No GSA legislation planned
The Saskatchewan government has no intentions of following Alberta’s lead by making the approval of gaystraight alliances mandatory in schools across the province.
On Tuesday, Alberta passed a new law forcing all public, private and charter schools to allow gay-straight alliances (GSAs) on school property at a student’s request.
Saskatchewan’s Education Minister Don Morgan said Wednesday that introducing similar legislation would be unnecessary because it’s already an expectation and a part of education policy.
“At this point in time, with the level of support, I think I would almost be doing a disrespect to (the school divisions) to try to put it into legislation because we have really good compliance and support,” Morgan said.
He compared it to introducing a 9 p.m. curfew for someone who’s home by 9 p.m. anyway.
Amanda Guthrie, youth and education co-ordinator at the Avenue Community Centre in Saskatoon, disagreed with Morgan’s take and believes Saskatchewan could “definitely” benefit from legislation.
“To say that it would be an insult to school divisions to make GSAs mandatory isn’t quite accurate. (It’s) simply saying that if a student asks for a GSA, then it’s mandatory that the school implement that,” Guthrie said.
She believes the current method of having a student or group of students request a GSA potentially puts them in an uncomfortable position with a principal or teacher.
“If that student knows there’s provincial legislation backing that request, there isn’t going to be as much fear when they ask their principal or teacher for a GSA,” Guthrie said.
None of Regina’s Catholic high schools have GSAs, instead having established more overarching social justice clubs.
Rob Currie, director of education for Regina Catholic Schools, said the division is always looking to honour the teachings of the Catholic Church, the mandate of Catholic education and working with students and their families to be inclusive and supportive. He agreed with Morgan’s sentiment and said that the division is doing a very good job without legislation.
“We are looking to be pastoral and non-judgmental and that’s the approach that we take,” Currie said.
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools said in a statement that, “While there are no gay-straight alliances in our schools, high school students can establish groups, supported by staff, which we have called Youth Action Circles. These address wide-ranging issues of inclusivity, in order to provide a safe and supportive environment for students who may feel marginalized.”
All public high schools in Regina have GSAs, while the majority of public high schools in Saskatoon have organized groups. In both cities, the individual schools decide the name of the group, but they are exclusively dedicated to gender and sexual diversity.
Pamela-Goulden-McLeod, consultant for safe, caring and accepting schools at Saskatoon Public Schools, said their high schools are starting to move away from the “somewhat limiting” GSA title and lean more toward “gender and sexually diverse alliances.” She said the groups are supported at the school and division levels.
“We definitely have some where students came forward and said they would like to develop a GSA and we’ve had others where staff has noticed a need or a level of interest and have taken on the challenge. They tend to be co-operatively done between staff and students,” Goulden-McLeod said.
Terry Lazarou, Regina Public Schools spokesman, said GSAs (Regina public high schools also use different names) are never discouraged and are usually started by student interest.
According to the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises’ website, the francophone division’s mission is to prepare 21st century students for academic success, identity construction and cultural achievements as it has defined for itself.
“TO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE AN INSULT TO SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO MAKE GSAs MANDATORY ISN’T QUITE ACCURATE. (IT’S) SIMPLY SAYING THAT IF A STUDENT ASKS FOR A GSA, THEN IT’S MANDATORY THAT THE SCHOOL IMPLEMENT THAT.”
AMANDA GUTHRIE