christiesplits
Senior Member
It seems like economic progress supersedes social progress out there in Wild Rose country. Or am I just being a nitpicky lefty heathenistic Torontonian?
Thoughts.
Thoughts.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/02/alberta-human-rights-school-gay-education-law.html
Alberta passes law allowing parents to pull kids out of class
Written notice required when sex, sexual orientation, religion are covered
Alberta legislators passed legislation early Tuesday that will give parents the option of pulling their children out of class when lessons on sex, religion or sexual orientation are being taught.
The Alberta legislature held a seven-hour debate on Bill 44 Monday night before it passed third and final reading about 1:30 a.m. MT (3:30 a.m. ET) Tuesday.
A clause in the bill, which is an amendment to the province's human rights legislation, requires that school boards give parents written notice when controversial topics are going to be covered in the curriculum. Parents can then ask for their child to be excluded from the discussion.
There will be no restrictions placed on casual classroom discussions that might arise about the topics.
The parental rights clause is included in a bill intended to enshrine gay rights in Alberta's human rights code.
But the buried clause had drawn objections from teachers, schools boards and human rights groups, who argued Bill 44 makes it possible for parents to file human rights complaints against teachers and school districts, creating a chill with regard to what is taught in the classroom.
Critics had argued the clause should be scrapped and the issue should be dealt with under the Schools Act rather than being enshrined as a human right.
A small group of gay rights activists held a rally outside the legislature in Edmonton to oppose the bill on Monday.
The government has said the effects of the legislation on the education system will be minimal and is meant to allow parents to be more involved in their children's schooling.
Attention must now shift to making sure the legislation is implemented in the best possible way for teachers and schools, said Alberta School Boards Association President Heather Welwood.
"We want to nail down exactly what's required for notification — when it's required, exactly on what topics it's required, how often, and we'll be seeking our own legal advice … on that," Welwood said.
Frank Bruseker, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, said he's advised the group's lawyers to prepare to defend any teachers who are brought before the human rights tribunal.
"We'll need to review curricula right across all subjects and all grades to see where there might be a minefield, if you will, that a teacher might step in and suddenly find themselves in deep trouble," Bruseker said.