Dedicated to Preserving Family Values
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Stoney Creek, ON CANADA L8G 5E6
| Sexual Orientation Committee Moves to Eliminate 'Diverse and Respectful', 'Evidence-Based Teaching' and 'Staff Choice' |
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February, 2007 HWDSB Equity Policy UpdateHamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council (HWFAC) has followed the HWDSB's efforts to normalize, embrace and celebrate homosexual/bisexual conduct since a Meeting of the Trustees on Monday September 30, 2002 when the trustees voted to receive for information a document entitled, 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Education Resource List.' This list contained many objectionable materials designed to normalize homosexual/bisexual conduct while labeling those who oppose this conduct as heterosexists, homophobes and bigots.Since that evening, HWFAC on many occasions has expressed our concerns which have resulted in HWDSB assuring us that we are wrong about all of this and that the Equity Policy was simply going to be about discouraging the bullying of persons and helping individuals to achieve their maximum potential. In an e-mail dated November 20, 2002 to a trustee who shares our concerns, a superintendent from Executive Council wrote, "There is no Board plan to embed teaching about homosexuality in our schools, especially for young children." Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case. Our August 2006 Newsletter informed our readers as to how the draft policy will empower the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community to identify barriers within the HWDSB school system which they believe prevent their community from 100% participation and then to re-design curriculum and program to ensure that each barrier is removed. When asked to identify 2 of these barriers, not even one could be named, thus the LGBT community will be entitled to re-design school program at will and continue to do so until they are satisfied. Try to imagine what the sex-education curriculum will look like after the LGBT community removes barriers when they believe that all consensual expression is good. Would this same opportunity to remove curriculum barriers be offered to the Judeo-Christian community? "Diverse and respectful, what does that mean?"Since that newsletter, the homosexual/bi-sexual push has continued. At the October 2, 2006 meeting, our Council and some other group members asked that the term 'bias-free teaching material' in Section 4.1 be replaced with 'diverse and respectful teaching material' as in reality, bias-free material does not exist. The LGBT community representative objected stating, "We are not comfortable with diverse and respectful, what does that mean." Under the direction of Bill Torrens the Committee rejected 'diverse and respectful' and adopted 'bias-free.' We again challenged this notion of 'bias-free' stating that having a positive position for something is a bias, as is having a negative position. The response was, "Positive bias is acceptable, discriminatory bias is not." In other words, HWDSB will affirm homosexual/bi-sexual bias but will not permit any evidence that shows the negative implications; students may think critically as long as it is gay positive. Essentially this amounts to homosexual/bi-sexual indoctrination and has nothing to do with critical thinking which considers all aspects and then based on the facts, determines an evidence-based position.Section 4.1 also contained the term 'evidence-based teaching' used in addressing sexual orientation and our Council supported this. Once again the LGBT community representative objected to this term stating, "The medical community has medical evidence against LGBT conduct and we don't want to see this expressed in the classroom." Bill Torrens stated, "If evidence from medical community bears negative implications, then this discriminatory bias must be excluded." In addition, Section 4.1 discussed, 'staff who choose' regarding the use of learning materials dealing with sexual orientations, the mention of choice was removed. HWDSB direction to eliminate 'diverse and respectful', 'staff choice' and `evidence-based teaching' is unacceptable. The exclusion of overwhelming medical evidence regarding the high-risks of infection associated with homosexual\bisexual conduct is criminal. Should HWDSB move to present homosexual/bisexual conduct as natural\normal\acceptable without presenting the well-established medical evidence, HWDSB will be held legally responsible if even one student is harmed; we will be watching for that first test case. "These opinions are not to be expressed at school...."At the most recent December 2006 Committee meeting, the Committee moved to put measures in place to silence students and families who view homosexual\bisexual conduct as high-risk conduct physically, emotionally and spiritually. In a small group discussion where group members are supposed to share thoughts for large group consideration, we were discussing Draft Statement 8.1 regarding Harassment. We suggested that as well as dealing with the incidents of harassment based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity that this also be applied to students and staff who may be harassed or penalized as a result of respectfully expressing evidence-based views that homosexual/bisexual conduct is high-risk. We had asked that this thought be added for large group consideration and were backed by Hamilton Cultural Interpreting Services. Bill Torrens, who led this group, refused to add this for consideration. Another group member representing principals stated, "These opinions are not to be expressed at school and that we were probably Islamophobic as well."This 'unlearning' attempt to affirm high-risk homosexual\bisexual conduct to our children is unacceptable and factophobic. This effort to change our children's worldview and silence their evidence-based, respectful expression is harassment and discriminatory. Early in this process HWFAC Council requested legal opinion regarding the right of expression of evidence-based views regarding sexual orientation. In a letter from the HWDSB legal consultant Evans, Philip dated May 17, 2005 the following was written; Question: "How does the Ontario Human Rights Code impact upon student-to-student interactions and behaviours? For example what would the ramifications be according to the Human Rights Code for a student to express that their religious belief system does not permit homosexuality?" Answer:There is nothing in the Human Rights Code which would limit the religious beliefs of any student. However, what the Human Rights Code does prohibit is harassment of others because of their sexual orientation." It can be seen above that the Human Rights Code does prohibit harassment but does not restrict holding and expressing an opposing view regarding sexual orientation. In closing we wish to re-iterate a question that was posed to Superintendent Reid during question period following a Board meeting of Monday February 9, 2004 as follows, "How will families who do not view all conduct as equal be assured that their belief systems that they are instilling in their homes will not be contradicted in the classroom?" Superintendent Reid responded, "This is a weighty question and I cannot offer a response at this time. This is a very difficult point and I can offer no assurances." HWFAC has written to Director Chris Spence and told him that HWFAC agrees that this is a weighty question, however, offering no assurances is not satisfactory. HWFAC must have assurances that the belief systems that we are instilling in our children for healthy and wholesome living will not be questioned, undermined or attacked in the HWDSB classroom and that our children will not be penalized in any fashion for holding and expressing an opposing view when the subject is discussed during school hours. All of the above and more has been expressed to Director Spence and the trustees in writing. As parents and taxpayers are you satisfied with the direction of the Equity Policy regarding sexual orientation or do you feel concerned? We cannot over-emphasize the importance of your need to respond. We suggest that as a minimum you do the following:
Jim Enos Vice-President, HWFAC |
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