Leonard Baak, "Don't discriminate", Sault Star, June 28, 2007.
 
Reprinted with the permission of the author.
 
Don't discriminate
 
Re: Disappointing vote, June 22
 
In Ontario, non-Catholic parents are often told to take a hike when they try to enrol their children in Catholic schools where enrolment is at or near full capacity - even if local public schools are much more crowded.
 
Those same families are often welcomed with open arms in Catholic schools in urban, rural, and Northern communities, where both public and Catholic school boards are suffering from higher per pupil costs and the decreasing viability of some programs due to declining enrolment and under-enrolled schools.
 
Now, some Catholic school boards, such as the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, say those non-Catholic parents cannot participate in school councils because of the "colour" of their faith?
 
School councils are simply advisory and fundraising bodies that try to constructively contribute to school life by providing parental input to school principals and additional funds with which the principals might improve the educational environment. The principal still calls the shots.
 
The message to non-Catholic parents from all of this is clear: "We would rather not have people of your religious ilk here at all, but if we need to top up the enrolment of an under-enrolled school to make it more cost effective or in order to make certain programs more viable, we will take your warm bodied children for the holy enrolment grants that come with them. Just don't expect to participate fully in the school community or to have anyone listen to your point of view."
 
It is time we had one school system in Ontario, where there is no discrimination on prohibited grounds and where students and their parents enjoy equal respect and consideration.
 
Leonard Baak,
Ottawa
 

---