My school

[Kiless]

I've written this post a few times and deleted it without posting.

Here goes again:

"All staff are expected to support the ethos and the aims of this Church School."

What does that mean to you?

Because I'm at a real crossroads here.

Things are happening at my school - I'm an Atheist who has been educated at a Catholic University, taught at an Islamic College, a Catholic highschool, an Anglican College and now working at a Methodist College... well, maybe it's too late now, but I'm getting uncomfortable. Maybe I should have expected something like this to happen at least once in my career.

Things are starting to happen at my workplace where my beliefs are going to be challenged.

And strangely enough, at all the other places, bar one, they weren't challenged before. That one time, I reached an agreement that was pleasing to all. They didn't get on my back about what I believed; I didn't turn up to prayer and got to 'babysit' those kids who had similar views or at least had parents with similar views. It was great: we got to do philosophical discussions and played D&D knock-offs.

Advertisments are being changed for teaching positions at my school. Without the knowledge of the Heads Of Department who wrote them. They're adding the above phrase on 'ethos' et al.

Other things are also starting to go down. And I mean, messages that those of alternative faiths or no faiths are not going to be welcomed. I've been here for nearly four years. He's been here for one.

At the moment I'm hesitating about whether to post this because this is one place where I've enjoyed reading the serious and posting on the less-than-serious. It's helped with my insomnia, which isn't helped by the matter I've written about here.

But there's clearly a trend where the serious in these forums is what's wanted. So, here's my serious problem.

Is it legal? Is it right? Is there a precedence and should I just shrug and leave? Will you post 'hey, watta ya expect?'

Right, posting this before I delete it for the fourth time over the last week.

 

[Boo]

My first questions would be, what is there declared ethos? Have they published a document declaring their ethical beliefs and aims? Are all employees and students expected to sign it, stating they will adhere to them? Will this directly affect what is taught and how it is presented? Can you work under those restrictions?

Having worked for hospitals that are owned by religious entities I have had to sign similar documents. They state that I will abide by their principles in the performance of my job. I did not have to agree with them. As long my ethics were not compromised in providing patient care I did not have a problem with such documents.

Just my two cents.



Boo

 

[Jeff Corey]

One question. Who are you referring to when you said, "He's been here for one (year)"? Is this some head administrator who is implementing this new policy?
Also, if you teach science courses, does this mean that the bible will determine the age of the universe or the fact of evolution?

 

[crimresearch]

Is it legal? Probably...they didn't advertise themselves as an Atheist College in order to trick you into working there did they?
Or did you have a pretty good idea what the ethos and aims of a Methodist College were likely to be from the beginning?

If they had something you wanted, a job teaching, and you went in with your eyes wide open, then I would say you can be required to support the ethos and aims of the school, even if they change somewhat.
Note that 'support' does not neccessarily mean personally and enthusiastically embrace, testify, or convert to...

It doesn't even mean that you have to agree with...it does mean acting in such a manner as to convey to the students that the school has every right to hold, and to promulgate its own set of beliefs, and to hire employees to regurgitate those beliefs to the students. ***within reason***.

If the school anounces that henceforth, all faculty shall be required to teach that any non-Methodists must be killed on sight, that is beyond the standard of reasonableness.
If they should declare that henceforth, teaching regarding evolution, articles of faith, history, etc. shall adhere to a certain doctrine, I would say you can support those rules whether you personally agree with them or not

Other professionals have to do it all the time, or they are welcome to work for a more understanding and compatible employer.

What would not make sense would be to expect the employer to change their spots to conform to your own personal aims and ethos.
(Not saying you are proposing that, just noting that it is thier bailliwick, after all.).

Paul

 

[kittynh]

well, that may just be something they put in to make parents happy too. If you do your job in an ethical and you feel moral matter than that's good. I often have fundie friends who think "You're just like us", becaues I've chosen a moral lifestyle. Actually, I consider my morals better than theirs because I don't think gays should be prohibited from marriage or teaching...

