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The British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT) is responsible for establishing standards for the education of teachers in B.C. schools, issuing teaching certificates, and where necessary, suspending or canceling teaching certificates. You may recall several years ago that the BCCT made the news when it refused to certify Trinity Western University's teacher education program because TWU asked its students to uphold Christian standards and refrain from " premarital sex, adultery, and homosexual behaviour" while attending the University. It wasn't the restriction on premarital sex and adultery that got the College hot and bothered. It was the suggestion that homosexuality was something boys and girls should not be engaged in while at TWU. The College maintained that even suggesting such a thing would bias the school's graduates against homosexual persons and make them unsuitable to teach in B.C. schools. TWU appealed the College's decision to the B.C. Supreme Court where they won their right to continue conducting themselves as a Christian institution and have their teacher education school approved. The College responded by appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada where they were smacked again by the court which ordered them to certify the TWU program. (See a summary and analysis of this important decision on The Centre for Cultural Renewal web site) Well the College is up to its tricks again. In May of this year they found Chris Kempling, a counsellor in a Quesnel, B.C. high school and Chair of the Quesnel District Community Health Council, guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of the B.C. College of Teachers. Kempling's crime wasn't the usual charge leveled against teachers facing disciplinary action by the College — sexual abuse. He was guilty of something much more heinous in the eyes of the College, raising concerns about the pro-homosexual educational initiatives being promoted by the B.C. teacher's union. After reviewing Kempling's articles on this matter, the College declared " everything that you have written in its entirety is derogatory and discriminatory." Kempling is to be sentenced July 25. He could possibly lose his job, but more likely he will be publicly censured and warned not to repeat his offence at the risk of forfeiting both job and professional reputation. When I heard about this, I made contact with Chris Kempling and asked him to send me a number of the same articles the College had reviewed in coming to their conclusion. In my reading Kempling's writing is the very model of the kind of charity, prudence, and restraint that is absolutely necessary when raising concerns about the super-sensitive issue of homosexual-friendly resources and our children. (See Challenging Homophobia in Schools: A Critical Review and The Homophobia Myth by Chris Kempling) The points Kempling makes are well and clearly reasoned and — social scientist that he is — liberally supported with responsible research from the social scientific literature. Though a Christian, Kempling avoids arguments based on Biblical or religious precept. His language is respectful of homosexual persons. He raises principled objections and makes important distinctions and clarifications and expresses himself in a thoughtful, balanced, and fair-handed way. So what's the problem the College has with the Kempling critiques? I don't believe for a minute it is "the way" Chris Kempling has raised his concerns; he's done that well. Rather I suspect it's "the fact" that he's dared to challenge the teacher union on this issue. Given what I've seen from the College and the teacher's union, any objections to homosexual programs, however reasonable and principled those objections may be, is ipso facto intolerable. Many other teachers I know don't like what's being put forward for the schools either. The difference is, these teachers are afraid to speak out. Kempling has something to say to them: "I am very worried for the plight of children who are confused about their orientation — they need to hear a message of hope that there are recognized and effective treatments for those who wish to change their orientation. My pastor asked me if I were willing to "be a martyr for the cause". I told him I would rather be a soldier like Gideon, who achieved a great victory against huge odds by trusting in the Lord. I will be appealing this verdict of the College of Teachers, and I do so for all of us who entrust our children to the public school system. Don't leave me like Uriah, but stand with me: The righteous are as bold as a lion." Of course the College could surprise us; it could offer Chris Kempling specific guidelines on how to more delicately raise his concerns without giving offense. It could do what responsible educators do in the classroom and offer a written sample of just how objections to this material might be raised in a manner the College finds acceptable. It could even go so far as to demonstrate some integrity and respond in detail to the specific problems Kempling has with the material and programs. But I'll take my turn on Fear Factor if they do. My prediction is that their final judgment will constitute nothing but pure and sweeping generalizations. It has to. Given what Kempling has written I believe the College is incapable of making a detailed critique that will stand up to scrutiny. But I didn't want all of this to be just my opinon. I consulted a couple of philosopher ethicist types I know just to get a second opinion. I shared around the Kempling materials with them. My colleagues were in perfect agreement. While the College said "everything" my advisors said "absolutely nothing" they read could be considered derogatory and discriminatory. If I had any clout, I'd censure the College for conduct unbecoming a professional