Student rights not violated

Re: “Human rights commission won’t consider Morinville school complaint,”

The Journal, Jan. 28. The decision of the Alberta Human Rights Commission is the correct way forward. There are no violations of human rights to consider given the wide variety of schools to choose from.

Alberta Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk wrote, in a letter to me dated Oct. 28, that “decisions regarding the specific religious practices in schools are determined through school board policy. This is supported by Section 50 (1) of the School Act, which states that a board may prescribe religious instructions and exercise to its students.”

Lukaszuk clarified this by writing: “Section 50 (2) of the School Act allows parents the choice to have their children opt out of religious exercises and practices.”

I applaud the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division, Sturgeon School Division and St. Albert Protestant schools, which worked together on the collaborative decision that Lukaszuk will announce soon.

It is time for this small, vocal group of Morinville parents to compromise and stop asking others to bend over backward to accommodate their non-religious views.

It is time to take this matter off the front pages and move on with more important matters, such as schools desperately in need of funding for repairs and building upgrades. That is where the money is better spent.

Chris F. Cameron, Edmonton