Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/844299
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 JULY 2017 8 News TIM DIACONO PARENTS of some schoolchil- dren have recently received letters at home, asking them to choose whether their children will be studying religion or ethics in the upcoming scholastic year. Originally introduced three years ago as a pilot project in five government schools, ethics is now offered as a subject in 13 govern- ment primary schools and 14 mid- dle and secondary schools. As of next year, it will be offered in six new primary schools (Mar- sascala, Santa Venera, San Gwann. Gzira, Naxxar and Gharghur), and in three new middle and second- ary schools (Handaq, Birkirkara, and the National Sports School). What exactly is an ethics educa- tion though? An analysis of the curricula of the ethics programme shows that it is intended to teach students how to think introspec- tively and argue critically – gradu- ally proceeding from getting chil- dren to question why they have been given a name to provoking discussion on euthanasia and abortion. Ethics for kids Year 1 students are introduced to ethics with some relatively deep discussions for 4-5 year olds fo- cusing on their personal identities, and getting them to understand that people are complex beings. They are asked questions such as why they have been given a name, to describe themselves and oth- ers, and are given discussion tasks such as to imagine a world with- out names or a world where eve- ryone looked and acted the same. Children are then taught the no- tions of privacy, responsibility and family values, as well as the sig- nificance of owning a pet and the concept of animal cruelty. In Year 2, children enter into discussion about friendship, classmates and communities, and about whether they should step in to help friendless children at their school. They also learn about the importance of rules and of author- ity figures, and the teacher engag- es them in discussion on whether there should be any limitations on punishment. In Year 3, children get to discuss whether they should care about strangers in the school, about other people's property, their neighbourhoods and the natural environment. It is here that they are introduced to their first con- troversial discussion – hunting. In Year 4, children start learn- ing about basic values, and are asked whether disabled people and talented people deserve to be politically discriminated at times. The teacher uses stories like that of Anne Frank to encourage stu- dents to be honest so as to gain the trust of others, and later promotes the value of courage as a mid- dle ground between rashness and cowardice. Discussion on values and vir- tues proceeds in Year 5, with the teacher introducing concepts such as 'good and evil' and free will. Students also spend a large chunk of the year discussing di- versity, with the teacher promot- ing tolerance, solidarity and open- mindedness towards people from other communities. It is only in Year 6 that students start learning about religion, spe- cifically Christianity, Islam and Judaism, with the teacher mak- ing sure to focus on the similari- ties between them, and later also about secular humanism. The teacher puts the faith-reason di- chotomy up for discussion, nudg- ing students to the conclusion that the dichotomy is a false one, as religious people need not lack reason while humanists have faith COURT NOTICE The Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals notifies that the First Hall of the Civil Court ordered the sale by Judicial Auction of the following property to be held in the corridors of the Courts of Justice, Republic Street, Valletta. Date Time Judicial Sale No Property 4th July 2017 10.30am 82/16 Landro David John. ID 164903L vs Joseph Aquilia et. ID 542174M Tenement numbered 10 in Triq Santa Katerina Isla built on three floors without yard and roof, free and unencumbered valued € 90,000 4th July 2017 12.00pm 14/17 Dr. Edward Debono noe. ID 592758M vs Paul Hili et ID 501758M Villa named 'Is-Sienja', unofficially numbered in Triq Ras il- Wardija formerly known as Triq San Gorg in Wardija, limits of San Pawl il- Baħar together with the adjacent land measuring 15,800 metres squared.The property is free and unencumbered with all its rights and appurtanances valued at €7,000,000. 6th July 2017 10.30am 44/13 HSBC Bank Malta plc. C 3177 vs Marshall Limited C10331 Garage 282, Marshall Place, Triq il- Kampanella: property consisting of a garage for business purposes of around 260m 2 , free and unencumbered, at street level, having a narrow yard on the back. There are also toilets and a small store and a small spiral staircase leading to garage number 13 Chanel Drive. The property is valued €350,000. Garage unofficially numbered 13, Chanel Drive, Triq il-Ġiżi, Fgura: property consisting in an 'L' shape with access from Chanel Drive, of around 100m 2 , free and unencumbered, at basement level. There is also a small toilet and a small shaft. The property is valued at €110,000. Garage unofficially numbered 14, Chanel Drive, Triq il-Ġiżi, Fgura: property consisting of a one car garage at basement level of around twenty squares metres 20m 2 , free and unencumbered. The property is valued €15,000 Garage unofficially numbered 16, Chanel Drive, Triq il-Ġiżi, Fgura: property consisting in an 'L' shape with access from Chanel Drive of around 105 m 2 , free and unencumbered, having an open space at the back which joins with garage number 13 and also having a shaft. The property is valued at €110,000. Garage unofficially numbered 36, Chanel Drive, Triq il-Ġiżi, Fgura: property consisting of a one car garage, underlying garage number 13, of around 20m 2 , free and unencumbered. The property is valued €15,000. 27th July 2017 10.30am 41/16 HSBC Bank Malta plc. C 3177 vs JDC Co. Ltd. C12753 The right of use and in perpetual unobstructed access of a common pathway Right from Triq Tumas Fenech, Birkirkara that grants access to maisonette B3 from a build ing complex of building without number and named Casa d'Elena which pathway is intended to be used by all occupants of the complex valued at €3,000 The right of use and in perpetual unobstructed access of a common pathway Right from Triq Tumas Fenech, Birkirkara that grants access to maisonette C3 from a building complex of building without number and named Casa d'Elena which pathway is intended to be used by all occupants of the complex valued at €3,000 The right of use and in perpetual unobstructed access of a common pathway Right from Triq Tumas Fenech, Birkirkara that grants access to maisonette D2 from a building complex of building without number and named Casa d'Elena which pathway is intended to be used by all occupants of the complex valued at €3,000 The right of use and in perpetual unobstructed access of a common pathway Right from Triq Tumas Fenech, Birkirkara that grants access to maisonette D3 from a building complex of building without number and named Casa d'Elena which pathway is intended to be used by all occupants of the complex valued at €3,000. Further details can be obtained from the website: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/JudicialSales/search.aspx The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card. Rudolph Marmara' For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals Considering choosing ethics instead of religion for your child's education? Here's a breakdown of what the new school subject has to offer Ethics instead of religion: what is the new subject students are getting? It is only in Year 6 that students start learning about religion, specifically Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and later also about secular humanism