TAS News
Learning. Believing. Achieving – A message from Paul
Date: December 12, 2018 Posted by: Alana Ripepi
I write to you regarding recent stories in the media surrounding legislation concerning religious beliefs within faith-based schools.
The Anglican Archbishop of Southern Queensland, The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall, has stated in his letter to the Anglican community that:
‘Every one of us is loved unconditionally by God and is therefore of infinite value and dignity. Our highest aspiration is that all of our schools will be communities where all students and staff alike see themselves as persons known and loved by God, supported by their whole school community to face the challenges of their journey and to enjoy life in its fullness.’
As a school leadership group, we strongly support the Archbishop’s statement. My colleague, Geoff Newton, has written “studies show that all young people, irrespective of gender or sexual orientation, benefit from schools with inclusive, supportive policies and practices. As a result, they are more likely to find acceptance and discover the happiness of living authentically. They are less likely to self-harm and attempt suicide.”
As with any great school, we look for the “sweet spot”, where we balance the best of past traditions and practices with up-to-date thinking, research and legislation. There is no doubt a lot more to happen in this space in parliament and the media over the coming months and years, but I want our students and staff to be reassured that TAS is a school where they can feel safe, secure and supported. We will continue to review and develop our policies accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
Paul
