Principal 20/5/22: Christian Schools at Election time

Well, it is the day before the Federal election, and I have a question for you. Amongst all the election coverage and political advertising, what have you heard on the topic of education and schools?

I must admit I haven’t been following every announcement, but it seems that in this election, the critical value of education as a long-term investment for the benefit of our nation has been completely overlooked and it’s not just me. This article (Kids don’t vote but teachers and parents sure do – what are the parties offering on schools?) makes the same observation. Despite the nation-wide challenges that schools currently face, the parties seeking our votes are disappointingly quiet. What is known is outlined in the article, I hope you find it useful in considering where to place your vote.

As we consider how we vote this election, we also must ask our candidates whether they will continue to uphold the rights that allow William Carey to operate as a Christian School. As a School we believe that it is a right of parents to choose an education for their child that reflects their Christian beliefs, in particular, we want to protect the right to:

• Employ only Christian staff who can model the school’s values and beliefs
• Teach Christian beliefs, convictions and standards to student
• Uphold and maintain Biblical standards of behaviour within the school

Even though this topic has not gained anywhere near as much attention this time round, it is a matter of importance to who we are as a school. If this is a topic of importance to you, let me encourage you to talk directly with candidates as the chance arises.

All in all, I am always thankful that we can enjoy the blessing of elections. Despite the cost in running them and the massive organisation required (right down to the purchase of 4.5 million pencils for polling booths) plus the media and advertising saturation by political parties, it is an important and valuable exercise that I encourage everyone to undertake thoughtfully, as how we vote will have impacts on our school. Ultimately, we trust in God’s providence and sovereignty regarding the leaders of our nation as per Romans 13:1.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

I would like to thank in advance, the parents and community members who have generously provided their time to help on the BBQ at school on election day. I will be there between 10 am and 2 pm and you are more than welcome to drop by for a chat as you pick up your very own ‘democracy sausage’.

This week I sent an update home with the following points relating to current COVID-19 safety measures:

• Face masks are not required indoors for those older than 12 years old, from Monday 23rd May. They are still required on public and charted transport. That said, masks are still recommended when in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
• Remember to report positive COVID cases and household contacts to covidtests@wccs.nsw.edu.au
• Students need to remain home if they are unwell (even if a RAHT comes back negative)

I would also like to remind you to of two upcoming events involving parents.