Islamic students pray at public school
Toronto Sun: "Schwartz said the service, which is not a TDSB program, was allowed at the school following requests from the Muslim community. “It is a safety issue,” she said on Thursday. “Students were leaving for the mosque during the day and some weren’t returning.”
Uh Huh.
Gee haven't I seen this story somewhere before???
SunTV covered the story on Round Up this morning as did John Oakley on AM 640, I just received this e-mail and am trying to verify the information:
"Hi there,
Love your blog. I hope you can help to get the word out on this bit of upsetting information.
I have a source at the XXXX who tells me that the XXXX had a reporter working on the school mosque story that I believe your blog first broke.
The source said that the reporter working on the story uncovered a number of interesting details, including the facts that the school mosque called for the separation of boys and girls (violation of school board regs) and that menstruating girls are not allowed to attend the prayer sessions.
Just as the reporter's piece was all set to run, XXXX editors killed it. The reporter, a male whose name I don't have yet, is said to be - unsurprisingly - extremely upset at this censorship. The word in the XXXX newsroom is that political pressure at the municipal level from a local well-known Muslim politician was applied to the XXXX editors who promptly caved and put all the reporter's hard work in the trash can.
The story, it seems, was following the equality angle, ie: that the cafeteria mosque is a violation of equality regulations in the way that it discriminates against girls.
Admire your guts. Keep it up. Many of us are cheering you on."
Related: In the Face of Compelling Demographics, the G&M Shills For Islam
Is halal food being served in the school cafeteria?
Just askin'.
Why non-Muslims should avoid halal food
Evidently Halal snacks are served at Dhimmi High.
Oakley @ AM640 is talking about this right now.
Gerri Gershon the trustee said this was as per the 'Religious accomodation policy of the HRC'.
As per the OHRC policy, this is actually DISCRIMINATORY towards the Non Muslim students in the school :
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/Policies/PolicyCreedAccomodEN/pdf
Example: A public school that gives priority to the Lord's Prayer as part of opening and closing exercises fails to treat non-Christians equally.
Since there are no other religious services for the non muslims, I guess Babs Hall will be on this in a shot.
The explanation is ridiculous. The idea that some students were playing hooky, and rather than confront the few bad students they had to disrupt the whole school by turning part of it into a Mosque. Only a gullible fool would be taken in by such contrived bullshit. Why were religious services removed from public school? Was it all voluntary? There must be some laws that are being broken here, surely.
SunTV just covered it on Round Up too.
Thanks Sanwin.
“Ryan Reyes, of Peel District School Board, said Muslim students in his jurisdiction must fill out a “religious accommodation request” to pray in school.Reyes said the request is considered by a community liasion officer.“It is done on a case-by-case basis,” Reyes said. “No religious leaders are allowed to come in and our students pray individually.””
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/03/public-school-used-for-islamic-prayer-services
Who is this community liasion officer? How many requests have been submitted, approved and declined?
I don't know if the TDSB has an equivalent Ann.
On the Globe and Mail. Since Islamism is inherently anti-democracy and anti-human rights, you can be sure that the G&M will back Islamism to the hilt. The religion dovetails with the Globe's left-wing, anti-democracy world view. The Globe supports fascism in China. the Taliban in Afghanistand and Pakistan, so it supports Islamist fascism.
Blaze: don't feel too bad because of the lack of credits to your T.O. school story. It comes with the territory. The Sun and the Post troll the Internet for scoops. And you seem to break most of the scoops these days.
It does go with the territory you're right David;)
I hope the parents sue the school board, please like we believe this is a saftey issue when they're allowing people to crawl around on their knees without shoes in an area used to prep food for fork's sake.
sanwin, the pdf from the schools news letter says, "An Imam from a neighboring school comes to conduct prayers" So the school board is clueless, or not being honest.
Area trustee Gerri Gershon said the prayers are part of the religious accommodation policy as specified in human rights legislation.
except when it comes to Christian practices which are forbidden. This is freakin insane.
I don't understand "goes with the territory". Someone explain to me why these journalists refuse to credit Fur and throw a little traffic this way.
I don't understand "goes with the territory". Someone explain to me why these journalists refuse to credit Fur and throw a little traffic this way.
Munimula,
That's exactly what I thought after reading, “No religious leaders are allowed to come in and our students pray individually.”
