U.S. homeschoolers wary of Canadian bill

Mar 13, 2012
by Erin Roach

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Homeschool defenders in the United States are wary of proposed legislation in Alberta, Canada, that could set a philosophical precedent for government intrusion into what parents are allowed to teach their homeschooled children.

"This is concerning to us because this is the first time we've seen anything like this on North American soil, where a government has actually proposed to include homeschools in a law that would constrain what parents could teach their children or to alternatively require them to teach something in a certain way," Michael Donnelly, staff attorney for the Virginia-based Home School Legal Defense Association, told Baptist Press.

At issue is section 16 of Alberta's proposed Education Act, which states, "All courses or programs of study offered and instructional materials used in a school must reflect the diverse nature and heritage of society in Alberta, promote understanding and respect for others and honour and respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Human Rights Act."

In the Education Act, homeschools are considered schools, and the Human Rights Act has been used in Canada to target Christians and conservatives who believe homosexual behavior is wrong. the rest