From the private domain
I agree with Mr. Drainville. In Quebec, religion, whatever it is, is in the private domain and must remain so. So pray in places of worship, at home, in parks, but not at school. These unreasonable accommodations will lead us to the discrimination of many groups of citizens, starting with women.
Maryse Lauzon
Religion lives in the head and the heart
Religion does not need ostentatious gestures, it is lived above all in the head and the heart. Let’s not be naive: all over the world, Islam is proselytizing…
Louise Richard
A logistical challenge
In my opinion, a quest for spirituality is part of human nature. Whether our beliefs are religious, scientific or atheistic, they are natural and necessary. I am for a place of meditation, whether for meditation, prayer or reflection. Open to all when space permits. The religious particularity of Muslims, which I know a little about, separates the prayer of men and women. This poses a logistical challenge but not impossible to overcome. So I am in favor of accommodation.
Rejean Bouchard
No need for a specific location
Being a former believer raised as a Catholic, I think of what my mother used to tell me when I was little in school. She assured me that I could pray anywhere, anytime and even in secret. No need to have a specific location.
Gaila Narusevicius, daycare educator
The school must remain non-denominational
Prayer and any religious practice have no place in Quebec public schools, which have been non-denominational since the adoption of Law 118 on June 16, 2000. Religions have always been a source of division and conflict. . More than ever, public schools must ensure religious neutrality in order to be the foundation of the constitution of Quebec culture shared and adopted by future adult citizens of Quebec, regardless of their ethnic origin, their beliefs or their moral or nuns. And this principle of the religious neutrality of schools, which the non-denominational status of public schools requires, should apply to private schools that receive financial assistance from the Quebec government.
Francois Gougeon
Indisposing
Mr. Drainville is absolutely right: to pray is a fundamental right, but I don’t want anyone to pray in public, it’s annoying. People who feel the need to pray can do so at home or in places of worship.
Michael Tremblay
Let’s teach philosophy instead
At one time, we spent the first half of the morning studying the catechism and sacred history. It was necessary to pray when arriving in the morning, to recite the Rosary when returning after dinner, to go to confession on the first Thursday of the month and to mass once a week. All that time is over and it’s for the best. In my opinion, it would be better to teach philosophy and leave all religion at home and in the church, mosque or other temple. I agree with the government’s decision. Moreover, the ideal place of calm and contemplation at school should be the library. If there has.
Janine Theriault, Montreal
Avoid endangering students
Mr. Drainville mixes up everything and does not understand the principle of reasonable accommodation. A room of meditation comes to satisfy the need and avoids situations which endanger the young people (eg: to pray in stairwells). The code of conduct is the responsibility of the school board and is framed by law. The minister interferes in the responsibilities that fall to the school and its management. It is divisive and fails to address the real issues, including the existence of state-subsidized private religious schools.
Louise Chenard, retired school principal, Montreal
Against a variable secularism
Totally agree with the minister. I am against variable secularism. The school must remain a learning environment. Mosques and churches exist for religious practices. Above all, do not convert classrooms into places of prayer when there is a lack of space to welcome new students!
Raymonde St-Amour
The debate is already closed
But of course yes, secularism and place of prayer are mutually exclusive. There is no compromise to be made. Prayer, whether Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, happens elsewhere. Outside secular school. We’re not going to go back to “reasonable accommodation” or curtains in the windows, it’s ridiculous. We prevent teachers who wear the hijab from teaching, but we open rooms for prayer? In addition, Muslim students are excluded by their male co-religionists? The debate is long over.
Brigitte Bachellerie
Who bothers?
I really don’t see a problem. Who really bothers? The secular state should not interfere with religious practice. But if students want to practice their religion outside of class hours, in an available room, who cares? Perhaps it will be necessary that the leaders of the group ensure a certain monitoring, a certain framing. They will have to ensure themselves that the practice is safe. Some practices may be excluded, such as separating boys from girls. But it is an additional service for parents who want their children to practice a religion. There’s nothing wrong with that!
Peter Martin
The students are there to study
Kudos to Minister Drainville. He is absolutely right. Let people who want to pray do so in the religious temples designed for that purpose and not at school, where the students are there to study.
Carole Fradette, Westmount