The head of Alberta’s teacher union says a proposed change to the province’s human rights law that would let parents pull their kids from certain classes is fraught with problems.
Under amendments tabled in the legislature, parents could exempt their kids from curriculum on religion, sexuality or sexual orientation. “The kid will have to leave. And go where? And do what?” asks Alberta Teachers Association president Frank Bruseker. He’s also worried the new law could excuse children from science material on evolution. “Basically what this bill does is it says… we don’t want to challenge kids.”
Culture and Community Spirit Lindsay Blackett says he’s not expecting parents to opt their kids out of classes. “It’s there as a symbolic gesture,” he says.
The proposed amendments also spell out sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in Alberta — a ruling made by the Supreme Court of Canada 10 years ago.
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