PUBLIC for ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION - PACE
Traditional Judeo-Christian Values Program
A Program of Innovation under Consideration by the HWDSB
(Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

PACE UPDATE - Working on a Regulation Change

 June, 2003
In the past three months, we have made further gains. We are in receipt of a letter from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board stating they would like to implement the alternative Christian program proposal (PACE), but are concerned that, although the proposal is consistent with the wording of the Education Act, the proposal may not stand up to interpretation from a court challenge.

To encourage choice within public education we are now working with Brad Clark, MPP, Stoney Creek, and Ted Arnott, MPP - Waterloo and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, to achieve government assistance in the form of a clarification to the Education Act.

Statute 171 (1) - Powers of the Board - Paragraph 7,
states"... schools have the authority to determine
the numbers and kinds of schools."

We are asking the government to clarify the term "kinds of schools." We have suggested that the government consider the wording found in Section 16 of the Alberta School Act. This Section clearly defines what is allowable within the Alberta public school system: schools based on subject emphasis (science, arts, sports); language (German, Chinese, native language, etc); cultural and religious (Christian, Muslim, etc) differences, or teaching method (traditional, Montessori, learning style, etc).

A Regulation change or Policy Memorandum clarifying this area of the Education Act would greatly assist all Boards seeking to provide alternative programing that reflects the needs of the community.

Mr. Clark was very encouraged by the school Board's willingness to listen to the community and is working with us to establish the needed Regulation changes.

Upcoming Action Plan: Other MPP's in the province may need to hear from their constituents about their desire for the government to open the way for 'choice in education', as well. We need more than one MPP recognizing this need, and asking the Ministry of Education for this clarification.

Yours in service to the children of our community,
Phil Lees, Gloria Turner, Directors

Updates:
March, 2003
February, 2003
April, 2002

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Public for Alternative Community Education/
a project proposal developed by the
Hamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council
(CFAC Hamilton Branch)
P.O. Box 105, Binbrook, ON, CANADA   L0R 1C0