Anti-bullying bill subverts Catholic curriculum: group

[Jennifer_]

http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/12/13/anti-bullying-bill-subverts-catholic-curriculum-group/

A private group of Catholic parents is worried Ontario’s proposed anti-bullying legislation, Bill 13, will force the religious schools their children attend to change fundamental Church teachings on homosexual behaviour.

“Our concern is that this anti-bullying legislation is meant to bring a change in the Catholic curriculum,” said Teresa Pierre, director of Ontario Catholic Parent Advocates, which wants to see Bill 13 dropped. “We are concerned about the potential erosion of Catholic principles.

“The province’s goal is to change Catholic social teaching in our schools under the cause of ending homophobia. I think they’re following the momentum of a social agenda that has been at work for the past 10 years.”


Bill 13 would require all school boards to implement policies that combat bullying and “promote a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting of all pupils, including pupils of any race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.” It also calls for “activities or organizations that promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name gay-straight alliance or another name.”

I posted this on my Facebook today. My former best friend (From Elementary School), who is deeply-religious wrote me an angry note wondering why I was criticizing the Catholic Faith. I know this can be tossed in with a few of the other Religion-based threads but.... I'm curious - what are your thoughts on exposing your children to the fact that some people are gay? I personally intend to let my (future) children know early-on that sometimes two men or two women love one another and get married - just like sometimes a man and a woman love one another and get married.... I have lotsa Gay friends so it would be silly for me not to introduce my kids to reality.

My former best friend married very young and has 3 kids - soccer mom hair cut... happy and believes her faith to be responsible for her current situation in life. Good for her - but I just can't understand how she believes her cookie cutter existence to be more holy than the relationship between other friends I am close with who've been monogamous and together for years... (but they're both men).

I'm sincerely curious how parents address homosexuality with their children....

What is your take on this anti-bullying legislation?

 

[Mervyn]

If the Catholic schools don't like it, they can stop accepting public funds, plain and simple.

 

[Jennifer_]

If the Catholic schools don't like it, they can stop accepting public funds, plain and simple.

... I do agree with that. I get angry when I think of the credits I was required to take in order to graduate in the separate school board. we needed 4 Religion credits - 3 of the 4 were just silliness. The world Religion course was wonderful (grade 11). I could've spend that time and effort taking courses that would've had a meaningful impact on my actual education.....

 

[WoodPeckr]

If the Catholic schools don't like it, they can stop accepting public funds, plain and simple.

Exactly!!!
Then they won't have to worry about being subverted by taxpayer monies....:thumb:

 

[HOF]

If the Catholic schools don't like it, they can stop accepting public funds, plain and simple.

Exactly!

There should be a poll of how many catholic high school students are catholic! There are seven catholic secondary schools at 3 of them, there is 30% non catholic population. How, they are there for sports.

 

[Jennifer_]

Exactly!

There should be a poll of how many catholic high school students are catholic! There are seven catholic secondary schools at 3 of them, there is 30% non catholic population. How, they are there for sports.

I wore that kilt with pride (and got sent home in grade 9 bc it was too short lol) Look what happened to me ....

all kidding aside - I don't see the need or understand the support for the Separate School Board (That said - our board was considered to be superior to THe Public Board of the city I grew up in and I can say, based on my own observations... the kids I went to school with were a little less corrupt, we had way-less teen pregnancies, and we had a lot less racially-motivated drama than the public schools did....)

 

[dj1470]

all kidding aside - I don't see the need or understand the support for the Separate School Board (That said - our board was considered to be superior to THe Public Board of the city I grew up in and I can say, based on my own observations.......)

Read some Ontario school history.

British North America Act 1867 guaranteed Catholic and Protestant school systems in Ontario.
BNA 1867, Section 93 *shared provincial/federal education powers **with exceptions

Protestant system became the "public" system.
Catholic system remains.

 

[GPIDEAL]

The way how the Bill reads as Jennifer quoted it is not offensive. It will promote awareness and understanding, not indoctrinate or brainwash, so basically educate. If the law allows same sex marriages, parents, etc., then Catholic schools, can't pretend to look the other way.

