Funding for faith-based schools

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Title: Funding for faith-based schools
Date: September 11, 2007
Source: TheStar.com
Link: http://www.thestar.com/OntarioElection/article/254043


The issue of funding for faith-based schools became a hot debate topic as the Ontario provincial election date approaches.


Article Summary

In an article sent to a group of bright SAC student, Bernie Farber speaks in favour of funding for faith-based schools, claiming that 'it is time to take action.' By mentioning Bill Davis' two pivotal decisions, Dalton McGuinty's response to Jewish parents, and the support the funding issue gets from the three parties, Farber believes that the funding issue has been approved and supported by the authority and the Ontario politics. He ends his argument with claiming that it is "to do otherwise after decades of excusing unfaiurness is unacceptable." The time seems to be ripe to him.

In contrast, Michael Fullan dismisses the pro-funding idea by simply saying that "social inclusion is better than fragmentation." Now that the teachers and schools are ready and in high morale to improve educational standards, Fullan argues, it is not a good idea to waste money and energy to fund the faith-based schools. He firmly maintains his belief that Ontario should have a single educational system. To him, one public school with religious diversity and harmony is much better than numerous segmented schools. As well, he claims that using resources for 2 million students is "vastly better" than using them for 50000 'faithful' students.


Opinion

It is reasonable to fund faith-based schools since our nation values religious diversity and recognizes individuals' rights to choose their own ways of life. I, however, believe that it is still not a good idea to fragment and separate our students. Students who go to faith-based schools might keep their religious virtues; yet, they will grow in different environments and in future it will be hard for them to co-exist with one another. In fact, learning to co-exist with others from different religions is far more important than trying to remain pure and loyal to one's own religion.

Moreover, a single, centralized public system will make it much easier for the Ontario government to carry out reforms and plans to enlighten and improve the quality of education in the province. Fragmented schools, contrastly, only makes it much difficult for the government to help them out.

Therefore, I prefer the idea of "one school, many religions,' over the idea of 'many schools, one religion.' Because we live in a multicultural society where everyone respects others' religions and share their own religion with others, it'll make much more sense to learn to co-exist with others from different religions, than to try to separate themselves from others. As well, trying to fragment the society will only cost in the waste of public money and energy.