Opponents of Alberta’s controversial Bill 44 have gotten a short reprieve, with the inevitable passing of the legislation being postponed until Monday.
Supporters of 44 continually repeat the old line of “Parental Rights”, claiming that the legislation is necessary to protect their kids from the horrors that lie in being exposed to “different ideas”. However lost in all this has been the concept of the rights of the students. Don’t they have the right to a decent education? Won’t somebody please think of the children?!
Bill 44 broadly states that parental notification is required when classes cover “subject-matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation.”
If we interpret that line broadly, as Premier Stelmach did when he stated plainly that it included evolution, most Biology classes from elementary to high school would be included, as well as units covering dinosaurs, geography, and astronomy. Even if we interpret it narrowly focusing on “the gays”, as its supporters would have us do, it would have to include parts of the Grades 11 and 12 curriculums where issues like human rights and political movements are discussed. Would history teachers need to write home before discussing events like the Stonewall Riots? Or the concentration camp system and the rise of the Nazis? The legislation effectively guts education within the province. How are Albertans students going to compete internationally with substandard primary and secondary education?
Some of the best classes I had in High School involved debate and discussion between classmates discussing different points of view; something that’s hard to do when those who hold opposing views having been pulled from the class by their parents. This kind of dialogue encourages young Albertans to develop their ideas.
Every election, someone will inevitably lament the atrocious turnout among young Albertans. The discussion of opposing views (especially related to civil rights) creates engaged citizens, and the Government wants to discourage it?
It wasn’t funny the first time
3 hours ago
1 comments:
Believe me, some of the best moments in teaching and student learning occur in spontaneous moments. I would hate to wait a day or two before I could begin discussion on issues that involve sexual orientation, religion, or sexuality. The teachable and learning moments will lose all meaning.
One would think that all teacher talk about are the issues mentioned about. In actual fact, as a teacher, I very rarely talk about these issues. I do not think that treating anti-discrimination based on sexual orientation should be treated any differently from those of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, disability, and others. Sexual orientation rights should not be considered quasi or limited rights while all other categories are full rights.
In case any right wingers feel that their children may be indoctrinated into believing something with which they as parents may disagree, I have three points: I never evaluate students' assignments based on agreeable viewpoints. I do evaluate based on how well they can express their opinions. It doesn't matter if they take a conservative or liberal viewpoint. It matters how well they can express their views.
The second point is that the parents' children will need to understand that there are rules and laws in society. They need to abide by them even if they disagree.
The third point is that children should be able to express their own opinions no matter if they are the same or different from their teachers and parents.
I do take into consideration age appropriate content when teaching the curriculum.
I wonder what Irshad Manji would think of the Alberta bill.
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