Funding religious schools is bad policy

[capricorn]

Religion has no place in state schools. It is time to merge the separate school system into the public school system. Give public school students a semester on the religions of the world. Parents who want anything more should work through their religios institutions.

Personally, I think teaching about the religions of the world should be left to the post-secondary level where students can decide whether they want to acquire that specialized knowledge. Prior to post-secondary, the parents should handle the religious side of their children's learning.

I don't agree with promoting one religion over another, in any scholastic setting. Therefore, I disagree with Tory's faith based school plan.

If a religious community wants to include faith in their teachings, they should build their own schools and comply with basic provincial education standards. I understand some of these schools already exist and that's OK by me.

Forty years ago, this was not an issue. Times, they are changing.

[fellowtraveller]

Are you talking about Public or Private education?

Public, as in Edmonton Public School Board.

You can read about it here

IMO, they have a good handle on meeting the needs of the community and the children.

Edited August 20, 2007 by fellowtraveller

[Higgly]

Personally, I think teaching about the religions of the world should be left to the post-secondary level where students can decide whether they want to acquire that specialized knowledge. Prior to post-secondary, the parents should handle the religious side of their children's learning.

I'm with you. I like the age of reason argument you put forward.

[ClearWest]

Fellas, one word: Vouchers.

That way, the money is attached to the child, and they aren't just given a one-size-fits-all-public-school solution. And that way we aren't subsidizing religious schools. We are giving children a ticket to education and letting them decide where they want to use it.

If we must fund education at all, it should be in this way.

Edited August 22, 2007 by ClearWest

[Canuck E Stan]

From McGinty's mouth

"I think it's a really important and defining issue and I'll continue to talk about that during the course of the campaign," Mr. McGuinty said, responding to a reporter's question. "And it's one of those issues where I'm hoping to grab Ontarians by the earlobes and say it's not just another election, it's not just business as usual. It's about the kind of Ontario you want.

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"If you want the kind of Ontario where we invite children of different faiths to leave the publicly funded system and become sequestered and segregated in their own private schools, then they should vote for Mr. Tory."

"If they think it's important that we continue to bring our kids together so that they grow together and learn from one another, then you should vote for me."

The real McGinty

Some proponents of change, however, disagree with the Premier's position. Mr. McGuinty, his wife, Terri, and the couple's four children all attended Catholic schools. Ms. McGuinty continues to teach part time in the Catholic system. York University professor Eric Lawee said he sees "tremendous hypocrisy" in Mr. McGuinty's opposition to extending funding to religious schools.

"As he tells the story, [faith-based schools are] segregationist, regressive and so on -- and yet here's someone whose wife goes off every day and provides this type of education," said Mr. Lawee, a member of a multi-faith coalition pushing for funding. "I think it belies everything he says about faith-based schooling. "The fact that we have a Premier who's a product of these types of schools shows that one can not only integrate, having had exposure to faith-based schooling, but can flourish and make major contributions to the welfare of all Ontarians regardless of their faith."

McGinty-Do as I say,not as I do.

Hypocracy at it's best.

[M.Dancer]

"If you want the kind of Ontario where we invite children of different faiths to leave the publicly funded system and become sequestered and segregated in their own private schools, then they should vote for Mr. Tory."

So mcguinty is voting for Tory? I hope this election doesn't come down to a single issue.......

[marcinmoka]

I'm concerned about the question of reciprocity.

Due to sheer size and volume of students, the catholic board in Canada is nothing even remotely similar to those Catholic schools imagined in popular culture. It is a Public School with a very, very minimally religious course component thrown in the mix, one, which took but a parental note to avoid. Furthermore, they seemed to teach more about religions than they actual focused on any Catholic doctrine.

As a result, we did have both Muslim and atheist students throughout High School. (Particularly striking was the image of an old friend named Mohammed, wearing a t-shirt with our school logo, being ironically, "The Crusaders"). But alas, no one cared.

No would the same system be re-created should funding be extended to other faiths?

Edited August 23, 2007 by marcinmoka

[M.Dancer]

I'm concerned about the question of reciprocity.

No would the same system be re-created should funding be extended to other faiths?

All the kids I know who go to Parochial schools go to liberal jewish schools. Pretty much like catholic that we know with the exception that unless you want to pay 6 to 10 thousand a year there are very few non jews and they teach hebrew.

My daughter wanted to go to Bialik with her girlfriends....we explained she was catholic....she said she wanted to be jewish. So we stoppe goiving her bacon and told her about hannukah and she changed her mind.

"No Santa?"

[buffycat]

All the kids I know who go to Parochial schools go to liberal jewish schools. Pretty much like catholic that we know with the exception that unless you want to pay 6 to 10 thousand a year there are very few non jews and they teach hebrew.

My daughter wanted to go to Bialik with her girlfriends....we explained she was catholic....she said she wanted to be jewish. So we stoppe goiving her bacon and told her about hannukah and she changed her mind.

"No Santa?"

No but there is Hannukah Harry!!

IMO NO funding of religious schools should come from public coffers - period. It was a huge mistake to even begin funding the Roman Catholic Separate School Boards. Cut them off. All of them, now.

[M.Dancer]

No but there is Hannukah Harry!!

IMO NO funding of religious schools should come from public coffers - period. It was a huge mistake to even begin funding the Roman Catholic Separate School Boards. Cut them off. All of them, now.

That should only cost a few billion.......how many lawyers does it take to amend the BNA act?

[Higgly]

From McGinty's mouth

The real McGinty

McGinty-Do as I say,not as I do.

Hypocracy at it's best.

Spelling at its worst. Here's a shout out to the mod. How about suspensions for illiteracy?

[Canuck E Stan]

Spelling at its worst. Here's a shout out to the mod. How about suspensions for illiteracy?

Giv me a brake,mistaks hapen,

becides,I went to skool in Ontario four all my edukation......and the hole tyme it waz in the publik skool system two.

And four yur informayshon yes, I did graduat.

Religion has no place in state schools. It is time to merge the separate school system into the public school system. Give public school students a semester on the religions of the world. Parents who want anything more should work through their religios institutions.

Yes Mr.Perfect speller ,spelling at it's worse,better call the mod for a personal suspension.

Edited August 25, 2007 by Canuck E Stan

[Higgly]

That's a typo. What you do is illiterate.

[capricorn]

The following article by George Jonas makes the point that diversity is an important part of multiculturalism. A public school system does not encourage diversity because all students are reduced to a common denominator. They are all viewed the same in the eyes of the Province. Is this counter to multiculturalism? Some interesting thoughts.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/is...ca-76e8a2d96adf

[fellowtraveller]

Is it more than a rumour that McGuinty, his wife, and all four of their children attended Catholic schools at public expense?