Eleven private schools in Australia have been accused by human rights lawyers of exposing students to possible discrimination, after enrollment forms demanded that future families support beliefs denouncing homosexuality and gender identity.
Key points:
- A sample version of the contract says that families must support the CCM Declaration of Faith
- Education Minister Grace Grace said contracts should be withdrawn
- The Independent Education Union says schools can teach their faith but they should not discriminate
It comes after alumni and parents of Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane referred the school to the Queensland Human Rights Commission in May.
The 11 schools are part of the Christian Community Ministries (CCM), which is said to serve more than 6,000 students from schools in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
Schools include:
- Queensland – Chinchilla Christian College, Dalby Christian College, Endeavor Christian College, Groves Christian College, Livingstone Christian College, Staines Memorial College, Warwick Christian College, Whitsunday Christian College;
- South Australia: Blakes Crossing Christian College, Seaview Christian College
- New South Wales – The Lakes Christian College
In a sample version of their contract, dated February 8, potential families had to support the belief that “God’s best destiny for humanity is that we live our lives according to our biological sex “.
Another clause says parents and students support the CCM Declaration of Faith, which states that “sexual behavior should be limited to monogamous married and heterosexual couples.”
Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane was referred to the Queensland Human Rights Commission for a distributed enrollment contract earlier this year. (ABC News: Steve Cavenagh)
This statement of faith also insists that CCM schools “recognize a person’s biological sex as it is recognized from birth” and “require practices consistent with that sex”.
The contract stipulates that a student’s enrollment may be canceled if his or her behavior violates the Declaration of Faith or the school’s beliefs.
“The right to terminate under this sub-clause includes when you or your child engage in conduct that … is inconsistent with or inconsistent with the College’s mission, beliefs, values or policies, including what is indicated in the CCM Declaration of Faith “. reads.
The sample contract says it is a “reproduction of the wording of the contract that will be provided to you if you are offered an enrollment offer.”
The ABC asked CCM to confirm whether the contract had been distributed to families and whether it was in use.
CCM did not directly answer these questions, but said parents enrolling their children should not share school beliefs.
“Our school communities are diverse and we treat each student with care and compassion. When issues related to conflict with our beliefs arise, we work with the student and family,” the statement said.
The statements “reflect the Christian belief of our schools”
Queensland human rights lawyer Matilda Alexander said she was surprised at how many schools were using the contracts.
“This contract certainly gives students the impression that they could be expelled or discriminated against because of their sexuality or gender identity.
“But they would have a strong legal case to argue against these actions because discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity is illegal,” Alexander said.
Matilda Alexander, of Queensland’s LGBTI + Legal Service, says students would have a strong legal case to argue discrimination. (ABC News: Louisa Rebgetz)
CCM told the ABC that Ms Alexander’s claim that it could infringe Queensland’s anti-discrimination law was “in conflict with our legal advice”.
“Our enrollment statements reflect the Christian beliefs of our schools,” he said.
“Parents who decide to enroll their children in a CCM school do not need to share our beliefs, but they do need to acknowledge that they understand what our schools represent and teach.
“It is in the interest of open disclosure and in order to allow parents to choose an informed enrollment, we provide parents with complete information about our beliefs.
“The choice in education is supported by both sides of politics.”
Teachings “can really damage self-esteem”
Ms Alexander, who is also a patron of the LGBTI Legal Service, is supporting a complaint of discrimination against Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane, which was forced to withdraw an enrollment contract with similar language on gender and sexuality in early February, after a widespread reaction.
Former student Felicity Myers and her mother Elise Myers, who still have two children at Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane. (ABC News: Louisa Rebgetz)
Former Citipointe student Felicity Myers said she was surprised to learn that other schools had similar contracts, but as she publicly opposed Citipointe’s enrollment contract earlier this year, she had heard of other queer young people who they faced discrimination in school.
“I was already aware that it was a subject that went beyond the school I attended,” he said.
“I’ve had a number of stories and experiences from people from different schools, religious and non-religious.
“Especially if teachers do go to the line of teaching that they are unworthy that they are not valued, that they are not loved, by whom they are and that they must change who they are.
“I think teachings like this can damage a young person’s self-esteem and self-esteem.”
Ms Alexander said some clauses in the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act needed to be updated.
“There are pretty good protections for students, certainly some of the strongest laws in the country. However, what we need is more clarity, because it seems that even with strong protections, there is still some confusion,” he said. he said.
The Human Rights Commission is due to report on the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act in late July.
“It’s very disappointing”
Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said she understood many of these types of contracts had been removed.
“If they still exist … it’s very disappointing to see students being asked to sign contracts like this. I think they’re totally unacceptable and should be withdrawn.”
Ms Grace also said the contracts were distressing, as the mother of a non-binary child.
“No LGBTIQ + student should be denied an education because he or she is a member of LGBTIQ + communities,” he said.
Queensland Minister of Education Grace Grace is the mother of a non-binary student.
Ms. Grace noted that she would consider “absolutely” referring CCM schools to the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB), as she did at Citipointe Christian College in February.
However, Ms Grace said she would await the outcome of the NSSAB’s investigations into Citipointe.
“Yes [students and parents] they are concerned about these contracts and the students are being denied, so these complaints should be made directly to the Human Rights Commission, and I look forward to the outcome of their investigations, and also NSSAB, ”he added.
“There is no place in a modern school in Queensland, or therefore in Australia, for such contracts and they should be removed immediately.”
Terry Burke says schools can teach their faith, but they should not discriminate. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)
Terry Burke, secretary of the Queensland Union and Northern Territory branch of the Independent Education’s Union, said schools should make a distinction between their religious beliefs and their practices and policies.
“Nothing prevents a school authority from teaching its faith. Nothing prevents it,” he said.
“What ‘s at stake here is a problem about discrimination that applies to a person for who they are.
“You can teach your faith, but that doesn’t inherently mean you have to discriminate.”
The federal government tried to pass legislation to protect religious freedoms before the May elections.
This legislation was filed after several Liberal MPs crossed the floor to support amendments that would give additional protections to students in transgender schools.
Since he was elected, the new Labor government has indicated that it will present a new bill on religious discrimination in parliament.
Posted yesterday at 19:42, Monday, July 11, 2022 at 19:42, updated 18 hours, 18 hours ago, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 02:18