Quebec could extend the Secularism Act to other school employees
QUEBEC CITY — The Act respecting the laicity of the State – commonly known as Bill 21 – could be extended to other school staff. The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, is considering this option after studying the investigation report that looked at 17 schools for breaches of secularism.
The school report released Friday said that while teachers were banned from wearing religious symbols, several other school employees wore them, including daycare officials "who are also in regular contact with and in a position of authority with students."
Several other employees who have ties to students are not subject to the ban, "although they all have some form of influence on students."
The report also recommends reviewing "the list of people targeted by the ban on wearing a religious symbol."
Inconsistencies
There are also several inconsistencies in the application of the ban on the wearing of religious symbols. Thus, it is reported that in cases where teachers do not comply with the law, "it is unlikely that the contravention will be observed".
The report also states that principals and teachers have made "adjustments" in the choice of school materials "in order to avoid offending certain religious or cultural beliefs."
"Teachers avoid offering novels about romantic relationships or dealing with magic, witchcraft, etc. In addition, current topics are not discussed with students by some teachers, for example, the concept of equality between men and women or gender identity," it reads.
The document states that topics covered in the Quebec Culture and Citizenship course "generate tensions related to the religious convictions of some students."
"The fact that some students cover their ears when certain topics are discussed creates a climate where other students, having questions about their sexual orientation, for example, avoid asking questions or feel uncomfortable doing so, for fear of being judged," it says.
The report mentions that in a high school, students wear a religious symbol covering their entire face.
"Unease"
According to the information collected, teachers speak to each other in languages other than French at school. "This kind of situation creates discomfort, as colleagues feel that they are intentionally excluded from the conversation or even targeted by the conversation," the report explains.
The document also states that due to "the high number of requests for leave for certain religious holidays, which can sometimes represent more than a quarter of the teaching staff, for example, it is not always possible to ensure this quality service."
To accommodate as many teachers as possible who request these leaves, schools use substitute teachers who will present a film rather than teach the course content.
"Grey areas"
In a statement, the minister said he wanted to tackle the "grey areas and inconsistencies" highlighted in the report. Bernard Drainville has already indicated that he intends to table a bill to strengthen secularism in schools.
Apart from religious symbols, the minister says he wants to legislate on the obligation of the uncovered face of students, the use of French as a common language and the management of accommodations.
The audits of the schools were carried out after the publication of a devastating report on the Bedford School in Montreal.
The report reported a toxic climate imposed by a clique of teachers. This clan, which the report described as being "mainly composed of teachers of North African origin," created a climate of intimidation against both students and other teachers who opposed their ways of doing things, according to the document.
Eleven teachers at Bedford School have since been suspended.
Two weeks ago, two chaperones published an action plan to avoid situations like those that occurred at Bedford School. In particular, they suggested that teachers should be evaluated every two years.
Attempt at diversion
The Parti Québécois (PQ) and Québec solidaire (QS) see the publication of the report as an attempt to divert attention from the SAAQclic fiasco.
"I'm sorry Mr. Legault, but it won't make us forget the $500 million in cost overruns and all the IT mess you're responsible for," Solidaire spokeswoman Ruba Ghazal wrote on Facebook.
"Let's say that a government that takes the seriousness of the SAAQclic issue seriously could save itself a little embarrassment on other issues. There is no emergency of a day or two," said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in a press scrum Friday.
The Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) has called for caution. "However, we reiterate that 17 problematic establishments are targeted and that the government intends to make legislative changes that will affect some 3000 establishments. It therefore seems important to us that it not be used for political purposes," said CSQ President Éric Gingras.
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Lists of the 17 schools where investigations have been conducted
– Saints-Anges School (Saint-Lambert)
– Henri Beaulieu School (Saint-Laurent; Montreal)
– Saint-Pascal-Baylon School (Montreal)
– Bienville School (Montreal)
– La Voie School (Montreal)
– Saint-Justin School (Montreal)
– La Dauversière-Evangeline School (Montreal)
– Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption School (Montreal)
– Mont-de-La Salle School (Laval)
– Leblanc School (Laval)
– Jean-Jacques-Rousseau School (Boisbriand)
– Sainte-Odile School (Quebec)
– Cardinal Roy School (Quebec)
– Filteau School of International Education (Quebec)
– École polyvalente de l'Érablière (Gatineau)
– Saint-Isidore School (Chicoutimi; Saguenay)
– Saint-Denis School (Chicoutimi; Saguenay)
The school report released Friday said that while teachers were banned from wearing religious symbols, several other school employees wore them, including daycare officials "who are also in regular contact with and in a position of authority with students."
