Monday, July 25, 2011

Muslim Prayer in Public Schools More Widespread: Letter in the Toronto Star

A teacher in the Toronto public system wonders (in a letter to the Toronto Star) why only one Toronto school has elicited so much attention, his way of spilling the beans about what's really going on in our schools:
Re: Accommodating religions is best approach, Letter, July 20
In the controversy over prayers in school I don't understand the focus on Valley Park Middle School. Are people not aware that this practice is taking place in other schools as well? It is happening, for example, at Jarvis Collegiate, where I taught until one year ago. About 150-200 Muslim students are excused from classes for 25 minutes every Friday to gather in the cafeteria for prayers. Supply teachers who joined us in the lunch room reported that it is also happening in a good number of other schools.
David Schreiber, Scarborough 
I don't think it's too much to ask that the Toronto District School Board--which, after all, is funded by us, the public--come clear re how many schools and students are involved in an "accommodation" that breaches the mosque-state separation, a core Western value. Do you?

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