PREJUDICE, social inequality and fatalism are rife at Armidale City Public School.
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Students there have just wrapped up their first term of ethics classes.
Volunteer ethics teacher Denise Palmer said students critically engaged with topics about human society.
The year 5 and 6 students sat in a circle and talked openly about ethical issues and ‘thought games’ which Ms Palmer said taught them to respect others’ views.
“They have to listen to each other’s opinions,” she said.
“They’re learning to value opinions other than their own… it’s a good use of half an hour.”
Ms Palmer said other schools might take up ethics classes if they could find adequately trained volunteers.
The classes are run for non-scripture students and Ms Palmer said it was a far better use of their time.
“Non-scripture children just have free time, the benefit is that their using the time to think about the world,” she said.
Only year 5 and 6 students undertook ethics classes this term but Ms Palmer said the school may expand the program to years 1 and 2.