LifeSite News
The possibility that publicly funded alternative Christian schools will soon be a reality in Ontario is very real. People for Alternative Christian Education hopes to begin its project as early as next September within Hamilton-Wentworth school systems (public or separate).
Offensive and anti-Christian teaching, and a forced expulsion of God from public education, have caused many Christian parents to resort to home schooling or independent schools. However, the situation is manifestly unfair since these parents pay twice – through education taxes to the public schools and then for the costs of private or home education.
The situation is also problematic for public schools, as fewer students means lower funding from the province. Various public schools have been forced to close due to an inadequate number of students.
Lynne Scime, one of the PACE organizers, says that the program does not involve independent schools, but rather, classrooms within schools. Teachers who agree with the PACE program are selected in consultation with PACE parents. All parents who agree with PACE may send their children to this Christian alternative “school within a school.” At an initial public meeting for the program, local politicians were amazed at the crowd of over 500 who attended. Scime notes that more than 10 teachers in the public system have inquired about teaching in the alternative schools.
The Hamilton-Wentworth school board is seriously considering the PACE proposal and the Ontario government is seen as being likely to approve the measure. PACE schools would meet Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum guidelines, while providing a Christian viewpoint to issues and topics in all curriculum areas. Instruction will be delivered within a Christian environment, grounded in Christian principles with a strong academic focus.
