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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 Report 05-228 Distribution of Religious Materialsrale 0 ILT,-J] OTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD 25 October 2005 Report Number 05 -228 to Chairs' Committee Re: Distribution of Religious Materials ORIGINATORS: Diane Jeudy -Hugo, Co- ordinating Superintendent PURPOSE: 1. To recommend policy regarding the distribution of religious materials in Ottawa - Carleton District School Board schools. BACKGROUND: 2. The main religion of Ontario's two founding European peoples was Christianity, as either a form of Protestantism or Roman Catholicism. While practitioners of other religions, including aboriginal peoples, were present, other religions were not reflected in the publicly financed school system. 3. Mandatory bible readings and recitation of the Lord's Prayer were included in opening exercises in schools, along with the singing of the royal anthem. It was also the practice of the Gideon society for many years in "Protestant" Ontario to deliver New Testament bibles to children through the schools. This practice is still continued in some rural school districts, but has stopped in most urban school districts. Where the practice continues, students are now provided with a consent form for their parents or guardians to sign in order to receive a copy. 4. The purpose of the Gideon society is clearly stated on the main page of its web site: The Gideon International serves as an extended missionary arm of the church: Our sole purpose is to win men, women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ through association for service, personal testimony, and distributing the Bible in the human traffic lanes and streams of everyday life. This purpose is called proselytization. 5. No other religious organization has asked for the same privilege; the organizations make their holy books available upon request and do not offer their books for distribution through the public schools. If only one religion distributes its holy books through the schools, even if the privilege is offered to all, this religion appears to be favoured and endorsed by the school and the school board. 6. Providing a consent form to all students is intrusive, unwarranted and implies complicit assent. It reminds non - Christian students that their faith is setting them apart. If the Board were, once again, to permit distribution of holy books through its schools, any request for a holy book must be a positive action by the requester, including requesting a consent form. Just as a student might seek direction about where to get a copy of a textbook not currently available in the school library, the same might be said of a request for any faith material. Staff facilitate requests for information from both students and parents daily in our schools. 7. Students are encouraged to learn about many religions and can do so through study in the curriculum. It is also popular in many schools for students to learn about religions by following celebratory practices at special occasions. This includes Christianity. It is certainly possible to call a concert a Christmas concert, but Christian holidays must not be the only ones celebrated. Public schools belong to all who attend them; all should feel they belong in their schools. No one religion can predominate in a truly public school system. In a school where all or nearly all of the students are of one religion, whether practicing or nominal, and where the students do not interact with students of another religion, the need for education about religion is just as important, if not more so, than in a multicultural environment. 8. A place for private prayer for students is provided in some schools, with the condition that there be no disruption to the instructional day. This is available to students of all religions. Students may also congregate outside the instructional day in religion -based clubs. This is available to students of all religions. 9. The absence of an officially sanctioned religion in public schools makes all students feel that the school they attend is theirs. Values and character education, anti - bullying and mediation, and learning about religion, are what most parents want for their children in the public school system, and this we provide. 10. Other existing practices related to religion in this school district include community use rentals to religion -based organizations, such as private schools for educational purposes, and to community groups and congregations for prayer and other activities such as festival celebrations. 11. There has been a Pastoral Care program in various secondary schools in the District and its predecessor Boards for over 20 years. Through the program spiritually based counseling is provided by screened volunteers upon request by students or staff. The program is administered by the Co- ordinating Committee for Pastoral Care. The committee seeks to involve representatives from the following faith communities recognized by the OCDSB: Aboriginal, Baha'i, Buddhism, Christian, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. Currently, the committee includes representation from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith communities. STATUS: 12. The local Gideon society has asked the Board to reinstate the privilege of distributing New Testament bibles directly to 9 and 10 year old children in schools (students in grades 4 and 5) and has demonstrated its desire in a number of ways, including setting up distribution posts just off Board property at a number of school sites (e.g. Sir Robert Borden High School) and by lobbying trustees and the director. 