The Ford government should speak up to defend inclusive school cultures
A student delegation asking the York Catholic District School Board to raise the Pride flag in June was met with angry, bigoted responses.The Ford government’s weak response to the hateful opposition against an Ontario Catholic school board flying the Pride flag should come as no surprise.courted the votes of a bigoted minority by vowing to repeal an updated sex education curriculum which once in office, he did, only to reinstate a virtually identical curriculum.
The minister’s response has been that he hopes that “schools will do their part” to create inclusive, safe places but that these are local decisions. He has made no public statement condemning the hateful language and actions of the community protesters. He has made no strong statement of support for the students who are asking the board to do more to keep them safe.
The truth is that there is legislation and policy already in place that require school boards to ensure that schools are safe spaces for all. The Equity and Inclusive Education Policy and the Accepting Schools Act have been in place since 2014. The minister has the tools to take a much stronger stand in the face of this board’s inaction.students are at much higher risk of suicide and mental-health challenges than the rest of the population.
It is the minister’s job to take a stand on this issue. It is his job to uphold the policies and laws that exist to keep students safe and to condemn actions that put them at risk. Flying the Pride flag can be dismissed as merely a symbolic action, but it is a very public statement that a school board understands its obligations. And if it were not significant, it would not raise the hackles of the homophobic and the transphobic whenever it is debated.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vaughn Palmer: Eby warns forestry sector to fix its problems or government willOpinion: B.C. government is demanding companies doing value\u002Dadded production get access to timber
Read more »
Opinion: Can Charles, the King of Canada, overcome the public’s skepticism?Throughout his long apprenticeship for this job, he has shown himself to have a strong conscience
Read more »
Opinion | The Leafs don’t have time to wait for Sergei Bobrovsky to spring a leakPucks are bound to go in more often for the Leafs. But down 2-0 heading into Game 3 in Florida, waiting for the law of averages to have its day is a dangerous play.
Read more »
Opinion | This Canadian woman might take down Donald TrumpThis Canadian woman might take down Donald Trump. That a former Star reporter came to be in court last week to denounce a former U.S. president, under oath, is a testament to her staying power Opinion by reggcohn
Read more »
Opinion | The broken promise Liberals won’t let Justin Trudeau forgetLiberal partisans will vote Saturday on changes to Canada’s electoral process. But will it lead to real change?, Althia Raj writes.
Read more »
Opinion: The U.S. bank runs and this rolling financial crisis are not overThat the financial system is absorbing these bank failures means this could have a long way to run – the economy will suffer
Read more »