The Toronto Catholic District School Board approved the equity and inclusive education policy at their May 19 board meeting. There were many Catholic parents present at the meeting who were against the policy. A number of concerned individuals presented thoughtful, respectful, well-informed, caring and convincing arguments trying to persuade the trustees to reject the policy.
The trustees will vote on a number of proposed amendments to the policy at their June meeting. Some of the trustees wanted the board's legal counsel to assess the proposed changes. Why many of the trustees were so ready to take advice from board counsel
should raise questions of objectivity and representative competency.
It was made very clear at the meeting that the board bureaucrats wanted the policy to pass. At one point the board lawyer tried to force the vote with the suggestion that the board could once more fall under government control. However, nobody advised the trustees that they had every right to reject the policy. The Catholic school board already has the best equity policy, better than any provincial government can mandate: the Ten Commandments. Catholic teaching gives teachers a solid moral approach to combat discrimination of every kind in all schools; provincial legislation is totally unnecessary.
The central unresolved issue is whether Catholic denominational rights and Catholic teaching will be compromised with the new policy. Catholic parents have every reason to fear that groups can try to use the policy to undermine the teaching of the Catholic Church. When to final vote was finally taken, the policy passed by a 7-4 margin.
Catholic parents should be proud of the input by trustees Angela Kennedy and John Del Grande in defense of the faith. They made several attempts throughout the meeting to protect Catholic teaching. Angela Kennedy proposed to amend the draft policy and remove any reference to the Ontario Human Rights Code. She wanted to change the wording so to that the board's denominational rights "take precedence over human rights protection."
John Del Grande put forward an amendment to make sure “a Catholic teacher will provide classroom instruction that doesn't contradict the teachings of the Catholic Church." These amendments and others will be voted upon at the board's June 16 meeting.
If we don’t agree with the equity policy, what can we do now that it’s passed in principle? Catholic parents should attend the June meeting in greater numbers. Contact the trustees and thank those who voted against the policy and urge those who voted in favor to at least support the amendments that protect Catholic teaching. There is also a solid legal case against the policy by lawyer Geoffrey F. Cauchi and posted by LifeSiteNews.
It is hard to understand why OECTA (the teacher's union) president James Ryan is pleased with the board's vote. He also points out that the policy has the support of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario and he says that he believes the Toronto Catholic District School Board should be in line with all the other Catholic boards in Ontario that have already approved the equity policy in an effort to create bullying free school environments.
Keep in mind that every policy decision in not cast in stone. The battle may be lost, but the spiritual war is long from over. Catholics do have denominational rights and moral rights. There a need to remind trustees they are responsible to the voters, to Catholic teaching and to God. They are not accountable to board directors, union leaders, superintendents, educational officers and any other hired legal advisor.
Have a great weekend every one. Let's keep praying.
Lou and Michelle
