These are just some of the big questions year 5 and 6 students have been tackling at three Melbourne primary schools.

A new report has declared 2014's trial of ethics classes by the Humanist Society of Victoria to be a success. The students who took part at Toorak, Brunswick North and Canterbury primary schools were able to engage in ethical inquiry.

The Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools trained volunteers including Emily Meyer so they could teach students how to understand and evaluate complex moral dilemmas. Rather than being taught what to think, students were taught how to think.

"You practise ethics when you wake up in the morning to when you go to bed at night," Mrs Meyer said.

"You make decisions and therefore you should have a good understanding."

Her daughter Jemima, who is in year 5 at Toorak Primary School, said the classes made her realise that not everyone shared her views.

"I noticed that, after the ethics classes, there weren't as many disagreements or fights because we listened to other people."

The program has taken on a new importance following the recent release of the new Victorian curriculum, which explicitly states for the first time that students must learn ethics.

It was initially designed to offer students an alternative to special religious instruction. But special religious instruction will be dropped from the curriculum next year to make way for world religion, ethics and respectful relationship education.

Ethics volunteers show students a stimulus – such as a newspaper article or a book – and then students come up with their own questions. The topics can be heavy: Students have discussed asylum seekers, and capital punishment in light of the execution of Bali nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

A report by Melbourne Institute of Technology education academic Dr Janette Poulton, released this week, said students in the trial were able to engage in ethical inquiry.

Dr Poulton said the classes encouraged students to "express their ideas freely" and helped them learn and accept different views.

"This will enrich the lives they lead. The next generation will be more inquisitive, more intent on critically examining their position and less susceptible to manipulation."

The Humanist Society of Victoria wants to expand the initiative to more schools.

The society's community of ethical inquiry co-ordinator Cathy Warburton said students enjoyed critical thinking and speaking freely. They were also taught that it was OK to change their minds once they had more evidence.

"Often children start off thinking it is wrong to lie," Mrs Warburton said.

"But then you ask whether it's acceptable to tell grandma you love the hankies and underpants she gave you that you really don't want. Maybe it's not so black and white. Sometimes it is OK to tell a white lie."

A question of ethics

·         Why do people choose to do the wrong thing?

·         Would a morally responsible person tell a white lie?

·         What is the difference between fair and fair enough?

·         Why do people have to exclude others who are different?

·         Do we need punishments to behave well?

·         Why are girls sometimes underestimated?

·         Is it worth risking your life to show off to your friends?

·         Is respect something we have to earn or are owed by others?

·         Why do people think war will solve their problems?