Leonard Baak, president, OneSchoolSystem.org
January 28, 2013
January 28, 2013
"I'm sorry, but your type is not welcome here."
It sounds like something you might have heard in Victorian England or the American South in the 19th or early to mid 20th centuries. Discrimination reared its ugly head on many fronts. In England, the class you were born into largely determined how far you could go in life. Few women anywhere had any say in public affairs. Black Americans – particularly in the south – faced segregation in education and a life toiling in a low paying job.
This week, the Windsor Star reported here on another insidious form of discrimination: nepotism. "I'm sorry, but you lack the genetic qualifications for a teaching position in our schools."
It is alleged – and is denied by school board officials – that nepotism is giving some teacher applicants to the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board an unfair advantage when it comes to landing jobs. Whether or not there is truth to this allegation is not what piqued our interest. What piqued our interest was the spectacle of Catholic teacher applicants crying foul over discrimination.
In Ontario, Catholic teacher applicants have 50% more job opportunities in publicly funded education than non-Catholic teacher applicants. Why? Because one third of Ontario's publicly funded teaching positions – those in our Catholic school boards – are essentially closed to two thirds of the population – the non-Catholics. Ontario's publicly funded Catholic school boards, you see, have an absolute right to refuse employment to non-Catholic teachers at all grade levels – and they exercise this right to the fullest.
This week, the Windsor Star reported here on another insidious form of discrimination: nepotism. "I'm sorry, but you lack the genetic qualifications for a teaching position in our schools."
It is alleged – and is denied by school board officials – that nepotism is giving some teacher applicants to the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board an unfair advantage when it comes to landing jobs. Whether or not there is truth to this allegation is not what piqued our interest. What piqued our interest was the spectacle of Catholic teacher applicants crying foul over discrimination.
In Ontario, Catholic teacher applicants have 50% more job opportunities in publicly funded education than non-Catholic teacher applicants. Why? Because one third of Ontario's publicly funded teaching positions – those in our Catholic school boards – are essentially closed to two thirds of the population – the non-Catholics. Ontario's publicly funded Catholic school boards, you see, have an absolute right to refuse employment to non-Catholic teachers at all grade levels – and they exercise this right to the fullest.
Non-Catholic teachers are as rare as Sasquatches in Catholic schools and where you can find one, they are ineligible for permanent positions, advancement, or promotion. Those we have spoken to are desperate to see an end to Catholic school funding so they’ll be able to compete for any publicly funded teaching position on their merits as a teacher.
With regard to nepotism in the Windsor Essex Catholic board, as difficult and desperate the situation of some Catholic teacher applicants might be, that of any non-Catholic teacher applicant is far worse. School boards should hire the best teacher applicants period – not the best by blood or by baptism. The admission of students to publicly funded schools should be similarly non-discriminatory.
Discrimination hurts. While we do sympathize with Catholic teachers facing it, it is our fervent hope that all reflect upon the greater pain of their non-Catholic neighbours.
With regard to nepotism in the Windsor Essex Catholic board, as difficult and desperate the situation of some Catholic teacher applicants might be, that of any non-Catholic teacher applicant is far worse. School boards should hire the best teacher applicants period – not the best by blood or by baptism. The admission of students to publicly funded schools should be similarly non-discriminatory.
Discrimination hurts. While we do sympathize with Catholic teachers facing it, it is our fervent hope that all reflect upon the greater pain of their non-Catholic neighbours.
Matthew 22:36-40 New International Version (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Here endeth the lesson.
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