The controversial law enshrines in Human Rights legislation a parent's right to withdraw their child from certain teachings in the public school system.
You might have to understand Alberta's school system to understand that parents already have free choice in the type of school they enroll their children in.
Parents have a wide range of options to choose from within the public education system: public schools, separate schools, francophone schools, charter schools — as well as alternative programs and virtual programs offered by school boards — and home education. They may also choose to send their children to private schools. The Alberta government supports choice in education to ensure student and community needs are met.
Those of us standing around the cooler, couldn't quite understand why Bill 44 was needed. We had already specifically chosen the schools our kids go to, using our requirements. Mine are in a Catholic school, another has her daughter in a special needs school, and another had her boy in a Polish school. We were all happy with the job the schools were doing. So, we could not see what the big deal was about, until we started talking about the Human Rights Commission, then the real discussion began.
Having read Ezra's blog, I was the most up on what the HRC's had been up to, and the example about the McDonald's employee who now isn't required to wash her hands was a big eye opener. People had a vague idea that the HRC's had been up to no good, they just had a feeling that they were getting out of control, some concrete examples really opened up their eyes.
You see, what Bill 44 does, is gives back the power to the parent. I don't see any situation where I would want to specifically take my kids out of a class, but I like knowing that I could if as a parent I thought I needed to. Power to the parents, not some bureaucrat developing curriculum, not some teacher with an agenda.
My kids want to be pulled out of their math classes, not going to happen boys!
