Sunday, 14 September 2008
10.10pm

Australia has more than 1000 independent schools, the majority of them Christian. Recent debate has focused on their teaching, their funding and their impact on our social fabric, but have we listened to those who offer a Christian education? Compass visits four schools in three states, Tasmania, Victoria and two in New South Wales, to find out: How do Christian schools teach values and religion?
How do Christian values inform teaching across the curricula? What are the differences between various 'brands' of Christian education? And most importantly, how do Christian schools prepare young Australians for life?

Community Christian Academy, near Launceston, grew out of a home schooling arrangement and today has 100 students. It teaches a US- developed 'Accelerated Christian Education' curriculum, tailored to meet state educational requirements. At CCA students learn God created the world and humankind, and how to become disciples for Jesus.

Chairo Christian School in rural Victoria has almost 1000 students. The Bible is included in science studies, along with ideas about evolution. The Bible also informs Chairo's character-building activities as well as its sex and relationship education programs. Students at Sydney's St Aloysius, an independent Catholic school, and the Anglican St Andrew's Cathedral School, study the NSW state curricula. Evolution is taught as science. Creationist ideas are saved for religion classes, a compulsory extra.

All four schools say their Christian world view distinguishes the education they offer. In times of falling church attendance they see themselves as providing experience of religion and church that their students might not otherwise have.