Can’t we all just get along? A look at issues in Sydney schools.

Can’t we all just get along? A look at issues in Sydney schools.

Tovey, J. (28/08/2013). Push to end expulsion of gay students, Sydney Morning Herald.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/push-to-end-expulsion-of-gay-students-20130827-2soet.html

An issue facing society today is the struggle for equality for homosexual people. This article is a thought provoking piece regarding what rights homosexual people have and also what rights religious institutions have to carry out their beliefs. The article discusses a controversial law that may be abolished, the law that allows private schools to expel students if they are homosexual. Under the anti-discrimination act it is against the law for public schools to expel or discriminate students based on their sexual orientation and other traits such as transgender status. Students from private religious schools have come forward saying reports of bullying due to sexual orientation were ignored by teaching staff and students were told they should‘convert to heterosexuality’.

We can relate this article to social justice, is it being met? (Gerwitz, 1998) Each party in this story does have an argument which I hope to discuss leaving personal opinion aside. Many private Christian schools exist in Sydney and take their faith and beliefs very seriously and as a religion one would they have a right to voice their faith and live by the rules of their religion. On the other hand homosexual people are just that, people. People have the right not to be discriminated against for their different beliefs, values and views of the world and in a country such as Australia, the law backs up this right. Homosexual students will not corrupt the learning of others, students who associate with them will not ‘turn’ and with sex playing no part in the school curriculum the sexual orientation of a school’s students has no importance in the school institution. In a Christian school however religion is part of the curriculum and religious ethics and values are a part of the school community. From a religious schools view homosexuality is a sin, therefore and homosexual students attending the school are ‘willingly’ sinning; as many Christians believe homosexuality is a choice.

Neither party will be happy in this situation. Whether the law does pass and homosexual students will not be expelled will the religious school institution treat them just like any other students, will claims of bullying be ignored, will this lead to self harm or suicide? If the law passes are we stamping on people’s religious beliefs, where is the line? Either way is not a perfect situation for anyone; we don’t have to like each other but we do need to respect each other including beliefs and identities. (Ho, 2011).

Gewirtz, S. (1998). Conceptualizing social justice in education: Mapping the territory. Journal of Education Policy, 13(4), 469-484.

Ho, C. (2011). Respecting the presence of others: School micropublics and everyday multiculturalism. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 32(6), 603-619.