School bans Lord's Prayer following complaints from parents

A government school in western Australia has banned students from reciting the Lord's prayer after receiving complaints from parents.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, students at Edgewater Primary School will no longer say the Lord's Prayer during their school assemblies as they have done for the last 25 years.

Parents had complained on the basis that the Western Australia Education Act forbids schools from promoting one particular religious practice.

Following the complaints, school principal Julie Tombs fielded parents on their views, to which only 36 per cent of parents responded.

Despite support for the prayer, Tombs wrote this week to parents announcing the end of Christian prayer in the school assemblies.

“We acknowledge that of the parents who did respond to the survey, many wanted to retain the Lord’s Prayer and it is right that we continue to recite it at culturally appropriate times such as Christmas and Easter, as part of our education programme,” Tombs wrote.

“However, at this school we have students from a range of backgrounds and it is important to consider all views and not promote one set of religious beliefs and practices over another.”

Tombs indicated in the letter that the school creed, which contains a reference to God, would still be recited.

Premier Colin Barnett told the newspaper he felt schools should retain the Lord's Prayer.

“My own view is that Western Australia is basically a Christian-based community and I think it’s desirable to have the Lord’s Prayer,” he said.

“But that decision rests at the school level. Certainly schools can, and I would encourage them to have the Lord’s Prayer.

"I don’t think it offends anyone; it just simply reflects the values and backbone of our society."

He added: “[It’s part of Australia’s] culture, our history; and it’s reflected in our institutions and laws."

The Anglican Dean of Perth John Shepherd echoed similar sentiments, telling the newspaper that the Lord's Prayer contained values "to which we all ascribe".

He said there was a place in schools for the Lord's Prayer "just as there is a place for exposing children to the full knowledge of other faiths".