MICHAEL ZWAAGSTRA: Alberta schools should be politically neutral

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Schools should focus on academic basics and teachers should not push personal political beliefs on students.

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Nothing about this should be controversial. And yet, judging by the reaction of some critics to the Alberta government’s new Bill 25, some people think it’s unreasonable to expect schools to be politically neutral.

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According to the legislation, which takes effect next month when kids return to class, teachers must “remain objective, present balanced perspectives and support students in expressing different viewpoints” and school authorities must “refrain from issuing statements or taking positions on political, social or ideological matters that are not relevant to fulfillment of the boards’ obligations under the Education Act.”

Parents appear to agree

In other words, schools must remain politically neutral. Again, not only is this eminently reasonable but it should be standard practice in every school across Alberta and Canada. Parents send their children to school to be educated, not indoctrinated. A recent Leger poll found 86% of Canadian parents believe teachers should focus on providing students with facts. And 76% of parents believe students should hear both sides of controversial issues.

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Simply put, the new legislation makes official what most parents believe — schools should not be sidetracked by political issues that fall outside their mandate.

Sadly, some Alberta teachers have apparently been pushing their political views on students.

Earlier this year, Elk Island Catholic Schools launched a formal investigation when audio was leaked of a Fort Saskatchewan teacher using profane language during class to criticize Alberta’s conservative political culture. Had a student not surreptitiously recorded the teacher’s political rant, this incident would almost certainly never have become public.

Regardless of whether teachers are left-wing, right-wing or centrist, they have a responsibility to keep their political beliefs out of the classroom. Teachers who wish to promote their personal political views can do so away from the classroom.

Tackling controversial topics

Critics claim this legislation prevents teachers from tackling controversial issues in the classroom. But that’s not true. Rather, it states that when these topics come up, teachers have a responsibility to ensure they present students with more than one side. For example, if a high school social studies teacher discusses the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, that teacher should make sure students receive balanced information, not one-sided propaganda that fits with the teacher’s personal political beliefs.

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Similarly, when dealing with sensitive topics such as abortion or assisted suicide, teachers should let students figure out for themselves where they stand.

In a recent op-ed, Howard Sapers, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, expressed concern that Bill 25 would discourage schools from offering the type of world religions course he took in high school. However, a world religions course is exactly the type of course that fits the intent of Bill 25. That type of course, by its very nature, requires teachers to present alternative viewpoints. Just because a course deals with controversial subjects is no reason to assume teachers would no longer be able to teach it under this new legislation.

All schools should be politically neutral.

As long as teachers and school boards stick to their primary mandate — educating students — they have nothing to fear when Bill 25 comes into effect next month when the new school year begins.

Michael Zwaagstra is a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute.

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