I’m really annoyed with this discussion of public schools being ‘too politically correct and values neutral’. What Howard *really* means is “not Christian”. The example he gave in this morning’s paper of ‘too politically correct’ was that some schools thought putting on nativity plays would offend some students. Too right it would. (For the record, I’m a proud alumnus of the public school system thanks to parents who are politically in favour of State education. They weren’t opposed to religious education, which in my case occurred on a Sunday in ‘Hebrew school’ at Temple Emmanuel Chatswood).
Yet the responses of the Teacher’s Union and the public schools union is not to answer with the strength and benefits of multiculturalism, but rather to respond vaguely “we are so teaching values”.
I find it even more bizarre that this is occurring at the same time as France is struggling with questions of whether to ban the hijab, kippot and large Christian crosses in an attempt to maintain the separation between church and state while the US increasingly praises ‘faith-based’ initiatives. Is there perhaps a connection between being pro-pre-emptive strikes and supporting mindless adherence to elitism and religious education?