Tempers Flare Over School Prayers In Toronto

DurkaDurka

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Mar 15, 2006
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Has anyone considered that this may be a step forward where we can if we wish pray at school, teach religion in school, reduce fear of the differences amongst us, see the commonality that many share.

The problem is that many consider this to be special treatment for a minority, and in my opinion it is and it is not, it solved an attendance problem but others were also not given nor provided the same right. I can understand the frustration but I can also see that this is a perfect time to move this forwards for all the major religions.

I believe it's a horrible idea to have religion in public schools. It just further divides people along religious lines and it's a distraction to learning.
 

karrie

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Jan 6, 2007
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I believe it's a horrible idea to have religion in public schools. It just further divides people along religious lines and it's a distraction to learning.

Having a prayer time in school doesn't divide students nearly as much as splitting them up into private schools does.
 

gerryh

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Nov 21, 2004
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When they didn't, the 400 plus Muslim students would go to a near by Mosque at lunch time for their prayers. Problem was, like typical teens, many would not return to school afterwards. The school decided to do something about this and came up with allowing the students to use the cafeteria.

bump
 

DurkaDurka

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I see it that way 100% I really don't get the fear and the anger and the misinformation (or slanted information). I've enver understood why students can't use the rooms within the school for their own clubs, prayers, etc., when they're available. The whole issue has never made much sense to me.



So remove the discrimination... allow prayer, period. It's pretty simple. Just don't fund it, schedule it, or mandate it... leave it up to the citizens to make their own accomodations within the framework.

What about the teachers, are they to be religions arbitrators now as well?

Having a prayer time in school doesn't divide students nearly as much as splitting them up into private schools does.

What makes you think the parents still won't do that? The main reason many choose to go that route is for the religious instruction, not necessarily the ability to just pray.
 

karrie

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What about the teachers, are they to be religions arbitrators now as well?


The principal of a school, or the vice principal, is who decides the usage of the rooms within it. That's part of the job. If they have available rooms, plug the time in the same as you would for the year book committee, the chess club, or the peer support group.

What about the teachers, are they to be religions arbitrators now as well?



What makes you think the parents still won't do that? The main reason many choose to go that route is for the religious instruction, not necessarily the ability to just pray.

fair point but it's still better than them having to leave school property and come back... the separation is there anyway. This way they're still on school grounds, and more likely to have time to visit other students. Which option was more divisive?
 

IdRatherBeSkiing

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Personally, having the presence of a Christian based, publicly funded separate school system, makes me question the need for Christian prayer times in public schools.

That works great for Christians who also happen to be Catholic. Not so much for those that aren't.
 

DurkaDurka

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fair point but it's still better than them having to leave school property and come back... the separation is there anyway. This way they're still on school grounds, and more likely to have time to visit other students. Which option was more divisive?

Forget the kids for a sec, it creates divisions within society it self. There has already been pro and con protests in regards to this school, where you really see the divisions. It's like abortion debates, it brings out the nasty in everyone.

The point is, the prayers don't belong on the school grounds to begin with, religion is by nature divisive.
 

karrie

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Forget the kids for a sec, it creates divisions within society it self. There has already been pro and con protests in regards to this school, where you really see the divisions. It's like abortion debates, it brings out the nasty in everyone.

The point is, the prayers don't belong on the school grounds to begin with, religion is by nature divisive.

Prayer was going on in this school for a fair long while. It doesn't sound like religion was what caused the divide in this one. It's opposition to them expressing their religion that's spewing the hatred at this school from the sounds of it.

What it sounds like to me is 'people thinking differently than us, acting differently than us, makes us lash out them and we'll call it them being divisive.'
 

DurkaDurka

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Prayer was going on in this school for a fair long while. It doesn't sound like religion was what caused the divide in this one. It's opposition to them expressing their religion that's spewing the hatred at this school from the sounds of it.

So that makes it right? They can practise their religion at home, a private school or the catholic system if they need "moral direction".


I think you're jumping the gun by labelling the protests "hatred". From what I have read, it's been a mixture of Christian, Hindu and Jewish groups asking that everyone be treated the same, not the current pandering that's occurring.
 

karrie

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So that makes it right? They can practise their religion at home, a private school or the catholic system if they need "moral direction".


I think you're jumping the gun by labelling the protests "hatred". From what I have read, it's been a mixture of Christian, Hindu and Jewish groups asking that everyone be treated the same, not the current pandering that's occurring.

From the article...

