Last night’s Board meeting included deputations and a lengthy debate on the motion to rescind the Moral Education in Schools Policy (4150).
The pubic depu
tations voiced concern over the content of the revised Policy 4150 and requested that the Board review the policy and make changes. There was also points made about the breadth of opportunities for information and input into the recent Policy 4150 revision (the current policy).
Following on the agenda was a motion to rescind the changes recently made to Policy 4150. The key focus of the motion was not on the actual content of the policy, simply the question of whether to rescind the spring changes.
Board staff brought legal council to the meeting as a resource and trustees were informed about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Human Rights legislation and their impact on school board policy.
The Board decided not to rescind the policy; there was a recorded vote and the motion failed 6:5. I voted in the affirmative.
You can review background material on religion in education on the Ministry of Education webs site:
Education About Religion in Ontario Public Elementary Schools – Ontario Ministry of Education
Background :
Board upholds revised moral policy Simcoe.com Aug. 28, 2010
MIDHURST – The Simcoe County District School Board is standing by its moral education policy, despite pleas for more public consultation, though with a tenuous margin.
A vote to rescind changes to the policy made in May failed in a vote of five to six. The updated policy, which removed references to Judeo-Christian beliefs, stands.
Almost a year ago, the chairperson of the board’s policy committee, board vice-chairperson Nancy Halbert, suggested rescinding the policy altogether since no other school board has a moral education policy.
Instead, she said, the board should rely on its character education program, which advocates attributes like empathy, honesty, inclusiveness, respect and caring.
Public Shut Out QMI Group ( Enterpise Bulletin ) Aug. 27, 2010
The revisions included the deletion of the following: “The Board believes the whole teaching program should be based on the principles of JudaeoChristian morality.” During its meeting We d n e s d a y night, the board heard separately from two Barrie residents — Jill Hynes and Don Ansley — who asked that the policy be rescinded in its entirety. Both noted the policy’s wording was too broad and open to misinterpretation and, potentially, legal woes for the board.
Updated Aug. 28, 2010
