Tory... my two cents on religious school funding

I think it's possible that John Tory is trying to lose this election. Or that he has had some sort of seizure of conscience and is actually speaking his truth instead of trying to win the election. Wacky.

As for funding private religious schools, let me add my voice to the chorus that think it is a very bad idea and will do nothing to make Ontario and Canada a healthier and more inclusive nation. Here are my responses to the two main arguments that I've been hearing for religious school funding:

1. The argument that this will bring more students into the Ontario School System and ensure that they follow curriculum and can be inspected. Holey moley does this piss me off. What a load of bullshit (excuse my language). I can't believe that he hasn't been smacked down in public for making such an asinine statement. And every single one of those people who are arguing for private-religious-school funding ought to be ashamed of themselves. Let me make this very clear:

A school may not grant an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) unless it is inspected and follows the Ontario curriculum. Students will not graduate with a diploma recognized by post-secondary institutions unless they are inspected.

I know this because I worked in a private school and we were inspected every... single... year.

2. The argument is that this will make the system *fair*.

My response is: Since when has what is *fair* determined what the government does or does not do? I agree it isn't fair but the deal with the Catholic schools was part of the very thorny negotiations to make this country come into being 140 years ago. It is a piece of endemic unfairness that is enshrined in the very fabric of our nation. It turns out that only schooling up to Grade 8 was part of the deal and it was only through the 1900s that the agreement was gradually expanded, not reaching OAC until 1984. Let's can this sucker.

To be truly *fair* we could hold a referendum, like Newfoundland did, and hopefully get rid of anything other than a secular school system with education in tolerance and world religions, ethics and critical thinking.

Religious education, if done at all, can be done at home, at church, and after school.

You all know I'm big on the UN, and Ontario has been censured for "discriminating against non-Catholics by funding Catholic separate schools, but not funding other separate schools."

I guess... in the end... I applaud John Tory for having the courage to bring up a difficult issue that should be addressed, I just come down on the opposite side.

On Tory... from a friend

My beloved friend sbd has issued her own little polemic and since she has said it with more conviction that I could myself (and first hand knowledge) I wanted to share (with her permission of course):

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23 September 2007

does this mean I'm going to have to vote Liberal?

Tory.

Seriously.

What the hell are you thinking with the 'funding for all private religious schools' bullshit?

(Obviously you have never seen the product of a private Christian school.*)

If parents are afraid that their children are not receiving the education they would like them to have, those same parents should take it upon themselves to join the PTA (or whatever it's called [what? my first's only in JK - I'm not really in the loop yet.]) and make a positive change in their local public school. (Added bonus: their children will see their parents actually making a difference in the world and possibly grow up not afraid to try to make a difference in their own world.)

Or (and here's a really revolutionary thought) perhaps they could, you know, model what they want their children to learn at home.

And if parents are concerned that their children are receiving an education that involves the teaching of 'evolution' or some other so-called anti-(evangelical) Christian viewpoint, perhaps those same parents could teach their children to be critical thinkers (some people would agree: a very handy little skill to have) by offering them the opportunity to read about other schools of thought and then discuss it around the dinner table.

And do you really think most Ontarians will be thrilled to have their tax dollars going to fund schools teaching young Muslims how to continue the 'Holy War'**?

*No doubt there are some good private Christian schools out there. No doubt. Sadly, I've never seen a student come out of a private Christian school who wasn't either a) terrified of anyone who wasn't a Christian or b) hell-bent.

** Hey, if I'm going to make sweeping generalizations about Christian schools ...

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I love my friends.

Sacred Ground

"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

I want my house to be like that. A place where people take off their sandals and tread upon holy ground. The sacred ground of the home. A place where their heart and soul feel secure.

This house has never been mine - it was my Mom's and it remains so, even now that she is gone. It has always felt dark and cramped to me - too full, too full. I have often welcomed people to my 'rat warren'.

My solution is to move but first I have to sell this house. To do that I have to make it look pretty. The first part of that is to get rid of 90% of the 'stuff' inside of it. So...

... my house is set up for an Estate Sale that happens on Sunday. I have a path from the door of my bedroom to the bed that is about one-foot wide because my room is stuffed with all the worldly goods that I want to keep.

The rest of the house looks like a second-hand store. Let me tell you, it feels mighty invasive and surreal to have people going through the 'stuff' that has surrounded me my entire life. I suppose the biggest shock is the set of china that Mom always told us was worth $60,000 being put on sale for $300. E-bay has ruined the antiques market.

I can't wait until Sunday is over and my house is cleaned out. Finally, there will be space to breathe and enjoy the leftover 'stuff' that I really do love. Then I'll rip up the carpet and paint the walls. Once I get it looking beautiful I'll be able to sell it and move away.

Typical. I won't get to enjoy how cute it will look. I hope that I take the time to make my new home beautiful while I am still living in it. My intention is to create a sacred space where all who enter feel at peace - especially me. Wish me luck.

Exodus 3:5

Indy's Adventures in Halifax

After much internal soul searching I made the decision to send my dog to Halifax to live with Penny.

Starting in September, I'll be leaving the house at quarter after five in the morning and not getting home until nine. I knew that keeping the dog would be incredibly hard on him and on me.

My brother, Darryl, and sister-in-law, Catherine, drove Indy down to Halifax last weekend. Here is a snippet of how Indy is adjusting from our email thread.

Catherine: The drive was absolutely beautiful! Indy was VERY happy to see Penny OMG! The dogs have access to a lovely yard with a wooded area and a lawn area. There's always someone at home and the door to the backyard is open all the time: Doggy heaven. There's a lake a block away and the dogs went there for a walk off leash, again, doggy heaven.

Penny: Indy is fine. He's sleeping well on his blanket in our room. He and John have bonded. I got a rope for them to tug on so the soft toys will be saved. There is some problem with the cats. He ignores them in the house, but in the yard, he feels free to chase them away. In fact, he seems to have succeeded with Spock. I haven't seen him for 2 days.

Darryl: He's such a good little chaser.

Catherine: Darryl!!!

Me: No reply, just laughing so hard that tears roll down my cheeks.

Spock has been found by the way, he was in the basement - sulking. I love my family.