association, noting in my judgment that the College's treatment of Chris Kempling, has been in " its entirety derogatory and discriminatory". Then, at the sentencing, I'd impose a just punishment. I'd have each member of the College write out the Oxford English Dictionary definition of "derogatory" and "discriminatory" 100 times on the blackboard and then write a 3000 word essay on the meaning of tolerance and free speech in a pluralistic society. Of course we'd inform them that suitable resources for the essay can be found at the Catholic Educator's Resource Center. So pray for Chris Kempling just before you pray for this apostolate and remember, if you want to sponsor a powerpoint presentation on CERC in your area write me. God bless you. Have a safe and fun summer. Our next update will be out toward the end of August. - J. Fraser Field (View our last update at: http://catholiceducation.org/updates/06.28.02.htm)
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| New
Resources: The
Market Can Transform Our Schools - Milton Friedman - New York Times
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| NEW RESOURCES ADDED TO THE SITE THIS WEEK: |
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| 01 Christians, we are often told, are the people marooned on the wrong side of history. Critics charge that Christians have time and again buttressed hierarchy against equality, patriarchy against women's rights, absolutism against individualism, and small-minded tradition against broad-minded tolerance. The most popular version of this indictment sees the whole of Western history since the fall of Rome as a difficult but increasingly successful struggle to wrest the human spirit from the fetters of the Christian church. All of which, of course, is nonsense. |
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| 02 Behind the physical attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was an intellectual attack — an assault not just on American foreign policy but also on the principle of freedom. We have failed so far to effectively answer the strongest version of the Islamic critique. Here is the argument that Americans should be making to people in the Islamic world. |
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| 03 Thirty years ago it was believed that poverty and discrimination were primarily responsible for juvenile crime and other behavioral problems. Now we know that family disruption is the real culprit. |
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| 04 Teddy Roosevelt's Passion for Family Life Outranked Every Other - William Mattox Jr. - The Medorian Teddy Roosevelt — a big-game hunter who pioneered the National Park system, built the Panama Canal, won the Nobel Prize for Peace and protected small businesses against monopoly power — packed "more into one life than any ten men of average metabolism." What many commentators fail to notice about this man of noble passions is that his greatest passion was his family. |
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| 05 Can same-sex marriage be stopped? - Tom Hoopes - Crisis Magazine The marriage movement today is where the pro-life movement was on the eve of Roe v. Wade. That is, it is about to lose everything — unless, that is, something is done. |
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| 06 John Paul II and the Truth about Freedom - Avery Cardinal Dulles - First Things The contemporary crisis of freedom is at root a crisis of truth. In our own day, John Paul II has clearly demonstrated the inseparable connection between freedom and truth. In the course of his long career, he has eloquently and forcefully proclaimed the principles that must underlie every free society, including the American experiment in ordered liberty. |
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| 07 UN Report Suggests Condoms are not the Answer to Aids Epidemic - Austin Ruse According to a United Nations report released on June 23, the UN's massive effort to supply the world with condoms in a bid to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS is failing. |
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| 08 Cathedrals, Shrines and Basilicas - Fr. William Saunders Is a basilica the same as a cathedral? What about a shrine? If not, what makes them different? |
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| 09 Christianity and Public Education: Do they Go Together - Chuck Colson - Breakpoint In his article, "Integrating Faith and Public Schools Without Mixing Church and State", Eric Buehrer says that teaching students about Christianity and its positive influence on American culture is not only possible, it's legal, and a legitimate academic pursuit for public schools. |
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| 10 Hallowed Be Thy Name - Scott Hahn - Lay Witness Whenever we pray the Lord's Prayer, we acknowledge God's name as "hallowed" — that is, as holy or sanctified. But what do we mean by this? Do we mean what Jesus meant? |
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| 11 Trust Your Feelings Darth? - Terry Mattingly - Scripps Howard News Servicer No wonder Anakin Skywalker seems so confused. Every time the Jedi apprentice turns around, a spiritual master tells him to trust his feelings, search his feelings or follow his feelings. Trouble is, the young super-warrior in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is a tornado of feelings. He feels love. He feels hate, ambition, desire, frustration, fear and fury. |
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| 12 A Father's Heart - John Trent - Encouraging Words We've all had times when we're physically in one place but mentally in another. Most of the time, it's not a real problem — except when it comes to being a husband and father. |
