Ignorant People

[nuvistors]

This   man wants to send his brats to a religious school but does not want them to take all the classes offered.He has the choice of changing schools.

Catholic schools: Ontario parents fighting to have children exempt from religious studies

A Brampton father has won a partial exemption from religious studies for his son but may still take a Catholic school board to court to win a full pass, as other parents across the province fight for a basic right outlined in the Education Act.

A Brampton father has won a partial exemption from religious studies for his son but may still take a Catholic school board to court to win a full pass, as other parents across the province fight for a basic right outlined in the Education Act.

Oliver Erazo has been battling the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board since last spring to obtain a full exemption from religious courses and programs for his son Jonathan, a Grade 10 student at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School.

Erazo and his wife initially chose Notre Dame for their children because it’s the closest to their home and garners favourable ratings on a school-ranking website.

Erazo, who now has a lawyer working on his behalf pro bono, said a court may have to ultimately decide the issue, which falls under the Education Act’s open-access legislation.

“I think the only thing they (the board) would understand is a court order,” said Erazo, whose son received a one-year exemption from a mandatory religion course, but must stay home rather than work at school during other religious programs.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, a lawyer representing Erazo, said the law clearly states parents can get a full exemption for their children from religious courses and programs.

“The exemption is clearly worded and it’s the law,” Erskine-Smith said, pointing out many parents across the province are struggling with the same issues.

“They’ve granted us most of what we’ve requested, they just haven’t acknowledged that they were required to do so.”

Erskine-Smith said he and his client are considering bringing an application to court that would enforce Erazo’s rights and ensure the “Catholic school board acts in accordance with their obligations under the Education Act.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/03/catholic_schools_ontario_parents_fighting_to_have_chil...

[holeinthewallsportsandmore]

My son attends Catholic School and I wouldn't ask the school to exempt him from the reglion classes.

If I didn't wany my son to have religion classes I would send him to public school where there are no religion classes.

When my daughter reaches school age, she will also attend Catholic school.

My children are not baptized catholic, we had to use my husbands baptism certificate to be able to have my son attend the school.

If you don't want your child to take a religion class, then don't send them to Catholic school.

[dipmicro]

Well, think about it. "Catholic school" means it's a school run by a business entity of "catholic church", who was accredited to run schools in this country on the premise they would provide education to anyone equally and follow the law and they get supported by taxpayers to do so just like any other school board. If the law says the students can be exempted, then ignorant is Catholic church, not the parent.

When you go to Chinese restaurant, you are not expected to be Chinese or speak Chinese.

Just my opinion.

[pierrelebel]

"When you go to Chinese restaurant, you are not expected to be Chinese or speak Chinese."

True, but you are expected to eat Chinese ! 🙂

"... premise they would provide education..."

That is not what the Canadian Constitution states, is it?

[cats1953]

dipmicro - don't know where you live but there are some ethnic restaurants where I live that when you don't speak the language you don't get served!

[draco18stampsandcollectables]

eBay Canada Discussion Boards

Discussion Boards are a great place to learn useful eBay tips, such how to bid or use seller tools, or to discuss the things you love to buy and sell on eBay.

Is this really the venue to be discussing unrelated matters ?

[puckstopshere]

True, but you are expected to eat Chinese !

Many Chinese restaurants have items available for that are not Chinese.

My son does not like Chinese food.  We go out for Chinese occasionally.  They also offer non-Chinese items including burgers and a steak.  He says their burgers are "awesome".

We lived in a small town when my oldest started school.  The town had a Catholic Elementary School, but no regular school.  We lived next to the Catholic School and it would have saved my son a 3/4 hour bus trip if he could have gone to that school.  We weren't Catholic so he rode the bus.

[shannonshopsalot]

Agreed with one of the randoms above... This is Ebay, not Facebook, let's keep this site to what it's originally here for, and that's to sell, or buy items.... NOT to talk about catholic schools, or foreigners taking catholic schools to court, or any of that other mumba jumba you were just talking about. Facebook=gossip. Ebay=selling/buying. Hope that clears everything up for everyone!

[art-in-the-making]

Draco, FYI there are multiple separate discussion boards on ebay.ca for buying, selling, stores, etc., on eBay.

This board, Canada Town Square, is where ebayers check in from time to time to chat with fellows ebayers on any topic that comes to mind. Be it just fun banter, politics or what have you - just stay within the rules.

Ebay kind of wrecked it by lumping all the discussion boards into one entry page but there could be a few pros and cons there also.

As for the op - this is just another issue where the modern reality has completely eclipsed the original needs. The way I understand it anyway is in Ontario the public school system includes the Catholic and Protestant boards equally.

Obviously they need to come up with some modified courses that give either a neutral overview of religion or a general civics or ethics course that non-Catholics or anyone who so chooses can take instead of the specific religious material. This is easily done, as they have revised these courses in the curriculum in Quebec at least a couple of times over the past few years.

You aren't going to make everyone happy but for those who want their kids to be mainlined religious indoctrination I guess that's is where home schooling comes into play.

[nuvistors]

Agreed with one of the randoms above... This is Ebay, not Facebook, let's keep this site to what it's originally here for, and that's to sell, or buy items.... NOT to talk about catholic schools, or foreigners taking catholic schools to court, or any of that other mumba jumba you were just talking about. Facebook=gossip. Ebay=selling/buying. Hope that clears everything up for everyone!

Let us  read the rules before  posting disinformation

This is what ebay put at the heading of this forum

Welcome to the Canada Town Square Discussion Board! This is the social discussion board on eBay.ca so sit back and relax and make new friends or meet up with old ones.

