Article Added On: January 12, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Title: Lessons in tolerance should be made universal
Author: Sean Wilson
Publication: The Brock Press
Publication Date: January 01, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Faith Groups: Muslim
Themes: religious tolerance/intolerance

Abstract: Late last year, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) made anti-homophobia education mandatory for students of the downtown Toronto Market Lane Public School. It was a debate between the rights of the gay parents for tolerance vs. the rights of the Muslim parents for tolerance of their way of life. A reporter for a college newspaper writes that the decision of TDSB was quit right and laudable because giving the option of letting children stay home during the sensitivity and tolerance lessons sends a clear message that one does not need to be tolerant nor accepting of diversity, and this goes against some of the most fundamental principles of our great nation.

January 11, 2005

The Toronto District School Board has done something quite interesting that angers few Muslim parents, thrills gay parents and leaves everyone else thinking.

In a landmark decision late last year, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has made anti-homophobia education mandatory for students of the downtown Toronto Market Lane Public School in the future. This decision was made when Principal David Crichton noticed that children from same-sex parental households were being taunted and teased and decided to bring in a social worker to teach the students lessons on understanding and sensitivity.

For the most part, parents of students at this school are supportive of the idea that their children should be exposed to the way other human beings live their lives. Since the videos used to display the way a same-sex household runs include no sexual contact of any sort, most parents have little to no issue letting their children watch and learn in the hopes of instilling some tolerance. However there is one small group of parents against this.

A few families of Muslim students have been very vocal at their displeasure that this will be mandatory for all students. They say that since - in their opinion of interpretation - homosexuality is against their religion they should be allowed to keep their children at home when these videos and discussions are occurring.

This is quite the predicament since the rights of the gay parents for tolerance and the rights of the Muslim parents seem to clash against each other. On further inspection they want the same thing; tolerance of their way of life. And I think that the way that the TDSB is handling the subject is appropriate.

We live in a nation with guaranteed rights and freedoms. Because of this we can believe, say and live any way we choose as long as we abide by law. This is a matter of freedom.

Same-sex parents are not being allowed to live their lives freely because of undue actions against their children. Their children themselves are not being allowed to be free of playground persecution because their parents are gay. This is an issue of human rights and the TDSB is right by making anti-homophobia programming available to the children as it mirrors the tolerant and accepting nation that Canada is. Giving the option of letting children stay home during the sensitivity and tolerance lessons, sends a clear message that one does not need to be tolerant nor accepting of diversity, and this goes against some of the most fundamental principles of our great nation.

What if the situation were reversed? What if Muslim children on the playground were being verbally and physically abused because of their religious freedom, wouldn't the parents of these children want sensitivity and tolerance programming in the school? It all seems a little selfish to me.

Living in a free nation like Canada you must at some point recognize that this nation is for everyone under the sun. Our laws and systems are built on the tolerance and acceptance of all those who call Canada home as long as they follow the rules. In order to ensure that everyone gets to live fairly and freely, we must be vigilant to make all realize that this isn't an exclusive practice of democracy. Letting students stay home from the openness and tolerance of the anti-homophobia programming is exclusive and resonates that same-sex parents, and the children of same-sex parents don't deserve the same protection and liberty that others deserve.

This is where the danger lies. As soon as keeping children home from one lesson of tolerance becomes acceptable, then it is acceptable for other similar circumstances in the future. This lack of tolerance education could possibly then breed intolerance and more instances of a lack of civil rights that have been fought for - and continue to fight for - for so long. This goes against letting people be free, and that is just not Canadian.