TORONTO – A majority-Muslim public school in Toronto is defending its policy of allowing an imam to lead Friday prayers in the cafeteria, saying students who leave school for prayers at a mosque typically don’t return to school.
The school prohibits any Christian prayers.
For the past three years, some 300 Muslim students at Valley Park Middle School have been allowed to use the school cafeteria for their Friday prayers. Before the policy change, school officials say students would leave classes early and not return.
“I think it’s important to note the prayer isn’t conducted under the auspices of the board,” Jim Spyropoulos, a superintendent for inclusive schools with the Toronto District School Board, told the Globe and Mail newspaper. “This was the best solution that avoided compromising instructional time.”
The issue is “about religious accommodation,” Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a school district spokeswoman, told The Canadian Press.
Those explanations have not placated angry parents, who are lighting up radio call-in shows and blogging furiously — particularly since Christian and other prayers are disallowed in the public school system. (Read more.)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Canadian Public School Allows Muslim Prayers, Prohibits Christian Prayers
Who would have thought that Islam would get special privileges in the racist, bigoted, Islamophobic West (again, and again, and again)?
11 comments:
If you wish to comment about this outrage to Chris Spence Director of Education of the Toronto District School Board, with your comments, his phone number is 416-397-3000 and his email address is: chris.spence@tdsb.on.ca
Apparently Mr. Spence has been getting some heat over his implementation of Sharia in the Toronto Public Schools and has issued a damage control statement here:
http://tinyurl.com/66mgmje
i don't know he is a son of what
As a resident of Toronto I am deeply disturbed by this. In 1988 the Ontario courts expelled Christianity from the public school system. Now they are embrassing Islam.
The only ones making any real noise about this are Hindus, Wher e are the Christians seaking out against this outrage?
This is absolutely disgusting.
It's the very height, the summit of Everest-- of hypocrisy.
There needs to be a vigorous public debate in Toronto regarding the propriety of using public spaces supported by tax dollars, which are paid regardless of religious affiliation of the tax payer, for religious purposes and services. I am surprised that in a secular nation, which Canada purports to be, any religious service is being allowed to be conducted in a public building. This is outrageous because it essentially requires a tithe to be paid in the form of taxes, to support the particular religion being observed on public property.
Individuals who are non-Muslims should not be paying a tithe to Islam (laundered through the Canadian government in the form of taxes) so that Muslims can conduct their services in a tax supported public building just as Muslims should not be paying a tithe to Catholics for participating in their religious activity.
Clearly Mr. Spence and Mr. Bolton need to be removed from their positions on the Toronto District School Board.
I appreciate all the support frpm my American brothers and sisters on this vital issue but what needs to happens is for the Christians in Canada to make a lot of noise about this. Phone the TDSb that you are unahppy and tell them why.
Also we will be having a provincial election in October. Ask the cantidates their position on the issue about our schools being turned into mosques.
As a Canadian I am outraged at this. I have a friend in Toronto. I hope this gets reversed.
This clip is from an old episode of the West Wing. It sums up the placating of everything muslim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXKd8Ps4nKs
-Chris Cali
The difference is that (many) Christians want forced prayer in the classroom for all students.
I believe that prayer does not belong in the school at all, keep it at home or in your church, at least this isn't a forced activity for all students.
This has nothing to do with mixing religion within a public school. Christian students can say prayers with other christian student friends if they choose, as long as they don't propagate their beliefs to other students, or cause undue hardship to the school. The public school system within Canada allows for people to hold diverse beliefs and customs and share it with those who are welcoming it. If a group of students get together upon a particular subject (politics/religion/culture) do we stop it? No. This is the same thing. These comments seem to be ISLAMOPHOBIC, or Christians crying that Islam is becoming stronger in their lands.
Post a Comment