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| 13 Definitions on Euthanasia - International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
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| 14 Apparitions and Dogma - Fr. William Saunders - Arlington Catholic Herald I recently shared the story of St. Bernadette and her seeing the Blessed Mother with a neighbor, who said, "You really don't believe all of that do, you?" Of course I do believe it, but do Catholics have to believe about the appearance of our Blessed Mother at Lourdes? How should I respond? |
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| EDITORIALS OF INTEREST: |
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| 34 Reaping What the High Court Has Sown - The Weekly Standard The Supreme Court might have to eat its words from previous cases as it prepares to hear the Pledge case. |
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| 35 By revealing the foam-at-the-mouth hostility to religion that grips our elites, the Ninth Circuit's "under God" decision is proving a godsend though the two judges in the majority would probably insist that we refer to it simply as a "send." |
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| 36 Does It Matter? - Catholic Exchange A letter-writer named Kathryn from Midland, Michigan responded to one of my recent columns on the scandals of sexual abuse by priests. I suspect that many Catholics, our version of a "Silent Majority" — folks who attend Mass regularly, send their children to Catholic schools, and support their parishes generously - will cheer when they read Kathryn's words. |
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| 37 Adult Stem Cell Research More Successful Than Embryonic - Pro-Life Infonet Far from showing the supposedly superior benefits of stem cells from cloned embryos, the new study shows that this approach continues to lag behind adult stem cell advances — even in mice, where embryonic stem cell research has been pursued for over twenty years. |
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| 38 President seeks to make bureaucracy friend of faith - Washington Times President Bush yesterday accused the federal government of discriminating against religious organizations by denying them grants because of words such as "Jewish" in their titles. |
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| 39 Where's the Return Fire in Culture Wars? - Washington Post Where, oh where, is the outrage? The Billboard charts are crammed full of the vulgar and violent these days, with lyrics celebrating every pathology. |
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| 40 Planned Parenthood in legal crosshairs - Worldnetdaily.com A lawsuit now threatens Planned Parenthood over their use of unskilled labor, endangering of girls. |
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| 40 Study Warns of Stagnation in Arab Societies - New York Times A blunt new report by Arab intellectuals warns that Arab societies are being crippled by a lack of political freedom, the repression of women and an isolation from the world of ideas that stifles creativity. In the 1,000 years since the reign of the Caliph Mamoun, it concludes, the Arabs have only translated as many books as Spain translates in one year. |
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| 40 Want to understand Islam? Read - Marvin Olasky (Townhall.com) This summer, as many Americans head to oceans white with foam, some atypical reading is finding its way into beach bags alongside torrid romance novels and cool detective stories. Books about Islam are hot, and new ones are pouring off the presses. |
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| 40 Old Fashioned Heroes - The Weekly Standard This week PBS is showing "Rediscovering George Washington," a film that "emphasizes the qualities of character" of a great leader. |
| 40 The Writing Life - Gary Wills - New York Times I am happy to see that the deliberate avoidance of religion in political and other analysis has been fading in recent years. |
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| 25 Bloomberg's Gift - National Review New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg "will be a pro-choice hero," the Village Voice promised shortly after his inauguration earlier this year. And abortion rights hero he certainly appears, but don't break open the champagne just yet. |
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| 26 Aids epidemic 'still in early stages' - BBC Overall, an estimated 68 million will die from the disease by 2020. This compares with 20 million deaths over the past 20 years. ...the report also warns of epidemics in highly-populated countries like China, Indonesia and those in the former Soviet Union. The disease is spreading fastest in Russia and Eastern Europe and is moving from injecting drug users to the wider population. |
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| 27 6,000 World Youth Day applicants denied visas - National Post Thousands of young Catholics have been denied visas to attend World Youth Day in Toronto, driving registration down for Pope John Paul II's Canadian visit. |
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| 28 Study: Most Change Minds About Assisted Suicide - Reuters Nearly 90 percent of people who ask their doctors to help them kill themselves later change their minds, researchers reported on Tuesday. |
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| 29 They hate your mommy - John Leo (U.S. News) Once again the push is on for the Senate to ratify CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. There's a good reason that the Senate has ignored it for a generation: It's an incredibly toxic document, the work of international bureaucrats determined to impose a worldwide makeover of family relations and "gender roles." |
