
In years 7 and 8 students are withdrawn from a different subject fortnightly and taught from the Bible in an interactive way. It is also a safe space where students are free to ask questions and express their own opinions through respectful class discussions.
In years 9-12 students have the option of Scripture on Monday afternoons, taught by the same teacher.
For information on the Christian Scripture curriculum please visit: https://thinkfaith.com.au/
Commencing in 2024 Special Education in Ethics (SEE) is available for Year 7 and 8 students on Monday afternoons from 2:05pm to 2:45pm. Primary Ethics is the single approved provider of SEE to the NSW Department of Education public schools.
This time is at the conclusion of the shorter school day and coincides with SRE classes held for students in years 9-12. Ethics classes support students to develop well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through the give-and-take of reasoned argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence rather than according to habit or peer pressure. Our volunteer ethics teachers, who are trained members of the school and broader community, use detailed lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. Ethics teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills. Ethics teachers support student learning by:
· modelling the inquiry process – by asking questions and encouraging discussion
· showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
· staying neutral – ethics teachers are trained to keep their own views out of the discussion
· creating a positive learning environment – by allowing students time to think and encouraging students to share ideas and give reasons.
You can find out more information about Primary Ethics by visiting the Primary Ethics website (www.primaryethics.com.au); the Year 7 and 8 curriculum can be found here: https://primaryethics.com.au/about-ethics-classes/our-curriculum/.