Education

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Up to today, there has been no policy in the Blue Water District School Board (BWDSB), either for or against, the distribution of religious materials in schools.

The Policy Committee met on Tuesday (Dec 6) to thrash out possible solutions and/or suggestions for a recommendation that would have to become before the board.

The discussion is a result of a complaint that the Gideon Society has been distributing bibles in elementary schools to Grade 5 students, albeit only with the approval of parents.

Bill Donovan, the father of a young girl who returned from school with a permission form for a Gideon bible, presented a delegation to raise concerns.

"Currently," he pointed out,  "the Gideon Society enjoys access to students that is far superior to any other religion or ideology.  Its access is so superior that it is, indeed, enjoyed by nobody else."

By handing out permission slips to students to take home for parental approval, Donovan said that it puts 10 year olds in the position of having to confront their family beliefs and, because his own family is "non-church going..." his daughter came home feeling intimidated and "..bullied".

"I believe a policy of some sort is needed," Donovan added.  "In the 1850s, education was made secular.  In our local society today, we can see this should be extended to all religions and we should not allow undue influence from any of them when offering secular education.

He hopes that Blue Water develops a policy to address the issue of third parties distributing information in schools. Donovan feels that distribution of outside materials is effectively an endorsement of it.  "I hope the Ontario Ministry of Education has decided on secular education in an environment that is free of elements that divide and exclude," he says.

Donovan suggested the Gideon Society advertise activities on school bulletin boards the same as every other organization and go to schools after school hours.  He pointed out that the Ministry regulations say that these kinds of activities are not to be carried out during school hours and yet, he says, the permission forms are handed out during the school day and bibles are handed out during recess...which is still the school day.

Despite the practice (Gideon bible distribution) having gone on for 60 years, Donovan countered the practice with examples of other practices and concerns.

"Slavery, smoking in public and women denied from owning property all went on for decades ... that didn't make them acceptable.  It's also been said the Bible is indispensable to education.  Well, it is arrogant to dismiss the majority of cultures and educational systems worldwide that produce both cultural and moral citizens without any reference to the Christian Bible.  Indispensable means absolutely necessary and, it were indispensable, it would be included in the curriculum."

According to some reports, disallowing the distribution of bibles in schools is being seen as somehow discriminatory.  "There are many people who strongly believe in multiculturalism," Donovan added, "along with secular government and secular education.  We just don't make the effort to  meet every week about the issues."

Donovan said that he would rather see a subject of 'World Religion' included in the curriculum. 

Chair of the Policy Committee, Trustee Kevin Larson of Saugeen Shores and Aaran Elderslie, said that, after the discussion of distribution of religious materials by the committee, the matter has gone back to staff, with trustee representation and to a sub-committee level.  "They will propose a new draft policy or the revision of an existing policy which will then come back to the Policy Committee for review and discussion."

Timothy Ferrier

A second delegation by Timothy Ferrier, the son of a Gideon member and himself a faith leader, said that, "We live in a diverse and pluralistic culture where sometimes it's easier to shut down conversation but to be educated is to be informed.  We should have an inclusive positive policy to allow many people of  many faiths to enable them with an opportunity to listen to the values of others."

"I would encourage the board," Ferrier added," to take the time to put into place public consultation to produce an all inclusive policy."

Terry Bell, Trustee of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula

Trustee Terry Bell of the Town of South Bruce and Municipality of North Bruce said that he felt it was a profound issue and that legal aspects would also have to be considered.

When it comes to policy regarding distribution of religious materials, it was reported that of 13 other boards only three allowed the distribution of religious materials with the consent of the Superintendent, principal and parents.  All others did not allow any distribution of any kind of material with a religious tone.

According to staff, religious materials were slotted under the category of advertising.

Trustee John Chapman of West Grey and Hanover and former Vice-Chair of the Board, spoke passionately about the issue.  "To use something as glib and cheap as advertising is an insult," he said.  "We cannot put it [religion] in the same category as advertising.  When we talk about religious materials we cannot negate it and our First Nations people in Bruce County and I would be adverse to any policy that negates any of them.  We need to acknowledge the reality of the constituents in Bruce and Grey with a wide variety of religious faiths and cultures.  We have to have a policy that includes all cultures ..."  

The issue has been sent to a sub-committee to draft a policy which will then come to Policy Committee for recommendation in February.

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Thursday, December 08, 2011