This story from Perth highlights how the lack of leadership from Education Departments sucks up resources and leaves principals in a very, very tough spot:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/09/20/3321736.htm

 

Essentially, what this means is that the parents who want to impose religion on others will have to fight it out with parents who feel that the secular principle in public education means something.

Note the decision in this case came down to the principal emphasizing the language that says that the schools shall not promote any particular religious beliefs.

The principal in this case split the difference by explaining that the lords prayer would remain in situations where it had educational value and would help explain where our culture came from.  The idea that our culture depends on separation of religious beliefs and our public institutions seems to be a lesson that schools should work harder to teach.