Journalists call the info, such as on this site, "information from the blogosphere" -- and generally do not credit the source. I am not apologizing for this, it is the way it is.
Large, richly-endowed left-of-centre blogs, in the U.S., do get credit from left-of-centre U.S. media (Slate magazine, etc.). But note that lots of investigative work in the U.S. comes from mainstream sources. But in Canada, all of the "mainstream" media investigative work comes from left-wing sources (CBC News and the Globe and Mail). The Toronto Sun and the National Post do not undertake much in the was of investigative work, unless it comes from a few intrepid columnists (Brian Lilley, Ezra Levant, and Stewart Bell). But the main line-journalists with both papers are not all that inquisitive, or all that conservative, so they do not go out and dig for info.
Persoally, I wish they would credit BCF, and dig for stories. But they do not.
A case in point: I am sitting on a story, about the David Suzuki Foundation abusing its charity status. Yes, I still have to gather more data and do some research -- but conservative media really willo not want to print the story. If and when I do write it up and get it published, it will be throught the "blogosphere". The conservative Sun and Post lack the inquisitiveness and spunk to go after the David Suzuki Foundation.
Muni and Kaffir,
I think the statement about the imam was made by Ryan Reyes, of Peel District School Board.
DVNPS does not hide the fact that an Imam is brought to the school every Friday.
Lets see if our gutless Premier (who today was quoted via Glen Murray) that Catholic schools have no right in preventing GSA clubs.
Re: blogosphere
For what it's worth, I became aware of BCF because of a post done by BCF in the comment section of the Post. I hope that other Blogs will venture into the comment sections in the way BCF did. Oh and I believe I have also read a post from Kafir Kanuck.
Then the "communications" officer of the Peel school board is communicating falsehoods. Question is, is it because of ignorance or obfuscation?
The inconsistency in the TDSB position is apparent to all.
Shari Schwartz says “it's a safety issue” because students were leaving the school through the day and not returning. If so, this is an issue for the parents of the children and the administration to correct.
According to Sanwin, trustee Gerri Gershon says that this is per the “religious accommodation policy” of the HRC. If so, which I doubt very much, then the TDSB has a bigger issue on its hands.
The Progressive Conservatives led by John Tory lost the 2007 provincial election over the fear of the public funding of Islamic schools. Valley Park Middle School and the TDSB have effectively circumvented the will of the majority of Ontario voters by opening their doors to Islam and bringing it into the publicly funded school system.
The raison d’être of Ontario’s publicly funded school system has been and remains to be to teach the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy to its students. It is not for proselytizing or for the benefit of a specific religion.
If Islam wants accommodation then they are welcome to build, fund and operate their own schools within the confines of the education act as others religions do.
Why is Reyes telling porkie pies?
Reyes says that: “No religious leaders are allowed to come in and our students pray individually.”
The schools own PDF says: "An Imam from the neighbouring mosque comes to our school and conducts the prayers."
The reporter should follow up.
Sanwin said: "DVNPS does not hide the fact that an Imam is brought to the school every Friday."
Has the Imam(s) and the Mosque(s)
been identified? If this religious service and instruction is taking place during regular school hours, on public school property would he be considered an employee of the TDSB? You would think the teachers' union would be looking for dues from Imam.
I just posted a comment on the Sun saying BCF broke the story several days ago, but I don't know if it will appear (comments have to be approved).
Having Muslim prayers in the public schools is just WRONG, especially during school hours! It partitions the student population into two groups: Muslim and non Muslim. That this should happen in a public school, during school hours, is simply appalling.
Thanks!
Melykin did you use a url? Becuase I did the same thing and got an aproval notice. Might have something to do with links.
Ann,
You're correct. I have posted comments at the NP in the past...just don't have much time to anymore. Funny how priorities shift when you try to keep your own blog running.
Hittin' the road back to base BCF. I'll drop you a line.
Perhaps a push back campaign is in order to raise public awareness and pressure politicians. We should take a page out of our Muslim friends' playbook and not let this issue rest until results are had.
This has more to do with public displays of Islamic supremacy, permanence, and exceptionalism than it does with religious accommodation. I think it is even an act of proselytizing Islam to the other students in the school. This is why the Muslims in the area kept pushing the issue instead of being content to have a nearby mosque to worship at.
