Special Religious Education (SRE) plays an important role in the education of children in public schools. Students find this a caring and supportive place to have their questions answered, with additional support and care provided to students. At our two local High Schools, Warners Bay and Belmont, SRE continues to be taught to students who opt-in to lessons. Sara Cooper is employed 2 days per week to teach the students at Warners Bay High, where student numbers are expected to remain consistent at 20-25 for 2025, based on those who have opted in. Samantha Brown is employed 1 day per fortnight to teach at Belmont High and is teaching both Year 7 and 8.
Both schools continue to look for more local churches to come on board with finance and support. There also continues to be resistance to SRE in High Schools. There is a great need to get behind this ministry with prayer, and to recruit additional churches to support the work.
I've been quite well. My daughter Emma has just started Year One. Over the last 12 months, I've also gone back to uni, studying a Diploma of Psychology. My hope is to continue doing SRE 2 days a week and to eventually work as a school councillor for the other 3 days.
I have had a tough year with family, church and SRE. Each has been draining and have often felt unwanted in the spaces. The last year has taught me to continue to move forward and to trust God has a bigger plan than I can see.
Challenges: SRE at Belmont and Swansea High is challenging. Numbers are low and I am the last thought in the school’s plans. Turning up for classes when the school has planned other activities, or teachers place assessments during my periods is always frustrating. At Swansea High, students have to constantly choose to attend SRE when in direct conflict with what they are learning in class (which many dislike missing). At Belmont High, the processes are a mixed bag, resulting in mistakes and then trying to fix them on their behalf.
Testimonies / Victories: Belmont High chose to set me up in the library, where the admin personnel can quickly help me find students and do the roll. This has made a big difference and always having the same space is great. At the end of 2024, I taught my Year 10 students for the last time (I don't get to teach at either school Year 11 or 12, though am technically allowed to). I was truly gobsmacked when one of the boys proceeded to ask me all sorts of questions about death, life after death and more. For years, he has been polite and participating, but never asked any questions. It was great to hear his questions, to see his mind working and trying to put all the pieces together that we had been talking about for 4 years.
Every 3 years I go through a reauthorisation process, to be able to teach SRE. I need to do that again this year. The Department of Education has increased the red tape and “hoops to jump through”, to be able to work effectively in the school. For example, having internet access has become increasingly difficult. Prayer around these frustrating, but necessary tasks is much appreciated.
Have joined with Christian SRE to begin talks with Swansea High in regards to increasing numbers, settling classrooms and teaching Years 9 and 10 fortnightly, instead of once a term. This will be good for students, as they will be in classes with higher numbers as we join years. It will also help to ensure that classes are more consistent / regular. If this is successful, we may look at doing something similar with Belmont, but to do that, an increase in giving would be needed as that will increase the number of days I work, since Belmont utilise an extra English class for SRE so I already teach a full day there.
As an SRE teacher, I am a seed planter. Very rarely do I get to be the harvester, but I plant the seeds and I have faith that God is at work. Sometimes, when I feel particularly frustrated or disheartened, I picture being in heaven, scanning the crowd for my ex-students. Seeing them studded throughout the crowd, making eye contact with them and acknowledging them with a slight nod of recollection or warm smile. I'm so grateful to be part of this ministry and I pray that one day I might be able to see what the harvest looks like.
My general principle is to help people 'move forward towards God'. My prayer is that my actions and words engage people with God; that the Holy Spirit will use me in just the right way to connect a student to God. For the most part, I try to find fun, engaging activities that help students consider that there is something more out there, that there is someone who loves them unconditionally and that knowing Him will make their lives better. I don't really know the success of my actions, but I am constantly reminded that there are less and less Christians in our public schools and kids/families are less and less connected to churches. Because of this, the importance of SRE in schools is high. Where else will they hear about a loving God? Where else can they consider that life is more than now?
Your support of $12,000 will provide: