[freeschools]

The CBC and the Radio-Canada articles are really not the best ones (you sense they believe Government knows best, I had to deal with the journalist from Radio-Canada who wrote the dispatch, so I really have first hand experience. She for instance asks the Mayor: are you supporting illegality, he answered for justice, are you supporting injustice. She never aired that part of course.)

This article is more objective and better reseach although the spokesman really misrepresents homescholling requirements, see below.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazett...5-38b1106bddfc

Originally Posted by redforever

Home schooling still has to follow a government approved curriculum. It can add on religion if it wishes, but it must conform to certain standards.

Very vague. Section 15 (4) of the Education Act excuses the following students from attending public schools: "A student who is provided at home, instruction and a learning experience, which, according to an evaluation made by or for the school board, are equivalent to what is provided at school."

And I believe teachers must have teaching certificates.

Ah, a religious belief of yours ?

Do you know how the same schools are perfectly legal in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and British Columbia...

Do you know how often the "certification" issue is handled? Just certify or grant equivalent status to the teachers designated by the church.

Now, I personally homeschool my 4 children. The younger ones are taught by a substitute teacher ("your godlike super-hero", image 450 hours of psychopedagogics), I really don't think she is any better teacher than the girl that was teaching at that Mennonite school (I know them both). But of course, if you believe in piece of papers and boring courses...

And I am quite certain all schools must have a permit that is granted when they meet government approved guidelines.

Well, yes. And the same schools with the same curriculum and same teachers are approved everywhere else in Canada.


[qoute]Failure to comply with certain guidelines ensures that instead of your children being educated in the norms of the country, they are instead being brainwashed in the religion they are exposed to. [/quote]

Pfff. They are just as much brainwashed by the State. This is why Education is a virtual monopoly in Quebec: all schools much teach the Quebec curriculum, so called "private schools" must teach the official curriculum and may only add to it.

As far as I am concerned, this is no different than how any cult would operate.

Why do you speak of the State in this way? Because of its monopoly? I know the State is necessarily good, right?

Understand that the dispute has nothing to do with the ACADEMIC QUALITY such as knowing how to read, write, do maths, sciences, leran French, etc. Only who decides HOW this is taught reading which kind of books, portraying what kind of values, depicting in what way typical lifestyles (is gay mariage a good thing, etc.).

See also: http://montreal.ctv.ca/cfcf/video_popup?news_id=14515 (TV)

(Get educated and don't immediately come with your prejudices: the Mennonites operate like a cult without first informing yourself)