Well said Pax.
Yes, munimula, I did include a link, and the post didn't appear (last time I checked). So I posted again advising people to Google Blazing Cat Fur, and that comment appeared.
PaxCanadiana wrote:
"...I think it is even an act of proselytizing Islam to the other students in the school. This is why the Muslims in the area kept pushing the issue instead of being content to have a nearby mosque to worship at."
I agree. They are singling the Muslims out as "special" and giving them a break from classes. How does that make the other students feel? This would be bad enough if it was happening after school. That it is happening during school is disgusting. The Muslims, as usual, take every opportunity they can to abuse our systems and single themselves out for special privileges.
If some Baptists or Catholics came along and requested the same privilege they would probably (rightly) be told to shove it.
This is just WRONG.
Once a property is used as a mosque, it is FOREVER a mosque...
Watch for the TDSB to sell the property to muslims for a 'cultural center'...
Muslims will never give up trying to attain Valley Park Middle School for the Ummah now..
Non-Muslims may not enter the cafeteria, girls are not allowed to worship in the same room (I presume). Would this practice not fall into a breach of the Charter of Rights? Any lawyer on this board?
I am trying to get some answers from the TDSB now on that Grand.
A few years back the engineering school at McGill University, a public university, was ordered to provide a space where Muslim students can pray: Find prayer space, school told. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060323.MUSLIMS23/TPStory/National (This article is for subscribers only)
Don't give this up, Blaze. If you need any help, let me know, please.
We will see if anything changes in the near future, I am doubtful it will however, our politicians are cowards.
If the media buried the story regarding forced seperation of girls and punishing girls who were on their period then the news media coverup has become the story because of their cowardness. What else don't we know about, secret Sharia Court rooms in the science lab? Who's the alleged Muslim politician?
We're trying to find that out Rose.
Below is an excerpt from Ontario Ministry of Education, which I believe this school practices is in contravention of at least one subparagraph. Read on.
Ontario Ministry of Education
Education About Religion in Ontario Public Elementary Schools
1994
The adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 provided a constitutional basis for seeking greater legal recognition and protection of a broad range of rights, among them the right of freedom of conscience and religion. The entrenchment of this right set in motion a process of modification of laws and regulations that had been made prior to 1982.
As part of this process of modification, on September 23, l988, in response to a court challenge, the Ontario Court of Appeal struck down subsection 28(1) of Regulation 262, which had allowed public schools to open or close the school day with religious exercises that gave primacy to a particular faith. In response to another legal challenge brought by a group of parents in Elgin County, on January 30, 1990, the Ontario Court of Appeal struck down subsection 28(4) of Regulation 262, which concerned the teaching of religion in the public elementary schools. The court held subsection 28(4) to be invalid in public schools because it permitted the teaching of a single religious tradition as if it were the exclusive means through which to develop moral thinking and behaviour. The court also ruled, however, that education designed to teach about religion and to foster moral values, without indoctrination in a particular religious faith, would not contravene the charter.
The court elaborated on the differences between indoctrination and education in the following manner:
1. The school may sponsor the study of religion, but may not sponsor the practice of religion.
2. The school may expose students to all religious views, but may not impose any particular view.
3. The school's approach to religion is one of instruction, not one of indoctrination.
4. The function of the school is to educate about all religions, not to convert to any one religion.
5. The school's approach is academic, not devotional.
6. The school should study what all people believe, but should not teach a student what to believe.
7. The school should strive for student awareness of all religions, but should not press for student acceptance of any one religion.
8. The school should seek to inform the student about various beliefs, but should not seek to conform him or her to any one belief.
I still haven't written to the School Board nor any politicians in that riding yet. Has anyone on this board, and if so, what was their response. I am in the process of preparing something to that effect, however, would like any feedback from you guys to help me better address this problem.
Serving Halal food would fall under indoctrination as well.
@Grandmere:
I emailed my MPP last Thursday and will follow up tomorrow as agreed.
Ann, who is your MPP? I don't live in that area. I'm planning write to TDSB with a cc to your MPP, Ford, McGuinty, and the Ministry of Education.
"TDSB officials said on Monday the prayer sessions have been taking place for three years and are designed to help with the safety of students, who do not have to leave school to attend mosque.
The officials said the prayer sessions are working well and they haven’t been approached about making changes."
