A public school system exists to nurture kids in the understanding that they live and will live together, regardless of race, religion, economic circumstances, intellect and many other differences.
— Backgrounder from the Public Schools of Saskatchewan: Public Section
A legal challenge between the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) and Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools (CTTCS) and the government of Saskatchewan that began more than a decade ago finally made its way into Court of Queen’s Bench at Yorkton last week.
While the specific case challenges the creation of a separate school division in Theodore in 2003, it may ultimately have the potential to rock the entire foundation of publicly-funded education in Saskatchewan.
At the time, the litigant, then the York School Division, alleged a new separate school division in Theodore, approximately 30 minutes northwest of Yorkton, was created not to serve the minority Catholic population of the village as prescribed by law, but to circumvent closure of Theodore Public School, a move that would have seen students bussed to another school in another town.
GSSD cites the fact St. Theodore School was founded with a majority of non-Catholic students as evidence and is challenging the provincial government for providing funding to separate school divisions for non-minority religion students.
CTTCS counters the suit limits the choices non-Catholic parents have in the education of their children.
Both divisions are declining to make public comments during the trial, but their respective provincial associations released pre-trial statements that suggest a philosophical and political argument with potentially far-reaching implications.
“A public school system exists to nurture kids in the understanding that they live and will live together, regardless of race, religion, economic circumstances, intellect and many other differences,” stated a backgrounder from the Public Schools of Saskatchewan: Public Section . “Public school education can and does teach about religion and spirituality. It takes care, however, to recognize that faith is personal to each person, and that it would be wrong for the institutions of the State to bring their weight to bear in promoting one faith over another.”
The Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association countered in its own open letter.
Catholic school divisions believe we have the right to decide to admit non-Catholic School students and to determine the extent to which their admission allows us to maintain a truly authentic faith-based Catholic school system,” it said. “Our faith is a journey that includes inquiry of non-Catholics and growth of existing members. This requires inclusion and a welcoming spirit.”
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Donald Layh started admitting exhibits and hearing testimony in the case on November 9 with Dwayne Reeve, former GSSD director of education, on the stand most of the week.
The trial is scheduled for five weeks.
There are currently only 27 students enrolled at St. Theodore School.
