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September 23, 2008

Canadian School Board Blocks Course With Gay Content

High schools in Abbotsford, Canada, are being blocked by the local school board from teaching a new social justice course that includes curriculum on issues dealing with everything from homophobia to animal rights, reports the Vancouver Sun.

The school board says it wants to review the course's content after religious groups objected to the teachings, saying they would be too subject to individual beliefs of teachers.

One high school swiftly modified the course, eliminating information about gay and lesbian rights, after the board said it couldn't be taught this semester.

A letter from the board about the course indicated they thought a number of the subjects were better suited to college students. "Many of the issues and topics are very sensitive and encroach on areas of family values, beliefs, and practices," reads the letter, according to the Sun. "Some resources and related discussions may leave students feeling alienated or threatened rather than feeling accepted and respected for their opinions and perspectives."

The social studies department head at the high school, Leanne Abrey, said she was frustrated by the board's action.

"[I] kind of questioned why a ministry-approved course would need to have board approval," she told the Sun. "I don't think it reflects well on our community. It sort of defeats the purpose of a social justice course when it can't be offered." (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

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  • Name: Just me
    Date posted: 2008-10-31 10:59 PM
    Hometown: Abbotsford

    Comment:

    Good news. The School Board is up for election. Vote the incumbents out and place a new board in power on November 15, 2008. There are many new candidates running..that will change this neanderthal thinking...


  • Name: anna transet
    Date posted: 2008-09-25 7:40 PM
    Hometown: abbotsford

    Comment:

    I am the parent of a transgendered teen. It is urgent that the ministry of education get a backbone on this issue, before too many more lives get lost. The homophobic nightmare is absolutely still happening in the halls, classrooms and streets of BC, even as we speak. Half of these attacks exhibited a religious vocabulary to go with the abuse. How wrong is this? If this church obstructs society from stopping the violence and abuse and death, through teaching & healing, then I think that Canadians may just end up launching a human rights complaint against the Catholic church itself. And we will have god and Jesus on our side of the court. They are sitting with me right now as I write. I know this, because my heart is filled with love & compassion for all of us, even the unfortunate bigoted ones. Love & Peace to EVERYONE TransParent


  • Name: Doug Johnson
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 10:12 PM
    Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

    Comment:

    Thanks, Gord. Does anyone know? My own personal thought: Of all the gods we've been subjected to over the centuries, the one we "christians" have seems to be as vindictive and as cruel and as really, really stupid as any other that has been conjured up. What a hateful prick he/she is. The kids in the Abbotsford high schools can continue to feel alienated and alone - or maybe superior and holy, dependiing on which side of the issue they may be. Oh, the solace of religion. Where are you?


  • Name: Miss Clioretta Hermsdingle
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 9:26 PM
    Hometown: Silvietta, GA

    Comment:

    "may leave students feeling alienated or threatened rather than feeling accepted and respected for their opinions" Yes, how DARE the school try and teach our children that hate and intolerance and bigotry are unacceptable? HOW DARE THEY?


  • Name: Nathan Brown
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 6:22 PM
    Hometown: Dansville, MI

    Comment:

    The problem with School Boards in North America is that they seem to respond to the minority rather than the majority. The majority of parents in most districts are in favor of teaching sex education in the school system while a few parents oppose it. Despite the majority being for it the school board decides to turn this down instead of just keeping the children of opposing parents from attending. While attending a small town high school I was in an Eastern Humanities course and some parents were complaining because the class taught about Buddhism and Hinduism and they thought that the teacher might be trying to convert their kids. These parents complained even though they signed a sheet saying that they approved of their kids taking the class before the semester even started. These minorities aren't trying to "protect" their kids, they are trying to prevent anyone from learning something that goes against their warped beliefs.


  • Name: gord mcdonald
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 5:47 PM
    Hometown: toronto

    Comment:

    Is there somewhere I can sign a petition to register my disagreement with the board's stance. Is there an email to the local school board. Who else would be important to copy on any email of dissent.


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