Parental rights change September 1st
Posted Aug 29, 2010 6:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With the vast majority of students going back to class this week, a new parental rights measure is creating fierce debate.
As of September 1st, Bill 44, the first of its kind in Canada, allows parents to pull their children out of lessons on religion, sexuality, and sexual orientation.
Opponents say the measure amounts to censorship and will water down classroom discussion.
Alberta Liberal Education critic Harry Chase tells the Calgary Herald the Conservatives have put a political club over teachers’ heads.
He points out that the bill allows parents to complain to the province’s human rights commission if they feel they weren’t properly notified about a school lesson.
Many parents are welcoming the bill.
Calgary mom Maria Doll tells the paper, she should be her children’s primary educator and be able to decide what school discussions they take part in.
