Why is a Toronto public school allowed the break a law pertaining to religion in the classroom?

According to a 1988 Ontario Court of Appeal ruling, the Lord’s Prayer could not be recited be Ontario classrooms because it discriminates against students of other faiths. It was the right decision to make and our public education system has only benefited from that ruling. Now we find out that for the past 3 years at least one Toronto public school has been conducting Islamic prayer service every Friday. However, the human rights code requires accommodating people’s different faith. It appears the court ruling and the human rights code are in conflict.

In fact the two are not in conflict. Instead it is the manner in which the school has accommodated those students which creates the conflict. There is a mosque very close to the school where students who want to participate in prayer on Friday afternoons can walk to. However, this isn’t very convenient for parents and some were concerned that their kids wouldn’t return to school. And since 80% - 90% of students at that school are Muslim, who would object? But then wouldn’t it be alright to bring back the Lord’s Prayer at schools where the students are 90% Christian?

So what harm is being done? Well while the school system is promoting diversity and equality, the school cafeteria is closed to non-Muslims are Friday afternoon. Children who attend are being indoctrinated by clergy with no teaching training credentials. Young girls who are menstruating are separated off from the main group (see the picture below). If parents want to teach their children these values they are free to do so but they shouldn’t be using our schools to do so.

I remember when I was expected to recite the Lord’s Prayer and sign Christmas Carols despite not being Christian. Being a rebellious type as a child I refused to go along and the teachers accepted by right to refuse. However, all the other non-Christian students just went along not wanting to stand out. I’m not sure how they felt about it, we didn’t every talk about it. We need to preserve the atmosphere of enlightenment in our schools.