As I said, to some Christians, not being Baptized means you don't get into Heaven. It matters not that YOU don't believe that. They do, and if you are someone they like, then it could be troubling to them.
religious course
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As I said, to some Christians, not being Baptized means you don't get into Heaven. It matters not that YOU don't believe that. They do, and if you are someone they like, then it could be troubling to them.
Doesn't this kind of stuff fit under the heading of M.Y.O.B.? I have nothing against religion, but some people (nosy bastards) can sure screw it up.
Oh my! I had never considered the notion that that could be the reason. So in my polite, but firm refusal to discuss religion whenever it came up because of the passions it can evoke, I may have denied the opportunity for someone to explain that this was the reason for their, what appeared to me to be, outrage or anger.
I'll have to do some thinking about this, dig up some sad memories and take a fresh look at them from this possible angle.
Thank you gerryh
Math is an elective? There's a great leap backwards. It was compulsory in my day. Religion is required because, as others have pointed out, it's a separate school with a religious agenda, and surely you knew that going in. The course is called Christian Ethics where I live. Seems to me there might be a nasty little legal issue here. Students in the public and separate (which means Catholic most places) school systems get the same curriculum, mandated by provincial education standards, except for that Christian Ethics course, which is a requirement for graduation in the separate school system. But a student who's gone through the separate school system without that course will have met all the requirements for graduation a student in the public system has, so it would seem a bit problematic for the separate school system or the provincial department of education to deny the graduation certificate. The student has, after all, met a defined set of standard requirements, and Christian Ethics is not a university entrance requirement for anything. But the right to have separate schools is constitutionally mandated. I wouldn't recommend taking that on.
I don't know that the provincial department of education would refuse to admit the student is qualified without that religion course though. If he's met all the other standards defined by the curriculum in the public school system, it'd be hard to argue he's not qualified to graduate from high school. I've seen a similar issue here where a kid failed the Christian Ethics course in grade 12, but got his certificate anyway. I'd try to find some knowledgeable official in the education department to talk to about this. The separate school board may not grant him a certificate, but the education ministry might.
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I went to a public school for 3 months over a 2 yr period.. and I hated it. the way the school is run is so different than a Catholic/separate school.
I always preferred the separate school's format.
I won't put my kid through that.
I have yet to find a reason to have any faith in RC faith.
when your priest says the most stupid things, really makes it hard to want to follow him.
I always preferred the separate school's format.
I won't put my kid through that.
I have yet to find a reason to have any faith in RC faith.
when your priest says the most stupid things, really makes it hard to want to follow him.
it seems to me Dexter, if I recall correctly (and I may not).... religion was a requirement to graduate ceremonially, not academically when I was in highschool. You tickled that little memory centre. He should still be able to get his diploma, but he won't necessarily get to march to the front of the church with his friends for the final ceremony.
This is why I'm curious as to why you'd want to baptize your kid into something you don't like.
Here in Calgary, the Catholic School Board states that if you want to walk the stage to get your certificate, graduate with your peers, you need to take and pass the religious classes. If you don't, you still get your provincial diploma, you just can't go through the ceremonies. I believe a student has the option to opt out of the religious classes in Senior High.
That makes sense to some extent, granting students a degree of adult responsibility by a certain age and letting them make such a decision for themselves. That's pretty much consistent with karrie's memory, you get the diploma but you don't get to do the ceremonial stuff with your peers. I wonder if that extends to the other grad ceremonies as well, the usual formal dinner and dance stuff. But at the same time, I'd have to wonder why kids would opt out of the religion class and not also opt to switch to the public school system if that's really how they feel about it, and I can imagine some heavy duty conflicts at home in some families over such things too. That'd be a tough call for somebody only 17 or 18 years old. The temptation to skip a class would be pretty strong, but so are the consequences, missing the major social event of the season and possible major conflicts at home. And switching schools could be pretty traumatic too. I don't envy anyone that choice. One of life's first hard lessons: choices have consequences you may not like.
The same issue cropped up in Alberta. It turns out that religion is not required for graduation in this province. All a student needs is the required Department of Education matriculation courses. All a student needs the religion courses for is to attend the graduation ceremony, but the student cannot be denied graduating. I suspect the same rules apply in Ontario.
If attending the graduation ceremony is important to you take the religion course. If it isn't I would say to hell with it. I did not attend any of my graduating ceremonies and I have two university degrees.
If attending the graduation ceremony is important to you take the religion course. If it isn't I would say to hell with it. I did not attend any of my graduating ceremonies and I have two university degrees.