Daily BrewOntario school board says “religious accommodation” isn’t an excuse to discriminate
If parents in the Peel District School Board were planning on asking for “religious accommodation” to excuse their children from sex education lessons they find unpalatable, they’re in for a big surprise.
Tony Pontes, director of education for Peel, the second-largest school board in Ontario, said Wednesday that when a lesson touches on issues of inclusiveness, parents won’t be able to ask for an accommodation to excuse their kids from class.
“We cannot — we will not — by action or inaction endorse discrimination,” said Pontes, who cited Ontario’s Human Rights Code as applying to people of all sexual orientation and gender identity. “Supported by legal opinion, bolstered by our core values, I would no more say yes to someone wanting a child excluded because of a discussion about LGBTQ than I would a discussion about race or gender.”
Peel will still allow accommodations in instances where the lesson itself may contrast with a family’s religious leanings. But when the lesson deals with learning how to be inclusive of anyone protected by the Human Rights code, the Peel board’s stance will be clear.
"But I do not want any misunderstanding as we enter the school year...... where the work in the classroom is about inclusion.......
— Momin Qureshi (@Momin680NEWS) September 2, 2015
... whatever form that may take -any protected grounds in the human rights code - we will not provide religious or any other accommodation"
— Momin Qureshi (@Momin680NEWS) September 2, 2015
The stern statement seems to be in response to what Pontes calls “false information” regarding the new sex ed curriculum, including flyers and public comments that misrepresent the breadth and subject matter of the new curriculum.
Pontes said he wants it made clear that while the board is sensitive to the issues raised by families, the board will not bend to every claim for accommodation regardless of its merit.
“So, some parents may ask, ‘Don’t you respect my values?’” Pontes also said. “Yes — but that does not mean we will de facto endorse those values by providing an in-school accommodation.”
Pontes said he understands the board's position may not be popular with everyone, and might even see some parents pull their kids out completely. He's O.K. with that.
"Some in our community may not like this, they may chose to switch school systems. If that's so, it's a price we must be willing to pay."
— Momin Qureshi (@Momin680NEWS) September 2, 2015
The Peel District School Board serves Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon.
