Lunch Hour Student Discussion Groups
How It All Started! |
The Principal at Westmount High School shut down the lunch hour Bible study at her school, even though it was led by a youth pastor, was voluntary for the students to attend, and was not held during school hours. Except for the lack of a teacher/sponsor, they were operating within the Regulations. The Youth Pastor had been invited by students in the Spring of 2000 to come and lead their group, received permission from the principal and vice-principal of the school, and has been welcomed each week ever since. There group has grown to over 50 students of various faiths and of no faith.
For more information on the process the School Board took, please go here.
| Religious Persecution by HWDSB
Awakens Christians |
Christian students and parents alike were rudely awakened by the latest act of religious persecution enacted by the principal of Westmount High School and backed by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board(HWDSB). In mid-November, youth pastor Mark Bonham was requested to attend a meeting with principal Marg Bowman. During this 1.5 hour meeting, Pastor Bonham was informed by principal Bowman that the weekly lunch hour discussion club which he had convened for four years in the Westmount High School was being dismantled and that he was no longer welcome on the Westmount campus. The reasons given were said to stem from conflicts that the discussion club basis was said to have with Policy/Program Memorandum No. 112 from the Ministry of Education.
For the rest of the January, 2004 article, see Religious Persecution. |
Public Presentations
speaking to Year of Supervision |
See Final Report of the Provincial Supervisor, Mr. Jim Murray. Two opportunities were given for the public to speak to the Co-management Team regarding the effect of Supervisory decisions and changes have had upon their families. On November 27th, there were twenty presenters, each having 10 minutes to discuss various issues, some regarding Dundas school closings and Guyatt Road, Binbrook catchment areas, and most spoke regarding the need for more parental and school council involvement.
Jim Enos spoke to the issue of the need for parental input and our being invited to the table, and the lack of public consultation by the School Board in the past 6 years. He spoke also to the role of unions, and their control over many of the committees and the decision-making at the Board. He urged them to improve relations with the various communities that exist within our society. Re-visit soon to see a copy of his presentation.
Two parents of high school students spoke to the lack of public consultation, parent or school council involvement, and the lack of notice given with regard to the Westmount lunch-hour Bible club. They, along with many others, stressed the importance of transparency, inclusiveness and consultation.
The Co-Management Team listened to each presenter and thanked each one. They are to make recommendations to the new Board. Let's hope and pray that they were listening.
I believe only three trustees were present, Eleanor Johnstone, Lillian Orban, as well as Reg Woodworth, who presented first on behalf of the former Board members.
The term of the new Board of Trustees begins at their Inaugural Meeting on Monday, December 1st, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. This is a public meeting, to be held in the Board Room at 100 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON. |
| Also Pertinent to this Issue, see: |
- Spectator article of November 24th by Editorial Board member Casey Korstanje called A strong whiff of parental prejudice.
- The City of Hamilton's Advisory Committee called, Strengthening Hamilton's Community Initiative, as referred to in Casey Korstanje's Spectator article. The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board was involved in that effort.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948. It seems that the board is in violation. Canada has signed this declaration and the public school board needs to be made aware. I believe it can be brought to their attention and this matter resolved quickly in favour of allowing the Bible studies to continue.
Consider also Article 26(2) of that same Declaration.
- And Ministry of Education Policy 108 regarding Opening and Closing Exercises.
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| Public Delegations |
| Delegations to the HWDSB were heard on Monday, December 8th, 2003, 6:30 p.m. where the public made presentations to the Board regarding any issue. Many came out to the Board that evening in support of those speaking on behalf of lunch hour Discussion Groups, and those from Westmount High School.
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| Who do we write to? |
- The Honourable Gerard Kennedy, Minister of Education, Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M7A 1L2; Email; Telephone 1-800-387-5514, or fax (416) 325-6348;
- And to: Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, P.O. Box 2558, 100 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3L1, Email, Telephone (905) 527-5092, or fax (905) 521-2536.
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