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/04/hindus-protest-muslim-prayers-at-public-school
It just dawned on me. Colleges in Ontario are also publicly funded, and I know for sure at the Algonquin campuses, they have a prayer room, or quiet room, sometimes also used by the school nurse.
Of course, it never got referred to as a "Prayer" room until religious accommodation came along.
Good work & one of the reasons I come to your blog. No BS here.
GrandeMere:
I live outside of Toronto, so what I did is ask why the Ontario Ministry of Education is running a religious program in a publicly funded school. Apparently if you place a call to the Minster of Education Liberal Leona Dambrowski you can express you opinion on the subject. Below is the Ministry's website:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/biography/edu_minister.html
Scaramouche,
Ron Bannerji and his Canadian Hindu Advocacy group are as bad as any Islamist group.
I would think twice before associating with his kind. If he wishes to organize protests, good for him, but I`d keep a mile away from him.
John Tory was on this issue this evening.
As usual he was a tŷpical douche and was all in favor of allowing this to continue.
This dude Ossama El Sarraff is the school council chair at Valley Park. At the same time hes on the school council at Thorncliffe Park Public school.
What gives ?
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/index.asp?schno=1585
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:HoOvFhn9gTgJ:www.tdsb.on.ca/SchoolWeb/ThorncliffePark/docs/SCHOOL%2520COUNCIL%2520minutes%2520dec%25202010.doc+Ossama+Al+Sarraf+valley+park&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShE2uqS2wCVLR7PoaINVL6QpsWpCmfqRrc1g0ZSz7CmLcyB75ASk9gFz9PGsfCCr_0OsynZxF-DWJHuiDo2CrAZmaS3FdtFH15itBIwNwLcISEhH3BjRB7nLPOR0v9bnXilnqa3&sig=AHIEtbS4Gl_uhZm4_Ok3K8TTA7obRtLfyw&pli=1
I will check him out Sanwin thanks.
My first December at the Peel DSB I was told, "You can not have a "Christmas" concert, only a seasonal festive concert". My reply, "But you have Imams coming in and conducting prayers". Their reply, "Oh but that's different".
My final reply, with a rotating around the head motion, "Kook Koo. Kook Koo". When I was in High School in Mississauga in the 70's, every school had a "Youth for CHrist" club. Now I'm thinking, not so much. But we have Imam's coming to schools conducting prayers. It is too weep.
This following excerpt from the minutes of the school council meeting 2010/11/24 sheds light on what is an indoctrination process.
Specifically, I am referring to the following quote from the minutes of the meeting, “The Chair has suggested a committee to be formed for reviewing curriculum in depth, measuring its sensitivity under Islamic Faith codes.”
If the school's curriculum is being or has been been modified in order to comply with Islamic Faith codes then legal action should follow.
The section of the minutes in question is below.
Follow up: Health Education in Grade 5 - Mr. El Sarraf
Mr. Sarraf cited that some points are sensitive and to use explicit pictures may be seen as inappropriate to parents. Also discussing the development of men & women may not be viewed as appropriate, personal hygiene following puberty may also be seem as inappropriate. Mr. El Sarraf asked how this learning will be replaced and expressed concerns about the unsupervised conversations of students following the lesson…those whose parents choose an exemption could receive this information second-hand from other students.
The principal assured parents that it will be handled sensitively and that the staff will work with the parents as much possible. Last year the Toronto Public Health was involved in planning this unit of study.
The Chair has suggested a committee to be formed for reviewing curriculum in depth, measuring its sensitivity under Islamic Faith codes. The committee should come up with some recommendations in next council meeting to be held in January, 2011.
The committee would be led by Mr. Al Sarraf and the members involved will be Mr. Sharif, Mr. Azeem, Mr. Arif Khan, Ms Farah Hussaini, Principal, teachers and Public health nurse.
___________________________________________________
Ministry of Education:
Education About Religion in Ontario Public Elementary Schools
Link: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/religion/religioe.html
In response to another legal challenge brought by a group of parents in Elgin County, on January 30, 1990, the Ontario Court of Appeal struck down subsection 28(4) of Regulation 262, which concerned the teaching of religion in the public elementary schools. The court held subsection 28(4) to be invalid in public schools because it permitted the teaching of a single religious tradition as if it were the exclusive means through which to develop moral thinking and behaviour.
