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On Eve of Ontario Election, Conservative Leader Muses About Creationism in Schools

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 September 2007, 18:03 CDT

By CHINTA PUXLEY

TORONTO (CP) - There is no reason creationism could not be taught in addition to evolution and "other theories" if private religious schools are brought into Ontario public school boards, Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said Wednesday.

On the eve of a provincial election campaign that gets underway Monday, the Conservatives are promising to give private religious schools $400 million if they opt into the public system, teach the provincial curriculum, hire accredited teachers and administer standardized tests.

But that doesn't mean Christian schools couldn't teach creationism on top of the existing provincial curriculum, said Tory, who is embarking on his first campaign as Conservative leader.

"It's still called the theory of evolution," Tory said after touring a 100-year-old Jewish school in a Toronto suburb.

"They teach evolution in the Ontario curriculum, but they also could teach the fact to the children that there are other theories that people have out there that are part of some Christian beliefs."

The governing Liberals quickly jumped on Tory's remarks, calling it a "violation" of the Ontario curriculum - which already teaches evolution - for creationism to be taught outside the context of a religion class.

Creationism isn't included in any Canadian provincial science curriculum and has been banned outright in British Columbia.

Sensing a growing media storm, Tory later clarified his remarks to say that he meant creationism could be taught in religion class, and that he did not mean to suggest the two theories would be given equal weight in a science lab.

The Conservative election promise to fund religious schools would ensure all students get a more well-rounded education, because it would make the schools subject to provincial inspections, he added.

He called it unfair that Catholic schools get tax dollars while other faith-based schools are left to struggle on their own.

"There will be some (who) will disagree with that," Tory said. "But I think people will respect . . . that I'm actually putting forward a proposal as to how we can deal with an issue that's been around for decades, and that I'm prepared to talk about it without fearmongering."

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne - who is running against Tory for her Toronto seat - said his comments prove his policy hasn't been properly thought out. Creationism is currently not part of the provincial science curriculum and isn't given the same weight as evolution, she said.

Catholic schools may talk about creationism, Wynne said, but only in the context of a broader religious discussion.

"It's useful for students to have the opportunity to know the ideas that are out there and are part of our history," Wynne said.

"What we teach as the truth is the question. The scientific truths are the ones that are included in the Ontario curriculum. That's the curriculum that we support."

The debate over publicly funding faith-based schools is "divisive" and is just a "distraction" from the real issues in public education, she added.

John Vanasselt, with the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools, said there is no reason why Ontario shouldn't join other provinces that make room for religious beliefs within the public education system.

The alliance's 78 schools already teach evolution in science class, but it is taught on par with creationism, he said.

"Our position is that the creation story is the one we believe our children ought to learn," Vanasselt said.

"(But) we don't believe that we're doing them any help if we don't teach them the other ones that are out there either . . . . We live in a free country. There needs to be freedom of thought and freedom of expression. There isn't just one official belief."

David Seljak, professor of religious studies at St. Jerome University at the University of Waterloo, said the teaching of creationism alongside evolution hasn't been detrimental to students who are steeped in private, religious education.

There are private Christian universities that teach creationism and talk about the resurrection of the dead but still produce fine medical doctors, he said.

"The fear of these schools is exaggerated," Seljak said. "That being said . . . it would have to be very closely monitored because people do all kinds of crazy things in the name of religion."

Source: Canadian Press

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