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| 30 Vatican supports International Criminal Court with symbolic donation - Lifesite news Pro-lifers around the globe were dismayed Monday at the Vatican's welcoming of the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Archbishop Renato Martino, the Vatican's representative at the United Nations issued a release in support of the ICC and noted that the Vatican had contributed a symbolic donation of $3,000 to the ICC trust fund. |
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| 31 Bush set to cut UN population control funding - EWTN The Washington Post reports that President George W. Bush's aides have directed State Department officials in recent days to devise a plan to eliminate this year's $34 million funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). |
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| 32 The Terror In Sudan - Washington Post The number is so shockingly large as to defy casual comprehension. We must exercise both moral and statistical imagination to understand the evil represented: 1.7 million human beings, the most recent U.N. estimate for people in southern Sudan deliberately being denied humanitarian aid by Khartoum's National Islamic Front regime. |
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| 33 Would the feds arrest Mom & Pop America for hate crimes? - WorldNetDaily.com The long Fourth of July weekend was a wonderful opportunity — amidst the cookouts and fireworks — to pause and remember our nation's heritage, and to remind our children about those old-fashioned virtues of mom, apple pie and "gay" sex. |
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| 32 White couple have black twins - The Telegraph (U.K.) A white couple have had black twins after a mix-up at an NHS fertility clinic. |
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| 33 You are what you read - World Magazine Sales of Christian books to Evangelicals are so strong, secular sellers are looking to grab a slice of the lucrative market. But is the quality as great as the quantity? An analysis of CBA bestsellers shows how readers are engaging — or ignoring — the culture. |
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| EDUCATION MATTERS: |
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| 34 The Market Can Transform Our Schools - Milton Friedman - New York Times The Supreme Court's voucher decision clears the way for a major expansion of parental school choice. Opponents of choice can no longer use the First Amendment's religious Establishment Clause to attack voucher programs, now that the Supreme Court has declared the Cleveland program constitutionally acceptable even though most voucher recipients went to parochial schools. |
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| 35 The Supreme Court strikes a blow against the education monopoly. |
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| 36 Managing Your College Loans - Time You can consolidate them at favorable rates this year if you follow a few simple rules |
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| 37 Writing Us Off - Boundless Conservatives have long complained of campus bias. Now some professors are openly admitting it. In fact, they're making it official policy: No conservatives allowed. |
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| 38 Making Muslim warriors in the public schools - Daniel Pipes (Jerusalem Post) Americans and other Westerners face a choice: They can insist that Islam, like other religions, be taught in schools objectively. Or, as is increasingly the case, they can permit true believers to design instruction materials about Islam that serve as a mechanism for proselytizing. The answer will substantially affect the future course of militant Islam in the West. |
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| 39 Teachers have mixed feelings on new SAT - CNN.com High school students will soon have to roll up their sleeves and write an essay when they take the SAT. Not surprisingly, their English teachers are smiling. |
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| 40 A Civic Catechism - Wall Street Journal American schoolchildren need instruction in our political faith. |
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| 40 Police give teachers a primer on gangs - Christian Science Monitor At a course for teachers in Lynn, Mass., weapons confiscated from local youths, a map of gang turfs, and colored bandanas that can signal membership in rival gangs are on display. |
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| 40 Special Ed Gender Gap Stirs Worry - The Boston Globe Public schools in Massachusetts and nationwide place twice as many boys as girls in special education, a gender gap that extends from the biggest cities to the toniest suburbs to the tiniest towns, according to a Globe analysis of state and federal data. |
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| 40 Disability Rate Of Children, Teens Up Sharply - The Salt Lake Tribune One of every dozen U.S. children and teenagers — 5.2 million — has a physical or mental disability, according to new figures from the 2000 Census that reflect sharp growth in the nation's young handicapped population over the past decade. |
| 40 Suspicious stats - Thomas Sowell (Townhall.com) One of the latest in the seemingly endless rounds of alarming statistics is that one out of 12 American children has some form of disability. |
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| 40 A scary report - Thomas Sowell - (Townhall.com) Most discussions of the problems of American education have an air of utter unreality because they avoid addressing the most fundamental and intractable problem of our public schools — the low quality of our teachers. There is no point expecting teachers to teach things that they themselves do not know or understand. |
| St.
Justin Martyr, pray for us |