Still, if no one has complained, don't bring it up if you like your job. Do you want to be the center of the storm in a lawsuit? If not, just keep doing a good job.

 

[Kiless]

It doesn't even mean that you have to agree with...it does mean acting in such a manner as to convey to the students that the school has every right to hold, and to promulgate its own set of beliefs, and to hire employees to regurgitate those beliefs to the students. ***within reason***.

I like the 'Atheist College' joke.... There is a non-denominiational college near me, I'm seriously thinking about checking it out!

Oh, absolutely, about the regurgitation of beliefs, et al. And there's been no signs of guilotines on campus, so I'm not worried about that!

It's just that the implication has been that from now on only Xians will be hired. That's the message that's being put forward but not just in the advertisment changes.

I'll be leaving mid next year (cross fingers) on maternity leave. My contract (which they're currently trying to erradicate with new EBA's) says I can return after a year to the old job but I'm thinking about leaving.

I guess I should have expected to come across a new administrator (Yes, Jeff C, it's a new headmaster) who would start taking the hard Xian line at least once in this career - I guess I've been lucky so far in that I've always gotten along well with the assortment of religious educators and teachers and parents.

It's just things are starting to move in a way I don't like. There are lawsuits already in motion about unfair dismissal - he 'doesn't like women in power' is one dismissive comment that's going around. But again, like all I'm writing, it's hearsay and emotion. I'm upset because one of the lawsuits is being brought up by a friend and mentor.

I didn't sign up to challenge a system but I thought I could exist in harmony with it. It's not the system I really go to work for, it's the students.

I didn't sign a contract so I could watch them make us uncomfortable about our beliefs... pah, I wouldn't be surprised if the creationist viewpoint was being pushed, it certainly is in Chapel. But the last time I was facing that at a school, a religious leader came to the school and managed to bring up the notion of 'luck' in form of wishing all the graduate students good luck... which was in the school guidelines as a strict no-no! It was hastily removed after that!

Just strike me as naive!


(edited for bad early morning spelling errors... sheesh, no wonder I have doubts about being a teacher when I do that!!)

 

[Zep]

OK, Kiless - just to reiterate, this is an Australian situation you are in, yes?

If so, there's a few points to consider, in no particular order:

1. You have a contract of employment that you signed originally that (presumably) did not have these terms and conditions that you were originally started under. A contract is a two-way agreement, and cannot be changed without BOTH parties' agreement. If someone is trying to introduce new conditions that were not in, are specifically different to, or remove conditions in your contract, unless you agree, it's not on. See your teachers union if so. NB: Look CAREFULLY at the conditions - one may ALLOW one-sided carte blanche alterations without your approval...

2. Catholic schools and colleges are effectively private companies. They make their own rules and so can change them at their own whim. However you also have recourse to "unfair dismissal" laws as a result. But that is a big step to take, as I'm sure you appreciate.

3. If you are considering being there only a short period of time anyway, you should seriously consider your future career prospects and just "suck it up" if any changes come through that irk you. Without antagonising the powers that be, just try to avoid parrotting the party line where it is uncomfortable for you. Don't let them get to you...

4. It's fairly obvious that the new admin is a hard-line git and probably argumentative, and thus it is not worth antagonising him over this - you WILL lose, even if you win any court cases. Not a fight worth having at this stage.

5. If it becomes all too much, resign and move on. You are obviously scoping out those options anyway.

 

[Kiless]

Yeah. Certain contract changes are being 'urged' by new administration. People are unhappy. So far, the new contracts aren't different to the old, but admin have the option of changing them to suit them and they certainly won't resemble the original one that we knocked out over several years via negotiation.

I guess I was just interested in whether schools are allowed to do this. You answered that in point two.

Yes, moving on. Just disillusioned and frustrated that the school will lose some darn fine teachers if they take the line they are. Sheesh, maybe I care too much and I just shouldn't.

Thanks anyway, all.