EXTREME: Pastor Greg Barnes believes removing BC and AD terms from history texts is unnecessary.
A PROPOSAL to scrap the terms BC (before Christ) and AD (anno domini) from schools’ history curriculum has been slammed by Orange religious and political leaders.
The changes to the national history curriculum would see BC and AD replaced with BCE (before common era), BP (before present) and CE (common era).
The move has been labelled as “extreme” by Orange’s New Life City Church Pastor Greg Barnes.
“It’s crazy to think it has come to this,” he said.
“Not only is it significant for Christians, but that time is also historically important.”
Pastor Barnes said while it was important for Australians to embrace multiculturalism and acknowledge other groups’ religions, he highlighted that society is still predominantly Christian with 64 per cent claiming adherence to the Christian religion in the 2006 census.
Member for Calare Andrew Gee has also criticised the move as a needless attempt at political correctness.
“These politically correct ideologues never stop chipping away,” he said.
“Our calendar is calibrated from the birth of Jesus, there is no escaping that.
“My message to the ideologues is deal with it.”
The proposal has not been criticised by all, however.
James Sheahan Catholic High School principal Mark Pauschmann said the change is a positive step in acknowledging other people’s beliefs and values.
“This is not extreme,” he said.
“It’s really become common practice to use BCE, we have it in our textbooks already.
“It’s just language practice, it’s not really an issue.”
Submissions into the change are still being taken by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority over the next fortnight.
Any submission can be sent to the authority on Level 10, Pitt Street, Sydney 2000, or phone 8098 3181.
erin.somerville@ruralpress.com