13. Consultation with many of our stakeholder groups indicates no support for the distribution of religious materials in our schools. Principals have reported through their associations that they do not wish to be responsible for making the decision as to whether or not Gideon Bibles or any other religious material would be offered to their students, even in consultation with their school councils. Their recommendation to the Board is to continue to disallow this practice. 14. Currently, 11 schools participate in the Pastoral Care program. The Co- ordinating Committee for Pastoral Care does not endorse the distribution of Gideon Bibles. This practice would be counter to the intent of the program, which is to address personal and spiritual concerns of students and/or staff upon request. There is no proselytizing or promotion of a particular set of religious beliefs by the pastoral workers approved for this program. C] 15. In May 2005, the Community Council on Ethnocultural Equity asked the Board not to reinstate the Gideon society's privilege. 16. In June, the past chair of OCASC, speaking on behalf of 45 school council representatives, asked the Board to do likewise. 17. As quoted in Policy/Program Memorandum 112, the Ontario Court of Appeal decision stated that, The school may expose students to all religious views, but may not impose any particular view. The school should seek to inform the student about various beliefs, but should not seek to conform him or her to any one belief. 18. Staff has reviewed a variety of options that include: (a) the distribution of holy books or related materials at the discretion of the principal in consultation with the school council; or (b) advertising the availability of holy books and related materials at the discretion of the principal in consultation with the school council. 19. Reviewing the reinstatement to the Gideon society the privilege of distributing New Testament bibles directly to students through schools has resulted in divisive debate, emotional responses and misinformation. The Ottawa - Carleton District School Board prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming to all students. The distribution of any type of religious materials in our schools must be resolved quickly in the best interests of all students. 20. Currently, some religious groups rent space through Community Use of Schools for religious activities. Many schools choose to bring in speakers and/or materials to supplement the delivery of curriculum, and a wide variety of faith holidays is celebrated during the school year. All of these practices would continue to be supported by the Board. RECOMMENDATIONS: (A) THAT the Ottawa - Carleton District School Board forbid the distribution, circulation or promotion of holy books or any religious materials that promote a particular religion or set of beliefs through its schools; and (B) THAT Policy P.046.SCO, School Communications: Distribution of Materials via Students (attached as Appendix A) be revised by the addition of the following section: 3.7 The use of schools to distribute or circulate holy books or any religious materials that promote a particular religion or set of beliefs is not permitted. The principal, in consultation with the school council, may choose to provide a public service announcement in the school newsletter about community activities and/or resources available to students and their families. Lorne M. Rachlis Dia a Jeudy -H turint/endent Director of Education/Secretary of the Board Co- rdinating Appendix A Draft to Chairs' Committee 25 October 2005 for approval • ML orrAWA-CAIUETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD POLICY P.046.SCO TITLE: SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS: DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS VIA STUDENTS Date issued: August 1998 Revised: 11 April 2005 Authorization: Board: 98/06/25 1.0 OBJECTIVE To establish a framework for distribution of materials to the home via students. 2.0 DEFINITION For the purpose of this policy, the school community is defined as the students, staff, and parents /guardians of the students attending the school. 3.0 POLICY 3.1 Each school shall act as a focal point for dissemination of school and Board information and for the fostering of two -way communication between the school and its community. 3.2 The Board endorses sending home with students such materials as notices and newsletters, where the material is directly related to school activities or is of interest to the school community. 3.3 The Board will facilitate communications from school councils to parents and students by sending home with students materials approved for distribution by the school councils for the purpose of fulfilling school councils' duties to advise and to consult parents about matters of interest to school communities. 3.4 Materials distributed to homes via students shall clearly identify the source. 3.5 It is the principal's responsibility to ensure that any information distributed via students conforms to relevant statutes, regulations and Board policies and procedures. 3.6 The use of students to distribute materials that openly lobby for a political party or candidate, or is slanderous or offensive, is not permitted. New 3.7 The use of schools to distribute or circulate holy books or any religious materials that promote a particular religion or set of beliefs is not permitted. The principal, in consultation with the school council, may choose to provide a public service announcement in the school newsletter about community activities and/or resources available to students and their families. -1- P.046.SCO /0 4.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS The Education Act, 1998, Section 265 and Ontario Regulation 298 Board Policy P.014.SCO: School Councils Board Policy P.052.SCO: Fund - raising in Schools Board Procedure PR.540.SCO: Fund - raising in Schools Board Procedure PR.536.SCO: School Communications: Distribution of Materials Via Students -2- P.046.SCO PC