Australian census: schools will struggle with religion changes

26 Jun 2012, 3:00 pm   -   Source: The Conversation
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The Conversation

The 2011 census results for religion have profound implications for Australia’s schools, with the number of Australians nominating 'no religion' on the Census form.

By Gary Bouma, Monash University

The 2011 census results for religion have profound implications for Australia’s schools.

Yes, the number of Australians nominating “no religion” on their census form has increased substantially, to become the number two option nationally and the number one option in five of eight states and capital cities. But the results for those who did nominate a religion are indicative of substantial growth in certain sectors of the population. It is precisely this polarisation that will make for harder work in the government schools.

No religion, new religion

The most readily notable change from 2006 to 2011 is the increase in those claiming to have “no-religion” rising from 18.7% to 22.3% and supplanting Anglicans in the number two spot. Far from all of those who nominate “no religion” are atheists (there were only 31,000 or 0.16% in 2006), but it does represent a substantial shift away from organised religion; a trend that has been fairly consistent over the past few decades.

But before we rush to conclude that religion is a waning force in Australia some other results require examination.

Several “newer” religious communities have increased their numbers to become substantial players in the religious marketplace, at least as substantial as some Protestant groups that have long been understood to be a standard part of the religious landscape.

At 2.5%, Buddhists are within one or two censuses of becoming more numerous than Presbyterians. They are already more numerous than Baptists or Lutherans. So far Buddhists have not been particularly inclined to open special schools for their children, so there will be an increased presence Buddhists in government schools.

Muslims are also more numerous than Baptists or Lutherans at 2.2%, due to migration and a comparatively high birth-rate. This will certainly mean an increase in the number of Muslim children attending both government and Muslim Schools.

Hindus have risen by 86% since 2006 to represent 1.3% of the population, mostly through migration. Hindus are now more numerous than Pentecostals (1.1%) and Jews 0.5%).

Religious schools

The next decade will tell whether Hindus will follow Catholics, Muslims and Jews in establishing faith-based schools. They will certainly have the population numbers to do so.

Most other religious groups grew numerically if not as fast as the Australian population and thus slipped slightly in the proportion of the population. Catholics grew by nearly 300,000 suggesting that Catholic schools will be reasonably supplied over the coming years.

Among the other “top 20” religious groups only Anglicans, Uniting and Presbyterian/Reformed lost absolute numbers. Even in these cases, though, the rate of decline has slowed.

For example, Anglicans declined by 4.2% between 2001 and 2006 but only by 1% between 2006 and 2011. Most of the schools associated with these groups are “elite” and unlikely to be affected by these developments.

Polarising students

The full impact on schools of the changes revealed in the 2011 census will be clearer when the religion by age data are released, so we can see exactly the religious composition of school-aged children.

But we know that migrant groups are comparatively young, that Muslim birth-rates imply they will be populating schools in a greater proportion than, say, Uniting or Anglican who are comparatively aged. Those declaring “no religion” are younger than average, but school-aged children tend not to complete the census forms by themselves and are often “given” the religion of their parents until they do so.

Thus, government schools are likely to become even more polarised, between those who are not religious and those who now come from even more substantial and different religious backgrounds.

Yes, schools have been coping with this for a long time. The difference is the addition of substantial numbers of Hindu students alongside Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh and Baha’i students. Many of these students will be disinclined to leave their religion at the school gate. Parents from these groups will join those from other religious groups in seeking arrangements that recognise and affirm their children’s faith. At the same time larger numbers of parents who declare that they have “no religion” are likely to be seeking schooling that is free from religion.

Honouring diversity

As Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus form substantial communities, as they become numerically “normal” in the population and school communities, there will be increased pressure for education about religion in the curriculum. However, this curriculum will have to honour not only a diversity of religious backgrounds but also those who do not identify as religious at all.

School communities characterised by increased religious diversity including more of those who have “none” will challenge even further the current chaplaincy program, to say nothing of those programs that promote a particular form of Christianity.

School administrators who thought a “neutral” secular approach would cover these issues will continue to find this not to be the case.

Secularity is not neutral, and those who are serious about their religion will not abide this approach. There is no escaping it: recent changes to Australia’s religious composition will make education and school management more difficult.

Gary Bouma does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations.

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Your Comments

no place in education

phw - from canberra, 5 months ago

the development of any believe system guiding individual behavior has no place within the education system of a, presumably, multicultural society. believe systems develop with psychological age based on personal experience, not institutionalised and arbitrary age settings. sectarian indoctrination is paramount to psychological abuse of children!

Ideals

Jo - from Syd, 7 months ago

Ideals. They ruin the world. Your kids are supposed to learn to critically analyse things. How can this occur if everything they are told is factual. Why all the hate for the imaginary friend? What did he ever do to you?

No religon

Stuart - from Sydney, 7 months ago

Surely indicating No religion is the same as indicating atheism in the context of the question as asked.

Secular society

Stan - from Newcastle, 7 months ago

Why on earth does the Australian government insist on mandatory religion in school? Church and State should be separated. I don't walk into Sunday schools to lecture on Evolution and scientific facts. So why should religious zealots march into schools preaching faith? School is for education. Brain wash your kids on weekends and leave mine to think critically and to think for themselves during tax funded school days.

Australian culture?

Tony - from Canberra, 9 months ago

To those Australians who are willing to 'protect' their culture, what is Australian Culture? Anglo-Saxon is an immigrated race and European-based culture is not raised in Australia as well. If they really want to see a pure Australian school, set up one by themselves and stop immigration plan in Australia. Everybody will see the result: terrible economy and terrible relationships with other countries.

Australian education.

Grant - from Sydney, 11 months ago

This is Australia, and those here have chosen to be here. Therefore the emphasis should be to continue with the traditional Australian education rather than try to satisfy every nationality that decides to immigrate to Australia. If not, then the traditional Australian culture will fade away.

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