Several other employees who have ties to students are not subject to the ban, "although they all have some form of influence on students."
The report also recommends reviewing "the list of people targeted by the ban on wearing a religious symbol."
Inconsistencies
There are also several inconsistencies in the application of the ban on the wearing of religious symbols. Thus, it is reported that in cases where teachers do not comply with the law, "it is unlikely that the contravention will be observed".
The report also states that principals and teachers have made "adjustments" in the choice of school materials "in order to avoid offending certain religious or cultural beliefs."
"Teachers avoid offering novels about romantic relationships or dealing with magic, witchcraft, etc. In addition, current topics are not discussed with students by some teachers, for example, the concept of equality between men and women or gender identity," it reads.
The document states that topics covered in the Quebec Culture and Citizenship course "generate tensions related to the religious convictions of some students."
"The fact that some students cover their ears when certain topics are discussed creates a climate where other students, having questions about their sexual orientation, for example, avoid asking questions or feel uncomfortable doing so, for fear of being judged," it says.
The report mentions that in a high school, students wear a religious symbol covering their entire face.
"Unease"
According to the information collected, teachers speak to each other in languages other than French at school. "This kind of situation creates discomfort, as colleagues feel that they are intentionally excluded from the conversation or even targeted by the conversation," the report explains.
The document also states that due to "the high number of requests for leave for certain religious holidays, which can sometimes represent more than a quarter of the teaching staff, for example, it is not always possible to ensure this quality service."
To accommodate as many teachers as possible who request these leaves, schools use substitute teachers who will present a film rather than teach the course content.
"Grey areas"
In a statement, the minister said he wanted to tackle the "grey areas and inconsistencies" highlighted in the report. Bernard Drainville has already indicated that he intends to table a bill to strengthen secularism in schools.
Apart from religious symbols, the minister says he wants to legislate on the obligation of the uncovered face of students, the use of French as a common language and the management of accommodations.
The audits of the schools were carried out after the publication of a devastating report on the Bedford School in Montreal.
The report reported a toxic climate imposed by a clique of teachers. This clan, which the report described as being "mainly composed of teachers of North African origin," created a climate of intimidation against both students and other teachers who opposed their ways of doing things, according to the document.
Eleven teachers at Bedford School have since been suspended.
Two weeks ago, two chaperones published an action plan to avoid situations like those that occurred at Bedford School. In particular, they suggested that teachers should be evaluated every two years.
Attempt at diversion
The Parti Québécois (PQ) and Québec solidaire (QS) see the publication of the report as an attempt to divert attention from the SAAQclic fiasco.
"I'm sorry Mr. Legault, but it won't make us forget the $500 million in cost overruns and all the IT mess you're responsible for," Solidaire spokeswoman Ruba Ghazal wrote on Facebook.
"Let's say that a government that takes the seriousness of the SAAQclic issue seriously could save itself a little embarrassment on other issues. There is no emergency of a day or two," said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in a press scrum Friday.
The Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) has called for caution. "However, we reiterate that 17 problematic establishments are targeted and that the government intends to make legislative changes that will affect some 3000 establishments. It therefore seems important to us that it not be used for political purposes," said CSQ President Éric Gingras.
***
Lists of the 17 schools where investigations have been conducted
– Saints-Anges School (Saint-Lambert)
– Henri Beaulieu School (Saint-Laurent; Montreal)
– Saint-Pascal-Baylon School (Montreal)
– Bienville School (Montreal)
– La Voie School (Montreal)
– Saint-Justin School (Montreal)
– La Dauversière-Evangeline School (Montreal)
– Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption School (Montreal)
– Mont-de-La Salle School (Laval)
– Leblanc School (Laval)
– Jean-Jacques-Rousseau School (Boisbriand)
– Sainte-Odile School (Quebec)
– Cardinal Roy School (Quebec)
– Filteau School of International Education (Quebec)
– École polyvalente de l'Érablière (Gatineau)
– Saint-Isidore School (Chicoutimi; Saguenay)
– Saint-Denis School (Chicoutimi; Saguenay)
