Conference kaosws::canada

    I didn't read the article, but it doesn't sound like a big deal. If the
    schools choose to say a quick prayer in the morning before starting the
    day, it's not a problem.  No school is forced to do this, and no child
    would be forced to pray.  The Ontario government simply said it had no
    objections to school prayer. 
    
    BTW, the preamble of our Constitution contains the phrase,
    	'... recognizing the supremecy of God... '
    
    I wonder if that's worth discussing. :-)

    Glenn

    The schools have had for some time now a publication of prayers
    from various religions. It was left up to the school/teacher if
    a prayer was to be said. The only caveat was that they could not
    stress one religion over another. The idea was that today they would
    say a Catholic prayer, tomorrow a Hindu prayer, the day after that
    a Jewish prayer, etc.
    
    This would only apply, obviously, to public schools. Secular schools
    could continue to insist on religous teachings of their own sect.
    
    I am in favour of the provincial policy on this one. 
    
    Roger

I understand -.1 and -.2, but still feel this should be left out of the public
school system.

John

ON SOAP BOX

John A.'s  point  seems  very  well  taken -- leave religion up to the
parents.  If  parents want to pass on their values and religion, it is
most appropriately done in  the home, the church, the synagogue or the
temple etc.

For  my  part,  I  do  not want any teacher,  of  who's  values  I  am
unfamiliar, leading my children in prayer -- regardless of whether the
prayer happens to be a prayer of my own religion.   Further,  I  don't
really want  my  children  "praying"  someone  else's prayer.  This is
disrespectful of both  my  values,  my  children's  values and someone
else's prayer.  A  prayer is not something that you just do because it
happens to be on some random school board agenda today.

It is sometimes suggested that children who do  not  wish  to pray can
leave  the  room during prayer.  This again is  disrespectful  of  the
values  of these children, singles them out for riducule and  suggests
that one religion, or any religion is more equal than others.   Public
schools  should  welcome  all equally and leave religion in its proper
place.  

Those who are concerned about  the  health  of their religion will not
find it improved by using the state to force prayer in public schools.
Their efforts  would  be  better directed to supporting their churches
and temples and accompanying their children to such places of worship.

OFF SOAP BOX

John

    IN ANSWER TO JOHN MORRIS.
    
    I agree to a certain extent about you're not wanting your children
    to say other people's prayers and leaving the onus on parents to
    teach their children religion. However, I do feel that teaching
    children something about other religions is a good idea.
    
    At the moment I live in a country (i.e. Ireland) that has been torn
    apart by religious bigotry for hundreds of years. I would hate to
    see anything like that happen at home (i.e. Canada). I like to think
    that Canadians are quite respectful of other people's religious
    affiliations and I'd like to see it stay that way. But I think that
    only happens when you understand other religions and your own better.
    
    I went to a catholic school and we had religious instruction in
    class. I take your point that public schools should be
    non-denominational and that parents should look after their childrens'
    religious training. I just wonder how many parents are capable or
    feel comfortable doing that?
    
    Any views?
    
    Ted.  

I have little against praying in school. In fact I wish they would.
Maby a different belief every month and then have a question and
answer session after. I would like my kids to learn in every way
not just what is found in history and english books.
Freedom of choice is nice but before the choice is made I would
prefer to know what to expect. If you don't want your kids to
hear what is going on around them. I don't understand. But if
you prefer they do not pray with the others that would be between
you and your family.

just my view.

Linda

    Praying implies a belief in the deity or any deity. There are people
    (in some countries or cultures) who don't believe in prayer or any
    deity at all and are offended if forced to pray to such.
    
    When I was at school, I was forced against my will to attend morning
    prayer. Later, when it became voluntary, kids still stayed in the
    room because of the inbuilt desire of children to "conform" and
    not be singled out from the rest.
    
    Yes, by all means let us have education about religion. But let
    us NOT have enforced conformity, whether denominations are cycled
    around or not.
    
    Therefore, I support a class during school hours which has an emphasis
    of being INFORMATIVE about the various major religions and putting
    them into their historical and contemporary contexts.
    
    Children have to make up their own minds. Dogmatic praying every
    morning is a form of brainwashing.
    
    Sincerely,
    
    Ray.

re .3

>    This would only apply, obviously, to public schools. Secular schools
>    could continue to insist on religous teachings of their own sect.

I'm really confused.  Now let's see.  In England, public schools are private.
So you're going to tell me that in Canada, secular schools are religious, right?

    John,
    
    I suspect that you've spotted the popular misconception that "Secular"
    implies a form of religion. Probably because "Secular" is not a
    very common word, has been confused with "Sect" and has been through
    a massive campaign of disinformation by various churches, mainly
    to make Secular Humanists look like devil-worshippers.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Ray.

re: .9 

England:	Public schools (Eton, Harrow, etc) are private schools
		funded by the patents of the pupils.

Canada:		Public schools are state (provincial and municipal)
		controlled and funded by the public at large.

Confused the hell out of me when I came here.  I didn't want my son going 
to PUBLIC school with the sons of the Hoi Polloy.  Besides, I couldn't 
afford it. -^)

re. -6
<                      -< I agree and disagree with John >-
<
<    IN ANSWER TO JOHN MORRIS.
<    
<    I agree to a certain extent about you're not wanting your children
<    to say other people's prayers and leaving the onus on parents to
<    teach their children religion. However, I do feel that teaching
<    children something about other religions is a good idea.
    
Yes, teaching children something about other religions is a good idea. I
feel that this is part of the education process and a separate topic from
receiting prayers in class. Children are then left with an awareness and
hopefully respect for a person's religious beliefs.

As stated before, prayer should be left to the parents and not the school
system.

John A.