By Shaun Penner

Gay-Straight Alliances

Province-wide student walkout being planned to protect privacy of GSA’s

Apr 25, 2019 | 1:38 PM

Students in Calgary are pushing for a province-wide protest about the Premier-Designate’s stance on Gay-Straight Alliances in schools.

This comes after Jason Kenney campaigned on the promise to repeal the Education Act back to 2014, where parents had the ability to know if their child was part of such a group. The NDP changed the legislation in 2017 with Bill 24, which in turn protected student’s privacy if they did not want to tell their parents. With that, the students are planning a province-wide walkout in protest of the possible change back. The walkout is being planned for May 3, and students are encouraged to walkout of class between 9:30 and 9:50 a.m.

Though he hasn’t heard rumblings of any walkout happening here in Grande Prairie, Superintendent of the Grande Prairie Public School District Sandy McDonald doesn’t see having much of an issue if the legislation does change.

“We don’t ever have anybody calling, concerned that their child is in a chess club,” said McDonald. “We typically don’t get those. So, if a parent is concerned about their child’s participation in this club, it’s not really about the participation… it’s about what is in the best interest of the parent.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

If there were to be a change to legislation, McDonald stated that school staff and board members would of course follow the letter of the law. He also said it is important for parents and the district to continue to have a good relationship, describing them as being partners to support the best interests of their children.

Kenney and the UCP have said that they do not oppose the formation of groups like this, but that the issue for them comes down to the right for parents to know if their child is a part of such a group. The new legislation wouldn’t force teachers to tell parents, but if parents inquired, or the teacher felt that the parent needed to know for the student’s health and welfare, they could in fact disclose that information to the family.

The issue being raised by students is the fact that some LGBTQ youth feel they would be “outed” if their family was to know they were part of such a group.

“For some youth, it is the safest place in their life. If they’re uncertain or unsure or unable to disclose their personal sexuality to those who are closest to them and they have that support they need in a gay-straight alliance, then I am glad it is there for them,” said McDonald.

McDonald is glad to see students taking a principled stance for something that matters to them. However, he notes the importance of having to learn how to properly go about it. Being disruptive to classes and skipping school isn’t the ideal solution, but learning to think critically and understanding the whole issue is a positive learning experience for students.

“I used to say this to students all the time when I was a principal: Right now, you’re in Grade 8 and you’re in my math class. Four years from now, you’re not in one of my classrooms, you are one of my peers, you’re my neighbour,” said McDonald. “And this is how I hope that you grow and what I hope you bring to our neighbourhood when you move into that house up the street.”

Kenney and the rest of the new MLA’s are to be sworn-in to the 30^th Legislature on Tuesday, with the first sitting to come around the third week in May.