Are we taking some prayers out of schools or all of them?

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

As a journalist with the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, I have learned to be mindful of the words that I use, and the topics that I address. One theme that I purposely stay away from is religion and for good reason. Religion is a highly diverse and personal aspect of human identity. Different people adhere to various religious beliefs, and these beliefs can vary widely. Being mindful has allowed me to appreciate and respect the diversity surrounding religion without imposing your own views.

Religious beliefs are often deeply personal and sacred to individuals. Careless or insensitive language can lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, or even offense. Religion is closely tied to culture, and discussions about it may involve sensitive cultural aspects. In saying that I want to present a case, and I would love to hear the community’s thoughts on it.

In September 1988, a significant decision was made regarding the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in Canadian schools. I remember this clearly because my parents were outraged. After three years of legal battle, a group successfully challenged the Sudbury school board’s practice of having the Lord’s Prayer recited in all Ontario public schools. This landmark decision resulted in the removal of the prayer from the school system, reflecting a shift towards a more secular and inclusive education environment. This development marked an important milestone in Canadian history, illustrating the ongoing pursuit of religious neutrality and equality within the education system.

In 2015, the Supreme Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously agreed and reiterated that imposing the Lord’s Prayer as part of Ontario public school opening exercises infringed the right to freedom of religion as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It held that communal recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in the classroom would in fact place undue pressure, or hardship on children who are not part of the Christian classroom majority.

Now, let’s take a look at what was sent to me just last week from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. CCLA supporters are standing in solidarity with minority religious communities, including the Muslim community, who are being disproportionately affected by a prayer ban in Quebec schools. The ban prevents public schools from making space available for students to pray and prohibits individuals from praying overtly. Quebec’s Minister of Education announced the ban in April, and it came into effect in June.

Together with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and a Quebec high school student, CCLA launched a joint challenge to the Quebec government’s decree authorizing the prayer ban in schools. The joint lawsuit addressed the prayer ban’s violation of the personal and religious freedoms of Quebec students. The student plaintiff’s situation is representative of many students in elementary and high schools in Quebec who are now not able to freely practice their faiths.

“Students have rights. They have the right to an education. They also have the right to religious freedom. These rights are guaranteed to all students equally,” says Harini Sivalingam, CCLA’s Director of Equality. “This prayer ban prevents students from exercising their rights.”

According to the CCLA, banning prayers at public schools enables the policing of children. According to the Quebec government’s decree, teachers and administrative staff will have to monitor how children carry out a basic human and Charter right—the right to practice one’s faith. This transforms schools and classrooms from places of safety and learning into places of conflict and discrimination.

“Every day that the school prayer ban is in effect, Quebec students continue to be harmed,” says Sivalingam. “We went to court to seek a suspension of the prayer ban in order to prevent harm to students prior to the school year starting.

After a court refused to suspend the prayer ban while the ban was being constitutionally challenged, CCLA and NCCM asked the Quebec Court of Appeal to review the lower court’s decision. Unfortunately, CCLA and NCCM were denied leave to appeal. We will continue to fight for the best interests of Quebec students. As we go to print, the trial date has not been set.”

So here is the thing; I appreciate that Muslim students are standing up for their right to pray, but what does this mean for other religions? So should all religions be able to practice their rituals without interruption, and if so, how would this look in schools?

Community, I would love to hear your thoughts.