TORONTO - Academics disagreed over whether prayer public schools falls within court precedent and legislative boundaries.
But they agree the law allows for it under certain conditions.
“The courts have ruled that public schools in Ontario are not allowed to indoctrinate children into any religion,” University of Western Ontario education professor Allen Pearson said. “As I understand the case, the school is allowing students to have their prayers under the guidance of a local Imam.
“So the school itself is not indoctrinating into a particular religion,” he said.
While Pearson supports a Toronto school’s controversial decision to allow a Muslim religious leader to hold weekly prayer services, he highlighted out the issue’s uniquely Canadian distinctions.
“The separation of church and state is an American doctrine,” he said. “The existence of a publicly-funded schools system for Roman Catholics in three provinces shows that the doctrine has not been adopted in Canada.”
Prof. Gregory M. Dickinson, also with Western’s faculty of education, says Ontario’s Education Act allows for a weekly prayer session “so long as it was not practiced during school hours.”
Valley Park Middle School permits services in the early afternoon, in the middle of the school day.
Dickinson emphasized were this not the case the practice would be acceptable, since prayer sessions do fall under the auspices of the board, compel students to attend or exclude other religious groups access to the school.
The Education Act permits community groups, including religious ones, to use school facilities.
The province passed the legislation following a 1988 Court of Appeals case that ruled recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in public school opening exercises impeded freedom of religion and equality of rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Valley Park permits its cafeteria to be used Fridays for prayer services led by a Muslim Imam for up to 400 Islamic students who attend the school.
Parents, politicians and groups including the Muslim Canadian Congress have questioned the decision to allow religious teachings in a public school.
While for unbelievers prayer may be superstitious, unscientific nonsense, for those who believe it may well be an essential component for physical and mental health. The curriculum should reference studies which show prayer promoting well-being and students should be allowed a choice. Groups wanting a prayer room should be allowed to rent the space necessary for it. This would also present an excellent opportunity for research to determine if those taking a prayer break do better academically.