Jan Wong: Why it’s time to talk about the elephant in the classroom—the Catholic school system | Toronto Life
"In 1999, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled it discriminatory to fund only the Catholic system. Certainly the unfairness rankles. You may be a taxpayer with school-age children and live next door to a Catholic elementary school with small classes, a music program and decent computer facilities. You may desire for your offspring the vaunted culture of obedience and the psycho*logical discipline of school uniforms. But your children can’t access it unless you’re an honest-to-god Catholic and can prove it. It’s not quite the Spanish Inquisition, but according to the Toronto Catholic District School Board, prospective families must show a Catholic baptismal certificate for each child. Failing that, the school board requires at least one parent to produce his or her own Catholic baptismal certificate. For non-Catholic parents, the only option is conversion. This means enrolling in a program for aspiring converts at a Catholic church, and of course producing the paperwork."
Jobless, non-religious teachers turn to Catholicism in attempt for employment - The Globe and Mail
Jobless, non-religious teachers turn to Catholicism in attempt for employment - The Globe and Mail
Interesting reads to say the least. What could be motivating parents and teachers to lie about being Catholic? In Iran, we might expect a whole bunch of atheists to profess Islam. But in Canada? What might be causing atheists to pretend to be Catholic? Now I must wonder. If I'm sitting next to a parent or teacher in Church, how can I really know whether or not that person is truly Catholic and not just some pretender?
"In 1999, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled it discriminatory to fund only the Catholic system. Certainly the unfairness rankles. You may be a taxpayer with school-age children and live next door to a Catholic elementary school with small classes, a music program and decent computer facilities. You may desire for your offspring the vaunted culture of obedience and the psycho*logical discipline of school uniforms. But your children can’t access it unless you’re an honest-to-god Catholic and can prove it. It’s not quite the Spanish Inquisition, but according to the Toronto Catholic District School Board, prospective families must show a Catholic baptismal certificate for each child. Failing that, the school board requires at least one parent to produce his or her own Catholic baptismal certificate. For non-Catholic parents, the only option is conversion. This means enrolling in a program for aspiring converts at a Catholic church, and of course producing the paperwork."
Jobless, non-religious teachers turn to Catholicism in attempt for employment - The Globe and Mail
Jobless, non-religious teachers turn to Catholicism in attempt for employment - The Globe and Mail
Interesting reads to say the least. What could be motivating parents and teachers to lie about being Catholic? In Iran, we might expect a whole bunch of atheists to profess Islam. But in Canada? What might be causing atheists to pretend to be Catholic? Now I must wonder. If I'm sitting next to a parent or teacher in Church, how can I really know whether or not that person is truly Catholic and not just some pretender?
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