Religion and schooling in Canada : the long road to separation of Church and state / Robert Crocker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Crocker, Robert K. (Robert Kirby), author.

Series:

Education (University of Ottawa)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Church and education--Canada--History.

Church and education.

Church schools--Canada--History.

Church schools.

Religion in the public schools--Canada--History.

Religion in the public schools.

Church and state--Canada--History.

Church and state.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 225 pages).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Ottawa, Ontario : University of Ottawa Press, [2022]

Summary:

Christian organizations have always played a large role in Canadian education. By 1949, five provinces had constitutionally protected denominational schools. The federal government's responsibility for the education of Indigenous Peoples was effectively contracted out to the churches for more than a century, resulting in a history of abuse that has only recently come to light. From the 1950s to the 1970s, several initiatives in different provinces set the stage for significant reforms to education. Some of these tested the limits of denominational protections, but could not shake the underlying constitutional structures. Patriation of the Constitution and adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 codified fundamental changes in thinking about civil rights. The Charter allowed existing denominational rights to be challenged on many fronts. However, all such challenges were rebuffed by the courts on the grounds that the Charter cannot be used to override other parts of the Constitution. By the 1990s, it became apparent that another route to reform was available, through the amending formula. Constitutional amendments were used to end denominational control of schools in Newfoundland and Quebec in 1997 and 1998. The circumstances around those constitutional amendments are discussed in detail as possible precedents for similar outcomes in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. This book contends that change will certainly come to these provinces and several paths to reform are explored. This reform aims to remove the discrimination inherent in denominational institutions while preserving some form of religious involvement in certain schools.Christian organizations have always played a large role in Canadian education. By 1949, five provinces had constitutionally protected denominational schools. The federal government's responsibility for the education of Indigenous Peoples was effectively contracted out to the churches for more than a century, resulting in a history of abuse that has only recently come to light. From the 1950s to the 1970s, several initiatives in different provinces set the stage for significant reforms to education. Some of these tested the limits of denominational protections, but could not shake the underlying constitutional structures. Patriation of the Constitution and adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 codified fundamental changes in thinking about civil rights. The Charter allowed existing denominational rights to be challenged on many fronts. However, all such challenges were rebuffed by the courts on the grounds that the Charter cannot be used to override other parts of the Constitution. By the 1990s, it became apparent that another route to reform was available, through the amending formula. Constitutional amendments were used to end denominational control of schools in Newfoundland and Quebec in 1997 and 1998. The circumstances around those constitutional amendments are discussed in detail as possible precedents for similar outcomes in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. This book contends that change will certainly come to these provinces and several paths to reform are explored. This reform aims to remove the discrimination inherent in denominational institutions while preserving some form of religious involvement in certain schools.

Contents:

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 Philosophical and Legal Foundations

CHAPTER 2 Historical Context

CHAPTER 3 The 1982 Constitution and Impact of the Charter

CHAPTER 4 Constitutional Amendment: Newfoundland and Quebec

CHAPTER 5 Catholic Schools in Canada

CHAPTER 6 Religion and Private Schools

CHAPTER 7 The Churches, the Federal Government, and Indigenous Education

CHAPTER 8 The Contemporary Debate

CHAPTER 9 The Way Forward

Notes

Bibliography

Court Cases Cited.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780776638188

0776638181

OCLC:

1424748519