Freed THE case of the con- tested use in the Surrey School District of children’s books depicting same-sex relationships wended its way through the courts, culminating finally in the B.C. Supreme Court's muted nod to parental rights. First was the decision of the Surrey trustees to pro- hibit the use of the books as a learning resource. A host of special interests then decried this asa book ban, taking the matter up as a Constitutional challenge. The lower court responded by accusing the trustees of using a religious framework in their deliberations. While not quite conceding that the lower court's decision was tantamount to thought-con- trol, the appeal court affirmed the primacy of par- ents in the education of the child and, small mercies, the right of people to consult their conscience, even when marred by religion. The issue has only ever been about the frittering gente eer ete we om ieee Call or drop by for more details. 1600 Rd., North Van Veekly Monthly Call for free pick-up jeir connnent away by advocacy groups of the treedoms of a focal authority and its constituen- y. The trustees had faithti ly represented the Surrey parents, most of whom wanted to be feft to impart their own beliefs to their tots on the issue of same-sex families. Media ineptitude in articulating this only com- pounds the outrage. In her column, the Vancouver Sun's Paula Brook liberally bandies about the book ban accusation, the kind of imprecise thinking that fudges issues and does noth- ing to prevent the trampling of liberties, She claims that the trustees aimed at some sort of purge of the books from the district. How they intended to carry out this dastardly deed isn’t clear. Was it to be by book burning? Perhaps inter- ception at the borders? A *ICBE rates : Open 7 ua,s a week Cats. Trucks, Vans & Minivans Chair or Loveseat search from niavbe? Ridiculous indeed: The books have always been available in the dibraries. What fell within the fegiti- mate purview of the trustees was the guarding of parental jurisdiction by deciding to keep the classroom free of perceived advocacy. The books were also deemed incompatible with the cogni- tive and emotional readiness of small children. Capriciously, to the trusteys Ms. Brook imputes the sinister intention of expunging the books trom the district. The complainant, teacher and gay-activist James Chamberlain, however, is said to have only the purist of motives. Had he not been swept up in the fight against the forces of darkness, Chamberlain, who instigated the litigation, would have consulted parents, promises Ms. Brook. Had he indeed listened, Mr. Chamberlain would have heard loud and clear what the trustees told him, also succinctly expressed by door to door, i SaMe-Sex Ce writer Heather Roscoe with reference to the sticky pawed woman she calls “Rotten Rodham.” “Our children are our responsibili- ty” wrote Roscoe on the American Partisan Web- magazine. “Ours,” she belts. “The reason why we call them our children is quite simply because they are not hers.” Ditto for Mr. Chamberlain. Absent trom Ms. Brook's Account is a news item about amother whose son was taught by the cherubie Mr. Chamberlain. The mum, an avid volunteer in the class. knew of Chamberlain’s sexu- al orientation, which was immaterial until she glimpsed him on CBC TV, where he claimed to have discussed homosexuality with his small charges. Mum then requested a transfer for her child. Did Mr. Chamberlain respect her right as a parent? Not on your life. He ran to an arbi- teator. Spared de-nazifica- tion, the mother was still forced into all kinds of humiliation. Come hell or high water (PETER BARKER 4 DENTURIST 21 Years Experience e605 5 231 LONSDALE AVE., NORTH VANCOUVER “with the purchase of a Kroehler sofa fo $43 J ) Select from over 100 fabric choices Friday, Sepiember 29, 2000 - Morth Shore News - 7 the titigious activist was intent on forcing compliance with his views, This real dan- ger evades Ms. Brook, who quotes with approval a threat to tire the elected board, made by the education min- ister of one of the most cor- rupt and autocratic govern- ments in Canada. The case typifies the potential for roiling, contlict ina public school monopoly that adinits of a narrow range of opinion, and cannot satisfy the myriad pedagogic needs in the community. It also showeases how special interests attempt to manipu- late the Charter-besieged courts to override demoecrat- ic decision-making in local authorities. The Surrey school trustees are more likely to be mirroring the wishes of local parents than the Gay and Lesbian Educators of B.C., the inbred B.C, Teacher's IS Federation, or the B.C, Civil Liberties Association, which seemingly cant discern a book ban tron a legitimate exercise of curricular discre- ton. Finally, an obtuse argu- ment designed to diminish dissenting speech is to equate the acceptance of such books as a resource in schools with a Constitutional imperative against discrimi- nation. A fight against a “Charter stomping trend,” as Ms. Brook inveighs. Utter puerile nonsense. Schools hould try teaching history instead of pushing the day's dominant doxy. Real knowl- edge and facts are always more enlightening than pro- paganda. Knowledge, not political- ly correct pap, contains the acid with which to dissolve both propaganda and preju- dice. — gnome@attcanada sitet it’s not too late to feature your boat! 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