AUG
23
Ontario parents should now participate in developing a bill of rights
The central question that needs to be answered next is: what should be included in the Parents’ Bill of Rights–for both public and separate schools? As a starting point we can take Article 26. (3) of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children." Parents make that choice, not the province, the school boards, activists or special interest groups. If parents don't want their children to taught the controversial and unscientific gender theory, then they have the right to say no. Parents must work hard and take this opportunity to truly make public education reflect their values and views. Catholic schools should have the freedom to exercise their denominational right to teach about human sexuality, family and marriage based on the
Catechism.
The Parental Bill of Rights must then make room for parental choice and true inclusion in education. This means selecting the type of school parents want for their children: public, private, independent, Christian and home-schooling. Parents who send their children to separate and public schools that are funded by the taxpayer should have the following rights. The content was developed from the
Alliance Defending Freedom's "Policies for Protecting Parental Rights in Education." ADF is an American organization that helped the Hamilton father
Steve Tourloukisin his legal battle for parental rights in education. Here's the ADF Parental Policy that parents have the right to:
1. Request and arrange a time to examine textbooks, lesson plans, curriculum and supplemental materials used in their child’s classroom.
2. Request a time to visit the school and observe their child’s classes.
3. Meet with teachers, as well as consult with other professionals interacting with their children at school, including counselors, coaches and administrators.
4. Inspect their child’s school records, including academic, counseling and health information.
5. Be notified when medical services are being offered to their child
6. Be notified if the school is aware that their child has been bullied or has been accused of bullying.
7. Be notified if a criminal action is deemed to have been committed against their child.
8. Be notified if their child is accused of a criminal action or an infraction that warrants a significant form of school punishment, such as detention.
9. Expect and request an educational environment that is emotionally and physically safe for their children.
10. Expect and request an educational environment that respects their family’s and their child’s religious freedoms.
11. Be informed of and have the right to appeal school policies and administrative decisions.
12. Receive written notice and the option to opt their child out of surveys that include invasive questions about students’ sexual experiences or attractions, their families’ beliefs, morality, religion, political affiliations or mental and psychological problems of the student or family members.
13. Request a change in class or teacher assignment for their child.
14. Get information about about policies and programming from the school.
15. Be notified if their child is absent from school or classes.
In addition, parents should also have the right to:
1. Have the opportunity to volunteer or participate on review committees that make decisions about curriculum, lesson plans and books.
2. Receive written notice and have the option to opt their child out of controversial instruction on topics such as sex education, sexual orientation and homosexuality-related instruction.
3. Know which extracurricular clubs and school activities their children are participating in.Schools and boards of education must have policies that ensure parents are notified about their are opt-out rights for curriculum and classroom instruction.
Parents must always be informed about speakers coming to schools and any student-club participation. Sensitive topics are no exception. Parents can add their own ideas to this list, but the importance is to participate in the process and to tell the government that the Parents' Bill of Rights is a big step in the right direction. Remember that in addition to the moral and legal right, taxpayers pay for the cost of public education, and so should have a say in what and how curriculum is delivered to their children.
Posted 23rd August by
Everyday For Life Canada