Dear Editor,
In his piece named “then AGAIN” which was published in the Town and Country, Doug Neuman called for the government of Alberta to withdraw funding from private schools. Mr. Neuman asks, “So why are we funneling that money into private institutions that might not uphold the values of the public and separate school systems?”
This is precisely where the problem lies. It’s all about values.
I am a Christian, and so I maintain Christian values, and I want my children and grandchildren taught in line with those values. The public schools have taken secular humanism as their values. These values are diametrically opposed to the Christian values I believe in. It is for that reason that many Christian schools operate throughout our nation.
As citizens of Canada we all pay education taxes to our provincial governments. As a Christian Canadian I have no problems with that. As it is, those people who operate private schools in order to maintain their values only receive 70 per cent of the operational expenses to run their schools, and they receive nothing for their capital expenditures. Just think of how much money these private schools are saving the government. Because of them the government is saving 100 per cent of capital expenditures and also 30 per cent of operational costs!!
So why should I pay education taxes, and why should those who have secular humanism as their value be the only ones to reap the benefits of this tax money?
Are people with Christian values less than those who hold secular humanism? How about Muslims? There are also Muslim schools in Canada. Should they also be defunded? Are those people who hold Muslim values less than secular humanists too? Is secular humanism the only legitimate religion (belief system), thus deserving of full funding while all people holding to other values are less – or nothing as Mr. Neuman suggests?
I would beg to differ. One of the greatest things we enjoy in Canada is freedom of religion.
On that basis all people of all beliefs should enjoy the same benefits. If our governments collect taxes for education, they should also disburse those taxes to the people equally, regardless of their values (within the scope of what is lawful, of course).
If Christians wish to have their children taught from a Christian perspective the tax money should follow them. If Muslims wish to have their children taught from a Muslim perspective the tax money should follow them.
If secular humanists wish to have their children taught from the secular humanist perspective, the tax money should follow them.
That, Mr. Neuman, would be the great equalizer.
Henry Stel
