Reader responds to Morinville public school issue

Dear Editor:

I have been following the articles and discussions regarding the lack of truly public schools in Morinville. There are some forty major recognized religions in the world, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, Atheism, Agnosticism, and Baha’ism. Within Christianity there are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist, Quaker, United, etc.

Having religion included in any ‘PUBLIC’ school system paid for by every taxpayer is ludicrous. Public is defined as ‘ pertaining to the community as a whole/ for the use of the community at large and maintained at the communities expense’. I do not feel that a school system operated by Catholics, with catholic teachers, and intent on permeating their religious beliefs into every class is in the best interest of all the people in the community of Morinville. With the world becoming more and more of a mixing pot, the only public education offered should not be associated with any religion or spiritual belief.
If you want to teach religion – teach them all.

The Board of Trustees for the Greater St. Albert Catholic School points out historical events going back into the 19th Century. Well hello! This is the 21st century! Things have changed. Morinville has changed. The population here no longer supports the concept of a Catholic Public school system. In the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part 1 of the Constitution Act of 1982 (assented to March 29th, 1982) – Fundamental freedoms read:

“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: a) freedom of conscience and religion; b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and d) freedom of association.

Does the Catholic school board really think that 70-80 per cent of the students that live in Morinville should be bussed out of the town we live in to Namao School or Sturgeon Composite High School? This would add at least an hour a day to all these little children’s school day.

Gentlemen and Ladies- Get it fixed!

Dale Metcalf

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2 Comments

  1. Good points Dale. The UN has noted this as a black mark on our human rights record. Showing favor to one type of religion by propping it up with taxpayer dollars. I’m not sure how this is fair.

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