While it is important to combat bullying, "The Public Schools Amendment Act (Safe and Inclusive Schools) Bill 18 will force some public and independent schools to act in ways that are against their community values and religious beliefs. As well as, Bill 18 will force a definition of Bullying that is too broad to be an effective tool. There are better ways to reduce bullying. Please protect our schools and religious freedoms and do not pass Bill 18 as written.”
The Bill also specifically grants legal protection to certain groups while excluding others from that same protection.
This should be a concern to all parents whether their children attend a public or an independent school. Community values should be respected and local initiatives should be allowed to ensure all students have a safe and welcoming learning environment.
In particular, when parents and students choose an independent faith based school they do so specifically because it offers a certain school environment and set of values.
Bill 18 erodes that choice by requiring these schools to accommodate and promote groups whose beliefs are in direct contradiction to the teachings of many independent faith based schools.
The Manitoba government should look for democratic and inclusive ways to combat bullying. Forcing public and faith based independent schools to act against their beliefs and their community values is not the way to combat bullying.
To Whom It May Concern,
We do not support "The Public Schools Amendment Act (Safe and Inclusive Schools) Bill 18. While it is important to combat bullying, to be effective the legislation must satisfy two fundamental criteria: It must define bullying accurately, and it must respect existing rights and freedoms.
Currently the Manitoba government's proposed Bill 18, Safe and Inclusive Schools, meets neither of these requirements. The Bill is too broad in it's definition of "Bullying" to be effective and it will force some public and independent schools to act in ways that are against their community values and religious beliefs.
There are better ways to reduce bullying. Please protect our schools and religious freedoms and do not pass Bill 18 as written.
Your Truly,
