der kleine Doktor
11-20-2004, 02:47 AM
Muslims urged to allow tolerance teachings
TORONTO – Premier Dalton McGuinty encouraged Muslim parents yesterday to allow their children to attend public school classes that include teaching tolerance of gays and lesbians. McGuinty and Education Minister Gerard Kennedy both reached out to Muslim parents who are upset about what the Toronto District School Board calls “anti-homophobia education” at a downtown school.
“I think it’s important all our children have the opportunity to learn about those things that distinguish one of us from the other, and that they learn to respect those differences,” McGuinty said.
Controversy erupted after students at Market Lane public school were shown videos that depicted the feelings of children who get taunted at school because their own parents are homosexuals.
Angry Muslim parents complained that their religious beliefs were getting less respect and demanded their children be excluded on religious grounds from similar presentations in the future.
The board rejected their request Tuesday night, saying that allowing some students to be excluded from discussions about gay families would violate the rights of those children with same-sex parents.
“Ultimately, our civil values include respect for sexual orientation,” Kennedy said before a cabinet meeting yesterday. “I don’t think there’s any harm done to parents who find their children exposed to ideas that are different than the ones they teach at home.”
Canadian Islamic Congress president Mohamed Elmasry said it’s not just Muslim parents who are concerned because students are learning lessons about family values that differ from what they might learn at home.
“Teaching tolerance to young people is a must,” said Elmasry, also a professor at the University of Waterloo.
“But you have to balance that with the appearance you are not promoting certain values – in this case, homosexual families.”
Elmasry has been at the centre of controversy after suggesting in an interview that all Israelis over the age of 18 were legitimate targets for Palestinian militants.
http://ca.altermedia.info/
TORONTO – Premier Dalton McGuinty encouraged Muslim parents yesterday to allow their children to attend public school classes that include teaching tolerance of gays and lesbians. McGuinty and Education Minister Gerard Kennedy both reached out to Muslim parents who are upset about what the Toronto District School Board calls “anti-homophobia education” at a downtown school.
“I think it’s important all our children have the opportunity to learn about those things that distinguish one of us from the other, and that they learn to respect those differences,” McGuinty said.
Controversy erupted after students at Market Lane public school were shown videos that depicted the feelings of children who get taunted at school because their own parents are homosexuals.
Angry Muslim parents complained that their religious beliefs were getting less respect and demanded their children be excluded on religious grounds from similar presentations in the future.
The board rejected their request Tuesday night, saying that allowing some students to be excluded from discussions about gay families would violate the rights of those children with same-sex parents.
“Ultimately, our civil values include respect for sexual orientation,” Kennedy said before a cabinet meeting yesterday. “I don’t think there’s any harm done to parents who find their children exposed to ideas that are different than the ones they teach at home.”
Canadian Islamic Congress president Mohamed Elmasry said it’s not just Muslim parents who are concerned because students are learning lessons about family values that differ from what they might learn at home.
“Teaching tolerance to young people is a must,” said Elmasry, also a professor at the University of Waterloo.
“But you have to balance that with the appearance you are not promoting certain values – in this case, homosexual families.”
Elmasry has been at the centre of controversy after suggesting in an interview that all Israelis over the age of 18 were legitimate targets for Palestinian militants.
http://ca.altermedia.info/