• Why Alternative Schools?
  
• History of the Process
  
• Statement of Belief
  
• Program with a Difference
  
• Legislative Support for the Concept
  
• Precedents for Religious Alternative Schools
  
• Interested in a PACE Program in Your Community?
  
• Interest form

• enroll their children in private religious Schools, at considerable expense
  
• enroll their children in Catholic schools, if space allows
  
• home school their children.

The Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession document, an Ontario College of Teachers mandate endorsed by the Ministry of Education states:

This is very difficult to achieve in a regular public school classroom of 25 students from various faith and cultural backgrounds.

There could be other options.
The Edmonton School District had a similar problem until they opened their alternative Christian Schools in 1996. As a result, 1100 students returned to the public school system. Five school boards around Edmonton also opened alternative Christian programs. Fifty percent (50%) of the school enrollment within these alternative Christian programs are returnees from other programs. Presently Edmonton Public Schools is also working on a Muslim alternative program.

P.A.C.E. is supportive of public education. We believe that allowing more choice and flexibility will not weaken or fragment public education but rather strengthen it, both by attracting families back to the system and by better meeting the needs of a significant number of families within the system.

• March 2001- Public for Alternative Community Education (P.A.C.E.) develop and present a detailed Traditional Judeo-Christian Values proposal to Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board’.
  
• April 17, 2001- PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING attracts 500 people, and 600 student pre-registrations.
  
• September 2001- Hamilton Wentworth District School Board trustees vote unanimously to consider the proposal.
  
• April/May 2002 - School board begins to dialogue with the Ministry of Education. PACE committee begin to dialogue with MPP’s and Ministry of Education to gain needed support.
  
• Fall/Winter 2002/03 - PACE revises proposal to clarify the program.
  
• Spring 2003 - Board legal counsel identifies proposal is within the Education Act, but recommends Board of Education seek support from Ministry of Ed.
  
• Summer 2003 - PACE and Board seeking a clarification within the Education Act to define the different kinds of schools Boards of Education may create.

• God is our creator who knows and loves each one of us;

• God has provided, through the Bible, certain values, standards of behaviour and fundamental truths, particularly in the passages such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17) and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,& 7). These values, standards of behaviour and fundamental truths are to guide us in living out our lives. Truth is not relative and, therefore, not based simply on each person’s opinion;

• Although we all make mistakes, or commit sins we can be forgiven because Jesus, the Son of God, offered Himself as payment for our sins, and is alive today to strengthen us through His Holy Spirit. Just as He forgives us for our sins, so we must forgive others who hurt us or sin against us;

• We are on this earth to love God and serve Him by caring for and serving our fellow human beings. We are not meant to live merely for our own pleasure and self-interest;

• God works in our lives and in the lives of those around us, and throughout our world as we spend time with Him in prayer.

• Instruction delivered within an environment respectful of the Christian worldview of the families attending.
  
• A fully funded (no tuition) alternative education program.
  
• Meets the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum guidelines. A Christian viewpoint to issues and topics in curriculum areas would be provided.
  
• Encourages students to investigate and express their spiritual nature as an integrated part of their daily work.
  
• Students who work in an environment that is supportive of their beliefs, are more successful academically
  
• Structured learning environment
  
• Would co-exist as an alternative program within a regular school(s)
  
• Location would be dependent on the public interest and space availability

• Parents agree to support the mission statement and objectives of the program.
  
• Parents work co-operatively with the teachers.
  

• Positive behaviour is expected of all students and staff.
  
• Central focus is on loving God and one another.
  

• Emphasis on sound and proven traditional educational methods.
  
• Emphasis on mastery of core subject matter.
  

• Principals and teachers would be selected on the basis of their support for the objectives of the PACE program.
  

• Parents may need to be responsible for organizing their child’s transportation

• Ontario Education Act
  Statute 171.7 "School Boards have the authority to determine the numbers and kinds of schools"
  
• Regulation 264 -1(c)
  "(Teachers have a duty) - To inculcate by precept and example, respect for religion and the principles of Judaeo-Christian morality and the highest regard for truth, justice, loyalty, love of country, humanity, benevolence, sobriety, industry, purity, temperance, and all other virtues."
  
• Ontario College of Teachers - Standard of Practice for the Teaching Profession
  
  • "Members of the Ontario College of teachers: understand and use a range of teaching methods to address learning, spiritual and cultural differences,
    
  • Help students to connect learning to the life experiences and cultural and spiritual understandings of the child,
    
  • Help students to appreciate their own identity, to learn more about their cultural (spiritual) history and to build self esteem.

In Ontario, there are at least four publicly-funded schools that deliver Ministry of Education curriculum within a supportive, respectful environment for Christian students;

1. Eden High School, St. Catharines. Niagara District School Board
   
2. Mexican Mennonite Program, Houghton, On Grand Erie District School Board
   
3. Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program, Stratton, On, Rainy River District School Board
   
4. Centre Peel Elementary School , Drayton, On. Upper Grand District School Board,

• Share this information

• Complete and mail in the ARE YOU INTERESTED form

• Call or write your school board trustee or MPP

• Attend the next PACE meeting. (call for further information)

• Distribute the informational petition to be signed by everyone that supports the concept and return it to PACE.

  ARE YOU INTERESTED?

  Please complete and mail this form to: P.A.C.E., P.O. Box 105, Binbrook, L0R 1C0

  This information will help us demonstrate to the School Board the level of interest, and where PACE programs should be located

  Name: _________________________________

  Address:________________________________

  City_____________________ P.C.___________

  City Ward (if known): ____________

  Phone:_________________________________

  Email:__________________________________

  Please list the names of your child(ren) who may be attending and their expected grade level(s).

  Child(ren): Grade Level Sept. 2003

  1)________________________ _____
  Presently attending:

  _____ Separate School _____ Public School _____ Private School _____ Home School

  2)_______________________ _____
  Presently attending:

  _____ Separate School _____ Public School _____ Private School _____ Home School

  3)_______________________ _____
  Presently attending:

  _____ Separate School _____ Public School _____ Private School _____ Home School

  (If more room is needed please attach a separate sheet. )

  I/WE WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST

  ______ Please advise of the next P.A.C.E. meeting.
  ______ Please accept a donation to offset the costs of this campaign.
  Please make cheque payable to P.A.C.E.

  PACE Main Page
  Hamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council's Home Page

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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