Coptic Community Rejects Ontario Government's Overreaching in Revised Health and Physical Education Curriculum

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 3, 2015 /CNW/ - As Christians, we are guided by the Holy Bible to provide us with a roadmap to attain salvation. The Holy Bible in Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This is truly a responsibility that each Christian parent takes to heart and which is now under attack by the revised health and physical curriculum issued by the Ontario Ministry of Education on February 23, 2015. Unfortunately, the Government of Ontario is attempting to abduct the parenting responsibility from parents and to force a way of thinking on children without regard for Christian beliefs, morals and values.  Respect is always a two way street and appeasement cannot come at the expense of another.  This is how parents are feeling today.

As citizens of Ontario, parents should have a voice in the process and should be welcomed to provide their thoughts and insights as to what is appropriate to teach children. The Government claims to have conducted a comprehensive consultation process.  However, it is clear that this is not the case as evidenced by the reintroduction of the same curriculum that was rejected by parents in 2010, and is clearly rejected again today.

The government's suggestion to allow children to opt out of participation is not a sensible solution as it will ultimately be divisive, creating confusion amongst children.  This response from the government only confirms that the curriculum is deeply flawed and rejected by many parents in Ontario.

We call on the Government of Ontario to respect the right of parents to play an integral role in the rearing of their children and to withhold implementing this curriculum without proper consultation.

SOURCE Canadian Coptic Centre

Press Contact: The Office of His Grace Bishop Mina, The Coptic Orthodox Bishop for Mississauga, Vancouver and Western Canada, (e) [email protected]