A new controversy brewing in Ontario public school board: is it fair to provide religious accomodation to Muslim students for Friday prayers?
Keep in mind, the Christian Lord’s Prayer is no longer permitted in public schools and not only are the students praying Jummah, but they do so during class time and an imam comes and reads a khutbah.
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*For three years, the school at Don Mills Rd. and Overlea Blvd. has allowed an imam from a local mosque to run 40-minute prayer sessions in the school’s cafeteria after lunch, during class time, from November to March.
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The services have raised questions about the role of religion in a secular system, as well as concerns over gender equity given girls pray behind boys, at the back of the room. Girls who are menstruating sit apart, at the very back.
“We’re going to have a whole campaign regarding the extremism taking place in the public school system,” said Meir Weinstein, national director of the Jewish Defense League, who expressed concerns about the group that runs the prayer services and the fact that the board does not monitor what is said.
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About 300 to 400 of Valley Park’s 1,200 students take part in the Friday ritual, which parents requested three years ago. Prior, students left school to go to a nearby mosque, but some didn’t make it there and many never returned to class.
The in-school service was seen as a way to save the lost instructional time and address safety concerns.
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For details, refer the following article (some of the comments are worth reading as well).
This is a society where all religions live together. Having separate prayers at schools specially at specific timings etc is going to segregate the students to some extent.
I can't believe they allow this when they dont allow Christian prayers.
After having posted the article I shall share my two cents. I don't believe religion has a part in public schools insofar as one faith or representatives of one faith are imposing their belief system on others.
What I do think is reasonable is to make available a room so that Muslim students can pray. I don't think an imam should come to the school and read a khutbah - that is going one step too far in the public school system, especially since similar accomodation isn't being made available to other faiths.
After having posted the article I shall share my two cents. I don't believe religion has a part in public schools insofar as one faith or representatives of one faith are imposing their belief system on others.
What I do think is reasonable is to make available a room so that Muslim students can pray. I don't think an imam should come to the school and read a khutbah - that is going one step too far in the public school system, especially since similar accomodation isn't being made available to other faiths.
A common prayer room would be fine with me.. common to all faiths. But no special regular accommodation should be made regarding timings or attire.
reminds me of the austrian pastafarian who got his drivers license picture taken with a colander on as religious headgear. you open the door for one kind, who all can you deny? can wiccans and satanists and christians and muslims and jews and penis worshippers and hindus all pray in the same area? i doubt it..
I know many public schools where the kids can take a few minutes off to offer their prayers, but to have an Imam come in and do a 40 minute session seems a bit much.
I don't agree with the notion that religion doesn't belong here or there. Religion is a part of life therefore I think everyone should be accommodated equally as best as possible.
I think if students wish to arrange a speaker to come in that should be fine but the school should not make that arrangement. Technically speaking students shouldn't even need an imam in this case because one of the students can lead the prayer.
I agree with having a multipurpose prayer room since having a separate one for each faith would not be possible in a small public school. Another way to accommodate all the faiths would be to have a booking system where anyone can book a room for a time slot that they require it for.
I don't know what the fuss is about... the only thing this school did wrong was to allow an external imam to lead the prayers. The school should stop this practice... the other practice that needs amendment is that the school should facilitate other faith groups similarly as well. There should be a designated multifaith space that can be used by anyone and everyone and Muslim students can apply to have that space reserved on Friday afternoons. The rest of the time, if the space is available, students can offer prayers but not impose on other students to leave the room. In all cases, prayers should simply be led by a senior student from within the school itself. The same accommodations should be made for other faith groups as well.
I don't agree with the notion that religion doesn't belong here or there. Religion is a part of life therefore I think everyone should be accommodated equally as best as possible.
I think if students wish to arrange a speaker to come in that should be fine but the school should not make that arrangement. Technically speaking students shouldn't even need an imam in this case because one of the students can lead the prayer.
I agree with having a multipurpose prayer room since having a separate one for each faith would not be possible in a small public school. Another way to accommodate all the faiths would be to have a booking system where anyone can book a room for a time slot that they require it for.
Religion is a part of your life. Canada is a secular country and since a public school is funded by the government, it should have no school sponsored religious programs. There are many people who may not be very religious, or they may be agnostic or atheist, to them, this would seem unnecessary and even unfair since the school is only accommodating Muslims.
I agree with a designated room for prayer for all religions. If that's not suitable, then go to an Islamic school.
Religion is a part of your life. Canada is a secular country and since a public school is funded by the government, it should have no school sponsored religious programs. There are many people who may not be very religious, or they may be agnostic or atheist, to them, this would seem unnecessary and even unfair since the school is only accommodating Muslims.
I agree with a designated room for prayer for all religions. If that's not suitable, then go to an Islamic school.
Yes, religion is part of MY life and many others I know. I did not advocate that any one group should be given preference. I think you missed the rest of my post where I suggested the exact same solution as you. There should be a multi-faith room, that can be used by everyone.
I think the fuss is mostly made up to allow for controversy.
I agree with you that the imam should not be brought in and the prayers should be lead by a senior student.
