Reform special religious instruction in Victorian state schools Petition: Signature List Feed http://www.gopetition.com/signatures/reform-special-religious-instruction-in-victorian-state-schools.html Online petition signatures en-us Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:18 UTC GoPetition RSS Feed Generator Copyright 2026 GoPetition Ms Anonymous [Signature #29] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/11272670?utm_medium=rss The church and the state were originally separated for good reason, religion has no place in secular schools except for a broad study of the history and general exposition of organisations founded on spirituality. Many of these aforementioned organisations used spirituality to leverage power and wealth. Spirituality should be encouraged, but neither specific religous instruction or the indoctrination of children into religous organisations should be a part of a secular education.

]]> Fri, 7 Oct 2011 06:48:14 UTC 11272670 Dr Fiona Cochrane [Signature #28] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10650521?utm_medium=rss Thu, 9 Jun 2011 10:53:24 UTC 10650521 mr andrew cahill [Signature #27] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10510860?utm_medium=rss Sat, 21 May 2011 04:26:28 UTC 10510860 Renee Dichiera [Signature #26] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10448609?utm_medium=rss Fri, 13 May 2011 03:36:08 UTC 10448609 Ms Rayeena Daungseethong [Signature #25] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10439674?utm_medium=rss Religion is a personal choice. We can study one or more. It is compulsory to study this subject however decision to believe in any religion is upto the person.

]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 05:54:01 UTC 10439674 Ms Theresa McAteer [Signature #24] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10436053?utm_medium=rss Are state schools secular? If they are secular why is any religion being taught in them? If they are secular does this mean that the government is breaking the law?

]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 08:12:31 UTC 10436053 Dr Holger Keeler [Signature #23] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10434738?utm_medium=rss Wed, 11 May 2011 04:36:05 UTC 10434738 Tharatorn Supasiti [Signature #22] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10434277?utm_medium=rss Wed, 11 May 2011 03:10:47 UTC 10434277 mr Cecil Ponsaing [Signature #21] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10434133?utm_medium=rss BAN RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. Allow FREE thought!

]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 02:41:56 UTC 10434133 Vanessa Andrade [Signature #20] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10433174?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 10:06:01 UTC 10433174 Daniel Mentiplay [Signature #19] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10432917?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 08:26:34 UTC 10432917 Michael Payne [Signature #18] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10432768?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 07:40:10 UTC 10432768 Dr Anonymous [Signature #17] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10431760?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 04:00:25 UTC 10431760 Dr Mathew Zuparic [Signature #16] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10429120?utm_medium=rss I am no expert on this issue but it is clear from what I have read that the option to "opt out" is token and clearly discriminates against the child in question. Being a secular society with undeniable Christian roots, some form of Christian education is probably beneficial from a social/cultural viewpoint (again, I am not an expert). However, blatant religious instruction where the only other option leads to discrimination does not hold true to the tenet of religious freedom.

]]> Tue, 10 May 2011 08:49:31 UTC 10429120 Mr Kean Wong [Signature #15] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10428487?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 07:20:08 UTC 10428487 Mr Timothy Rice [Signature #14] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10427023?utm_medium=rss My wife and I initially chose not to "opt out" of the religious instruction that takes place at Benalla East Primary School. We proceeded to have difficulties with out daughter not being amenable to discussions about science because every question had the answer "God made it that way." This is a totally unacceptable outcome obtained through use of school time and resources.

]]> Tue, 10 May 2011 03:43:38 UTC 10427023 Mr Joshua Lazarus [Signature #13] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10426455?utm_medium=rss I believe religious education of any sort has no place in state schools, let alone the ability to punish students whose parents wish to leave fairy tales at the cradle.

]]> Tue, 10 May 2011 01:37:09 UTC 10426455 Mrs Marielle Fish [Signature #12] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10426367?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 01:07:49 UTC 10426367 Miss Anita Ponsaing [Signature #11] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10426351?utm_medium=rss If religious education is to be available in public (secular) schools, it should be a study of world religions. Such education would be worthwhile as it would bring with it awareness of other cultures and belief systems, allowing students to see beyond their own backyard and form a more balanced view of the world.

Any instruction that assumes a particular institutionalized dogma as truth should be opt-in, and preferably outside of school hours so as not to disrupt children's education.

]]> Tue, 10 May 2011 01:02:49 UTC 10426351 Mr Gus Schrader [Signature #10] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10426256?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 12:41:11 UTC 10426256 tess rice [Signature #9] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10426227?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 12:34:08 UTC 10426227 Mr Nicholas Beaton [Signature #8] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10426205?utm_medium=rss Tue, 10 May 2011 12:19:34 UTC 10426205 SiRiRat Paritmongkol [Signature #7] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10425984?utm_medium=rss Why religious? Why not spend money on something better than this? What about kids who have no religious or who have other religious?

]]> Mon, 9 May 2011 10:39:35 UTC 10425984 Mr Martin McAteer [Signature #6] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10425955?utm_medium=rss Mon, 9 May 2011 10:30:09 UTC 10425955 Zoe Rixon [Signature #5] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10425939?utm_medium=rss Mon, 9 May 2011 10:21:22 UTC 10425939 Mr Patrick Walsh [Signature #4] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10425935?utm_medium=rss Why teach religion at all? Australia has so many minority groups now, that schools should either teach ALL or NONE. If parents want their kids to learn about a religion, they can enrol them in an after school, or weekend program to do so. Unless a child is enrolled in a catholic or islamic school, religion should not be taught. especially by the state.

]]> Mon, 9 May 2011 10:19:38 UTC 10425935 Mr Michael Couch [Signature #3] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10425909?utm_medium=rss Mon, 9 May 2011 10:09:34 UTC 10425909 Tim Heasley [Signature #2] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10425644?utm_medium=rss School is for learning through enquiry, not indoctrination. Families should be trusted to attend to the religious formation of their children. Currently the system is designed to use the authority of the Victorian Department of Education to favor one religion above all others. This is not fair.

]]> Mon, 9 May 2011 08:22:15 UTC 10425644 Mr. Stephen Mc Ateer [Signature #1] https://www.gopetition.com/signature/locate/10424937?utm_medium=rss Mon, 9 May 2011 05:12:42 UTC 10424937