Letter to the editor in the Montreal Gazette:
"I don't understand. A boy named Mohamed successfully defended his right to recite his daily prayers at school, and another named Gurjab was accorded the right to wear his kirpan at school. But when our son Gabriel claims exemption from the ethics and religious culture course, the door gets slammed in his face - and all within the same education system. Well, Gabriel also has the right to claim reasonable accommodation!
Gabriel at 11 is in the process of building his identity. Like thousands of other students his age, he is attempting to understand and to integrate the values his family is trying to instill in him - quite a challenge! In the midst of this, the state, under the pretext of multiculturalism, wants to impose on him the study of an arsenal of spirituality and traditions.
We object to this approach. As a family, we do not accept that the education system so disrespectfully challenge the values it is our right to transmit to our children.
In spite of what is claimed, the ethics and religious culture course can not possibly integrate different nationalities and religions within this social project, as without identity, there can be no integration. This identity is not yet acquired by a child of Gabriel's age, and will not likely be acquired until the end of adolescence.
For all of these reasons, we will continue to demand that our rights and our differences be respected in this education system which trains the adults of the future. Our request is just as important as those of Mohamed and Gurbaj, and of all those who have adopted this country as theirs."
Karl Santaguida
Like most government initiatives, this idea, I believe, will not go well. Poorly thought out and racked with relativist bull it's bound to confuse more than educate.
The big problem here is the confusion between freedom of religion, parental responsibility in value transmission and lay thinking elevated to the statute of a dogma.
ReplyDeleteIn Québec as in France the separation of Church and State and the absoluteness of Laycity have become akin to a religion by itself, every bit as intransigeant and intolerant as any other religion.
Then again, for centuries both Catholics and Protestants in this province have depended much to heavily on schools to promote develop and maintain their values.
We're back on track. I agree.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Quebec and France are the only ones dealing with rampant secularism.
School SHOULD still be instrumental in maintaining moral values. Spare me this "relativist" nonsense.
However, there's a problem: Once long ago, parents accepted the school as being an "extension" of the family for moral instruction. Today, parents aren't so ready. In fact, I'll take it a step further, parents are abandoning their responsibilities AND not willing to let the schools help out.
Yur second point is what I did not have time to develop yesterday because I had a bus to catch. When I got back I forgot to do it.
ReplyDelete