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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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 Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject: Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law |
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A controversial Alberta bill will enshrine into law the rights of parents to pull their children out of classes discussing the topics of evolution and homosexuality.
The new rules, which would require schools to notify parents in advance of "subject-matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation," is buried in a bill that extends human rights to homosexuals. Parents can ask for their child to be excluded from the discussion.
"This government supports a very, very fundamental right and that is parental rights with respect to education," said Premier Ed Stelmach.
Although Stelmach has confirmed the bill will give parents the authority to exclude their kids from classes if the topic of evolution comes up, Education Minister Dave Hancock said it won't change anything.
"With respect to values, religion and sex education have always been areas of concern for parents, and they've always been areas parents have had the right to be notified about and to exempt their students from," Hancock said.
Frank Bruseker, the head of the Alberta Teachers' Association, is meeting with Hancock on Monday to raise his concerns.
"If parents don't want that kind of education for their children they have a couple of options," Bruseker said. "One would be home schooling or private school. So for a public school to start excluding based on religious preference, I think is a mistake."
Bruseker said it would be difficult for teachers to avoid the topic of evolution in science or geography classes.
The proposed legislation has touched off a debate about just what kind of image Alberta's government is trying to create around the world.
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Oh Alberta  |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:15 am Post subject: Re: Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law |
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| catman wrote: |
"This government supports a very, very fundamental right and that is parental rights with respect to education," said Premier Ed Stelmach.
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Kids are not the property of parents. Parents are like gatekeepers.
Our society has decided to offer free (tax funded) public education to all students. They must learn the same curriculum.
If you let the Christians opt out of studying evolution, just wait and see what the Somalis will demand. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:29 am Post subject: |
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| Kids are not the property of parents. Parents are like gatekeepers. |
In the words of the underrated(in my opinion) Kahlil Gibran...
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Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| There is no such thing as a biology class without evolution. Any teaching of geology is almost out of the question as well. How about the dinosaurs? Can they be taught that the dinosaurs died out millions of years before humans inhabited this planet? |
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ubermenzch
Joined: 09 Jun 2008
Location: bundang, south korea
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law |
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| The new rules, which would require schools to notify parents in advance of "subject-matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation," is buried in a bill that extends human rights to homosexuals. Parents can ask for their child to be excluded from the discussion. |
i wonder what happens if during recess, little johnny decides to come out to his friends, or blessed imran feels the need to explain a particular tenet of his faith. what will the school do then to cater to the "needs" of these parents. |
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bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| mises wrote: |
| If you let the Christians opt out of studying evolution, just wait and see what the Somalis will demand. |
Something to eat?
| Kahlil Gibran wrote: |
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
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Beautiful. |
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ManintheMiddle
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 2:49 am Post subject: |
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I'm a Christian who has always believed in evolution and that most (not all) homosexuals are hardwired that way.
So while I oppose the move to exclude these issues from public schooling, I have to say that in general the province of Alberta might be the last true bastion of non-PCness in Canada.
And now on to the Calgary Stampede! |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| So while I oppose the move to exclude these issues from public schooling, I have to say that in general the province of Alberta might be the last true bastion of non-PCness in Canada. |
Well, until Muslim parents start demanding that their kids be excused from history lessons that portray Islam in a less-than-orthodox light. Then we'll see if you're hailing Alberta as the anti-PC capital of Canada. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:37 am Post subject: |
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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/05/04/cgy-evolution-alberta-human-rights.html
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Proposed Alberta law doesn't make evolution classes optional: minister
A controversial new bill does not give Alberta parents the right to pull their children out of science classes when evolution is discussed, according to Lindsay Blackett, the provincial minister responsible for human rights.
New rules buried in a proposed amendment to Alberta's human rights legislation that extends rights to homosexuals would require schools to notify parents in advance of "subject matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation." Parents can then ask for their child to be excluded from the discussion.
Premier Ed Stelmach told reporters last week that the provision could be used to pull students out of classes dealing with evolution, if parents preferred their kids be taught what's in the Bible instead.
"The parents would have the opportunity to make that choice," he said.
But in an interview with CBC News Monday, Blackett said he has gone through the draft bill and talked to staff in the education and justice departments and concluded that religious beliefs aren't covered.
"This is opt-out on religious instruction not on grounds of religious beliefs. So the thought that somebody can get out of evolution using the fact that it's against their religious beliefs is not correct," he said. "Evolution is not a part of religious studies, it's part of science curriculum, and there is nothing that will change that going forward."
If a teacher follows the curriculum there "is no problem."
"We aren't talking about discussions that come up in class," he said. "We expect people to be reasonable. We expect that the teacher has to have the latitude. We are not the thought police, and we don't want to interfere with their ability to teach their classes."
The bill has raised the ire of opposition parties and the Alberta Teacher's Association, which argued that making evolution optional would be a mistake and teachers would have trouble avoiding the topic. Frank Bruseker, the head of the Alberta Teachers' Association, is meeting Monday with Education Minister Dave Hancock and Blackett, the minister of culture and community spirit, to raise his concerns. |
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