The court elaborated on the differences between indoctrination and education in the following manner:
1. The school may sponsor the study of religion, but may not sponsor the practice of religion.
2. The school may expose students to all religious views, but may not impose any particular view.
3. The school's approach to religion is one of instruction, not one of indoctrination.
4. The function of the school is to educate about all religions, not to convert to any one religion.
5. The school's approach is academic, not devotional.
6. The school should study what all people believe, but should not teach a student what to believe.
7. The school should strive for student awareness of all religions, but should not press for student acceptance of any one religion.
8. The school should seek to inform the student about various beliefs, but should not seek to conform him or her to any one belief.
Thank you all for your efforts, you have provided much food for thought.
Jim,
As Blaze knows, I have been pursuing this specific issue (along with the fact that one Mr. Jawed Anwar who publishes the most vile hate screeds on his web site was the chair of the Thorncliffe Park Public school.
Apart from a response from the Principal who asked me to meet him face to face, I got nothing from the trustee Geri Gerrshon (surprise) or Chris Spence.
I sent out a couple of reminder, still no response.
I finally wrote to the Ministers office and only then did a PR guy called Jack Nigra deign to contact me.
At the end of a rather long phone conversation, he told me that this was all acceptable under the 'reasonable accommodation' argument.
I told him I would then be looking at other ways to get this information to the wider public.
I'm glad this Valley Park incident has given me the opportunity.
sanwin, what's the address of the website of Jawed Anwar? I would like to visit it and assess.
It's themuslim.ca 1389
I am in the process of writing to various authorities regarding this scandal. I need to know whether and if and where halal food is being served in the Toronto school system. I would appreciate any info. Thanks.
Nothing can be done. Read on:
Ontario Human Rights Commission - Policy on creed and the accommodation of religious observances
Some religions require that their members observe periods of prayer at particular times during a day. This practice may conflict with an employer's regular work hours or daily routines in the workplace. The employer has a duty to accommodate the employee's needs, short of undue hardship.
Possible forms of accommodation include:
1. a modified break policy
2. flexible hours
3. providing a private area for devotions.
There is however difference between providing a private area for devotions or opening up madrassas in our schools.
This I believe has crossed the line however I am certain they will continue to be accomodated.
You da man, Blaze!! Anything I can do via my blog, I shall endeavor to do. I think I have five regular readers and one of them might be you. ;P
Nothing can be done. Read on:
Ontario Human Rights Commission - Policy on creed and the accommodation of religious observances
Some religions require that their members observe periods of prayer at particular times during a day. This practice may conflict with an employer's regular work hours or daily routines in the workplace. The employer has a duty to accommodate the employee's needs, short of undue hardship.
Possible forms of accommodation include:
1. a modified break policy
2. flexible hours
3. providing a private area for devotions.
There is however difference between providing a private area for devotions or opening up madrassas in our schools.
Serving Halal food would fall under indoctrination as well.
PaxCanadiana wrote:
"...I think it is even an act of proselytizing Islam to the other students in the school. This is why the Muslims in the area kept pushing the issue instead of being content to have a nearby mosque to worship at."
I agree. They are singling the Muslims out as "special" and giving them a break from classes. How does that make the other students feel? This would be bad enough if it was happening after school. That it is happening during school is disgusting. The Muslims, as usual, take every opportunity they can to abuse our systems and single themselves out for special privileges.
If some Baptists or Catholics came along and requested the same privilege they would probably (rightly) be told to shove it.
This is just WRONG.
Perhaps a push back campaign is in order to raise public awareness and pressure politicians. We should take a page out of our Muslim friends' playbook and not let this issue rest until results are had.
This has more to do with public displays of Islamic supremacy, permanence, and exceptionalism than it does with religious accommodation. I think it is even an act of proselytizing Islam to the other students in the school. This is why the Muslims in the area kept pushing the issue instead of being content to have a nearby mosque to worship at.
I don't know if the TDSB has an equivalent Ann.
Is halal food being served in the school cafeteria?
Just askin'.
Why non-Muslims should avoid halal food
I heard Ezra levant from Sun tv calling blazingcatfur its favorite blog and credited it. Please help stop this appalling practice.
Stop Blazingcatfur? Or Islamic prayer in schools;)
To late, I've tweeted teh appalling comment.
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