Public schools should be religion-free

Re Province supports Muslim prayer space, March 24 The Ontario Public School Boards Association issued a statement saying “the schools of Ontario welcome and provide a safe space for students who practise the very broadest range of religions and beliefs.” The education minister fully supported this statement.

This goes against the purpose of the public school system, which should operate without regard to religious practices if it wants to treat all groups in a non-discriminatory manner. Either the school boards should permit religious practices for all religions or none.

If all religions are permitted to practice their religion in public schools, then there is no need for publicly funded religious schools for Catholics. This would make the separate school system redundant and all taxpayers would rejoice.

Rather than making up rules as they go, the province should initiate further dialogue on the true purpose of public schools in Ontario.

What schools should be publicly funded? Should religious practices be permitted? Is it discriminatory in our diverse society to fund Catholic schools? Frank Dekeyser, North York The controversy over prayers in school has gone on far too long. The solution is simple: All prayers should be left entirely to home, church, synagogue, mosque, temple, etc. There should be a twominute silence first thing every school morning so that students can reflect on their prayers or on whatever else they please. William Bedford, Newmarket

I am tolerant of all religions, creeds and colours and proud that Canada has a constitution that is open and welcoming to all. However, I am against prayers of any kind in public schools and do not agree with this ruling at all. Public schools are secular in Canada and should remain so. Joanne Hamilton, Whitby