"Some of those opposing prayer in school carried placards denouncing "gender apartheid" in the school and accusing the board policy of being "inconsistent with Canadian policy." They shouted into a bullhorn about Allah and suicide bombers as the Canadian anthem was played. "

The last bit about yelling about suicide bombers, etc., was what kind of sparked the notion that they were being hateful.
 

Corduroy

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Separation of church and state applies to funding and lawmaking and setting up curriculums, not to attempting to eradicate evidence of religion in the people who live within the state.

Who's advocating that?

By the way, I have no issue with Christians being granted Christian holy days off nor prayer rooms reserved during breaks, as long as it applies to all religions equally.

And no holidays for atheists!
 

DurkaDurka

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From the article...

"Some of those opposing prayer in school carried placards denouncing "gender apartheid" in the school and accusing the board policy of being "inconsistent with Canadian policy." They shouted into a bullhorn about Allah and suicide bombers as the Canadian anthem was played. "

The last bit about yelling about suicide bombers, etc., was what kind of sparked the notion that they were being hateful.


Well, I can agree the last part about suicide bombers was unneeded. When emotionally charged issues like this are brought to the surface, sparks fly.
 

Goober

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Prayer was going on in this school for a fair long while. It doesn't sound like religion was what caused the divide in this one. It's opposition to them expressing their religion that's spewing the hatred at this school from the sounds of it.

What it sounds like to me is 'people thinking differently than us, acting differently than us, makes us lash out them and we'll call it them being divisive.'

One point you are overlooking - This was approved as a pilot project - approx 9 years ago - Eventually a pilot project ends - or becomes a fully approved part of the school. If one has the right then all have to be treated the same - and that is one big sore point for those that were denied the right to pray at various schools across the country - Why do people overlook this - - that is why many are upset - not hatred of Islam - Some do hate it, that is correct - but for Gerry to state that this is all based upon Islamophobia is a crock of BS and utter nonsense.

From the article...

"Some of those opposing prayer in school carried placards denouncing "gender apartheid" in the school and accusing the board policy of being "inconsistent with Canadian policy." They shouted into a bullhorn about Allah and suicide bombers as the Canadian anthem was played. "

The last bit about yelling about suicide bombers, etc., was what kind of sparked the notion that they were being hateful.

You will always have those freaks, we have them on the forum. Do they represent the majority of parents and others that wish to be treated the same. I would say they, the hateful freaks are a minority.
 

karrie

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One point you are overlooking - This was approved as a pilot project - approx 9 years ago - Eventually a pilot project ends - or becomes a fully approved part of the school. If one has the right then all have to be treated the same - and that is one big sore point for those that were denied the right to pray at various schools across the country - Why do people overlook this - - that is why many are upset - not hatred of Islam - Some do hate it, that is correct - but for Gerry to state that this is all based upon Islamophobia is a crock of BS and utter nonsense.

Well, the media is focusing on menstruation and imams and talk of suicide bombers, so it's easy to overlook the side of the protests that aren't about islamophobia.
....

In the end, it is time that government recognize that while we expect IT to be secular, we also expect to be allowed to be free citizens within it. While we expect city hall to not bear a cross, to not pass by-laws according to religion, we also expect that if it's showcasing school choirs to celebrate winter, that Catholic students can sing their carols as well. Allowing your citizens to be who they are, and not imposing your views regarding religion upon them, that is true secularism.
 

CDNBear

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Why are you posting video clips of proclamations of love to DaS?

It's MUSLIM.....it's ISLAM
No, it's against the rules. It's you that wants to bring it down to Muslim/Islam.

If it was Jehovah's I'd have a problem with it.

If it was Mormons, I'd have a problem with it.

If it was catholics, I'd have a problem with it.

The issue is, public schools have been off limits to all religious commitments.
 

Goober

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Well, the media is focusing on menstruation and imams and talk of suicide bombers, so it's easy to overlook the side of the protests that aren't about islamophobia.
....

In the end, it is time that government recognize that while we expect IT to be secular, we also expect to be allowed to be free citizens within it. While we expect city hall to not bear a cross, to not pass by-laws according to religion, we also expect that if it's showcasing school choirs to celebrate winter, that Catholic students can sing their carols as well. Allowing your citizens to be who they are, and not imposing your views regarding religion upon them, that is true secularism.

I epeceted you as one that of a few that would see thru that crap. But you cannot catch them all. That is a compliment.
 

CDNBear

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Allowing your citizens to be who they are, and not imposing your views regarding religion upon them, that is true secularism.
Sorry Karrie, can't agree.

The non Christians have set the terms of engagement.

We should abide them, one and all.