123

[draco18stampsandcollectables]

Apologies to Nuvistors :

Thank you for bringing to my attention the different discussion groups.

I didn't notice the * Canada town square * part.

Post away ........!

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

I wouldn't call him 'ignorant' I would call the father in the article 'stupid'.

When you go to Catholic school religion is part of the course and why you are there. It’s not just religious studies but it entwines itself in other curriculum as well. Same as schools for Muslims and Jews and even military school....I can imagine this father registering his son in a military school because it is 'convenient' but then saying "but I don't want him taught anything about guns"!

“When in Rome….do as the Romans do”……and this especially applies to the Catholic schools.

I'm not even sure how he got a partial exemption, he should have been laughed out of court.

Sadly the person who is going to suffer for the father is his child. Nice plan dad!

[dipmicro]

The Chinese restaurant example was probably not the best 🙂 

Not going to argue this because I can see the point of both sides, just applied my logic (taxpayer pays for it, freedom of religion, etc) and the above lawyer guy is already doing a good job arguing the case. It's an interesting and controversial subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separate_school

Some catholic school boards are probably more accommodating than others, because there is cases of muslim and other non-catholic kids attending and they are just excluded from religious activities like this guy is asking. From what I hear, catholic schools have somewhat higher standards than secular public schools, so it would be a shame if the two would merge. I also applaud catholic school boards for being able to come to peaceful resolution in the dispute with the government lately.

Anyway, let it unfold. Both side arguments have merit, although if there is already a law addressing this very issue and someone has to take the effort to enforce it, I would not call that person ignorant, rather the other side.

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

I can’t see where this father’s concept has any merit.

To begin with it’s a ‘Catholic School’ …it says so right over the front door. It’s like a Jewish school says the same thing and a Muslim school the same etc etc. Catholic is a religion…..dad should look it up.

 If however he lived in an area somewhere out in the middle of nowhere and there was ‘only’ a Catholic school then I could see where he may have something to work with ….but this is not the case in his situation……far from it in Brampton! (which just a quick count on the Internet shows 19 public schools and that doesn’t include Catholic schools)

The father says the son is going to that school because a) it is convenient and b) it has high ratings.

When it comes to ‘convenience’ that is not part of the picture. Lots of kids go to school in areas that are not convenient. My wife driving bus has two kids who live on the boarder line of two schools and because of span of 20ft across a road they have to go to one school which means a bus ride that is about 25 min longer than going to the other school which would mean a bus ride of about 10 minutes. If the truth was known I think this father just chose a Catholic school to save his kids a bus ride. Can we spell….spoiled!

When it comes to ‘higher ratings’…..well maybe he should be doing something about the other schools and attempting to change them if he feels they are not up to 'par'…..as opposed to going to a Catholic school and demanding that they change for him so he can have his ……….convenience.

The whole thing is ridiculous and the father should grow up....along with all the other whining parents who want the same.

[ilurkthereforiam]

I was listening to John Tory on CFRB when he talked about how he sat at the table when the RCSB agreed to exempt students from religious studies upon request in order to get full funding from the province.

Failure to do so could violate the contract with the province.

Some parents want to send their kids to RC schools because they have better academics
There are many reasons for parents to send their kids to RC schools.

[westernstargifts]

This  man wants to send his brats to a religious school but does not want them to take all the classes offered.He has the choice of changing schools.

I agree he has the choice of changing schools and should if he doesn't like the curriculum in the Catholic school.  But because the father is being difficult doesn't make his children "brats".

My children attended a Christian school for a few years for which we paid.  The location was not convenient.  Could we have gone to a public school, more conveniently located, and demanded that they give them religious education?  I don't think so.  And priority is right:  religion is intertwined with most of the other subjects and is not necessarily taught as a separate subject on its own.

As for home schooling, lots of parents do that but not everyone can afford to stay home to do so.

Sadly the person who is going to suffer for the father is his child. Nice plan dad!

Right on.

[westernstargifts]

I forgot to mention that my youngest grandson will be displaced from his school next year.  He has to be bussed to both so that doesn't make much difference in itself.  However, after attending Junior K and Kindergarten at his school he has to attend another one to make way for the expansion of the French Immersion students.  His parents had absolutely no choice in that matter.

It would be nice if all schools were "conveniently located".  There aren't any within walking distance of his home which is within the city.

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

Sitting up late doing some bookwork

There aren't any within walking distance of his home which is within the city.

I was just wondering.....what is too far a 'walking distance' these days? When I went to school it was 7 blocks to go one route and 9 to take another when you got tired of doing the same 7 block one all the time. Yet I knew a kid in London a few years back who took a cab to school every day and back home and the school was four blocks from his home.....but there was a 4 lane road to cross even though it had traffic lights. Seemingly it wasn't worth sending a school bus for him so the board paid for a cab, for years. Also when I went to elementary school there was no lunch room so we all went home for lunch and had to be back in and hour! And........I can never remember a 'snow day'. You got there rain, hail, sleet and snow.....and no excuses! 

Yes that was a Catholic school with nuns from an order we use to call the Sisters Of The Holy Whipping Post.

[disisus]

Public schools should have absolutely no religious affliation at all. Public schools should teach the basics to succeed in life. 

[disisus]

I went to school when I was young in Ontario. 1960's. Belleville to be exact. And they had religious classes in school. In elementary school.

I moved to Manitoba in the early 70's. There were no mandatory Christian classes in public school. If you wanted Christian classes you went to church. The public school system was for teaching Math, History, Science, etc. Not religious studies.

Even now, if you want your child to attend a Christian church of your choice, rather than the publically supported public school system, you pay. These are private schools and the public cannot pay for your personal choices. Or you can home school them. Any public school is free of course.