Like Mervyn said, if they stop accepting public funds, then a Catholic school can just preach what the Pope says. If not, sorry.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Read some Ontario school history.

British North America Act 1867 guaranteed Catholic and Protestant school systems in Ontario.
BNA 1867, Section 93 *shared provincial/federal education powers **with exceptions

Protestant system became the "public" system.
Catholic system remains.

Yes, but ever since the Catholic schools accepted public subsidies (or full funding), they are more like public schools. Separate schools must accept non-catholic students.

 

[Mod100]

Children grow up awfully fast these days. I wouldn't say anything. Gays, let them find out for themselves and make their own minds up. My ethics and morals should already be intrenched and will guide them.

If one doesn't want to accept gays that's fine but you have to accept reality. Gay bashing is bullying in the worst form.

 

[Moviefan-2]

If the Catholic schools don't like it, they can stop accepting public funds, plain and simple.

Even if they do like it, we should stop funding them.

Public education dollars should only be used to teach the provincial curriculum. People who want to teach their kids about Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Zeus, Caligula, whatever, should do it on their own dime.

It's hard to imagine the situation will ever change. Then again, I never would have imagined that running a bawdy house in Ontario would be on the edge of being legal.

 

[dirkd101]

Read some Ontario school history.

British North America Act 1867 guaranteed Catholic and Protestant school systems in Ontario.
BNA 1867, Section 93 *shared provincial/federal education powers **with exceptions

Protestant system became the "public" system.
Catholic system remains.

This is a sad fact. There should only be one system now, not two.

Children grow up awfully fast these days. I wouldn't say anything. Gays, let them find out for themselves and make their own minds up. My ethics and morals should already be intrenched and will guide them.

If one doesn't want to accept gays that's fine but you have to accept reality. Gay bashing is bullying in the worst form.

Schools should stick to the three R's and leave the rest to parents to teach their children.

 

[GG2]

Catholic schools are gay. I'm happy I could resolve this issue for everybody today.

 

[shakenbake]

Yes, but ever since the Catholic schools accepted public subsidies (or full funding), they are more like public schools. Separate schools must accept non-catholic students.

They already do. That was one condition for them to receive the public funding when it was exctended to high schools. Almost 20 years ago, I tutored to high school students and there were very many non-Catholics registered and taking courses in Catholic high schools. And, that is the way it should be, as all faiths should let people from outside their faith in as a means to promote tolerance, co-operation and understanding. Catholic schools need to teach their stduents that there are always going to be views that are contrary to their own, plaion and simple, fact of life.

 

[dj1470]

Separate schools must accept non-catholic students.

Only high schools
JK-8 elementary you must prove the child has, at minimum, one Catholic parent and the child must be baptised.

 

[shakenbake]

Even if they do like it, we should stop funding them.

Public education dollars should only be used to teach the provincial curriculum. People who want to teach their kids about Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Zeus, Caligula, whatever, should do it on their own dime.

It's hard to imagine the situation will ever change. Then again, I never would have imagined that running a bawdy house in Ontario would be on the edge of being legal.

Catholic schools actually DO teach the provincial curriculum, and more. There are no exceptions to getting a Provincial high school diploma.

 

[shakenbake]

Only high schools
JK-8 elementary you must prove the child has, at minimum, one Catholic parent and the child must be baptised.

Thanks for that clarification, I stand corrected, somewhat, in my prior post.

 

[basketcase]

Yes, but ever since the Catholic schools accepted public subsidies (or full funding), they are more like public schools. Separate schools must accept non-catholic students.

In Toronto at least, only in secondary schools. The Elementary schools are still allowed to 'protect' their Catholic youth by preventing them from interacting with others (and still remain publicly funded).

 

[dcbogey]

I think it is worthwhile pointing out that the group opposing this is a "private parents group", not the Church or the Separate Boards.

 

[Aardvark154]

Third grade is different from say 10th grade. Your friend has a good point as regards primary school, less so regarding secondary school.