Ethics Classes

in NSW

public primary schools

May 2013

From 1866 - 2013

History

Vision and Mission

Goals

Implementation

Current Status

Curriculum

How can you get involved?

Q&A session

1866 to 2013

Pilot classes conducted in 2010 and report submitted to Minister

Primary Ethics is a not-for-profit organisation founded by St James Ethics

Centre in Nov 2010

NSW Education Act (1990) amended Dec 1, 2010

Recruitment began on Jan 1, 2011

First classes started in early February, 2011

Latest advice to Principals released June 2012. (Policy still not published by

May 2013, but due “soon”). Available from: http://bit.ly/15BvlO4

Primary Ethics to be treated the same as SRE providers, except in terms of

telling SRE families that ethics classes have started at the school.

NSW Upper House inquiry – 14 recommendations all accepted by govt.

Primary Ethics to be granted DGR status by July 2013 – tax deductible

donations allowable from then.

Recent History

Communities delivering Ethics classes to primary school students

Our Vision

To provide the opportunity for public primary students who don’t

attend scripture/SRE to participate in philosophical ethics classes.

These classes will provide children with a lifelong capacity to make

ethical judgments and to act reasonably and responsibly.

Our Mission

By 2018:

•80% of K-6 students in NSW primary schools will have the opportunity to participate in face-to-face ethics classes*

•100% of K-6 students in NSW primary schools will have access to ethics classes via e-learning.

• Years 7-10 curriculum – funding dependent

• Starting to reach into other states and territories in Australia – funding dependent

*To deliver Ethics classes in over 800 schools in NSW, more than 4,200 trained and accredited volunteers are required.

Our Goals

Primary Ethics: growth projections

Primary Ethics Growth Projections

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

Number of schools Number of classes taught Total volunteers Number of students

SMH Poll: Where do you stand on ethics classes in schools?

SMH Poll: Where do you stand on ethics classes in schools?

8%

92%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

AGAINST THEM

FOR THEM

Community-driven, not-for-profit organisation

Volunteers are trained and accredited

Locally managed teacher networks

Primary Ethics office responsible for:

Program and curriculum development and quality

Training and accreditation of volunteers

Support for volunteers

Fundraising

Media, marketing and communications

Primary Ethics

Primary Ethics: organisation structure (July 2012)

Ethics Coordinators • Assess needs for Ethics classes in the school community

• Recruit Ethics Teachers ( parents, school and wider community)

• Liaison between parents, school principals, Ethics Teachers and Primary Ethics

Ethics Teachers • Trained and accredited by Primary Ethics

• Facilitate classes for 30-45 mins weekly during school terms

• Engage children in dialogue about issues that matter to them using curriculum provided

Other volunteering opportunities

Our curriculum

K-6 curriculum developed and available at

www.primaryethics.com.au

140 out of 280 lesson weeks have been

developed.

What happens in ethics classes?

There are two short videos on our website. One shows an ethics class in action.

The other is a brief explanation of what philosophical ethics is.

Curriculum

• Dr Sue Knight is under contract to write the curriculum by end 2014 • Spiral curriculum • K-6 topics available on our website • Children consider a wide range of ethical issues and learn

– Collaborative inquiry – Logical reasoning – Critical thinking – Capacity to evaluate good and bad moral reasoning

• Evidence shows that well reasoned moral judgment doesn’t come automatically as young people mature

• Skills best developed using collaborative dialogue • Once acquired, skills accompany individuals into adulthood

Current Status at Term 2, 2013

Approx 8000 students in 200 schools attending face-to-face classes.

Current schools are listed on our webpage

http://www.primaryethics.com.au/currentschools.html

Classes are now available to Years 3, 4 5, and 6 students.

Classes for Years 1 and 2 available in Term 3, 2013.

Classes for Kindergarten will start Term 3, 2014.

Information for Parents

Primary Ethics consists almost entirely of volunteers.

Our Volunteers

800

Volunteers

525

Teachers

235

Ethics

Coordinators

13

Volunteers

Managers

20

Trainers

and other

helpers

Current Schools

Maps on our website show which schools

have an Ethics Coordinator in place.

How do I get involved?

• You can volunteer

• Subscribe to our newsletter

• Become a sponsor or donor

• Contact us

• www.primaryethics.com.au

In time, not very much time at all, it will be the decisions of the children

we teach today that will shape the world. Dr Simon Longstaff

The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates

Thank You