Editor, The News:

This is an open letter to the Mission School Board begging them to not waste their time and resources on sorting out whether or not to offer Social Justice 12 in the school curriculum in the 2009-2010 school year.

The Corren Agreement reached with the two Mr. Correns says the course should be taught in B.C. schools because it encourages students to question their belief systems and to learn a broad perspective about social injustice. The course outline states that people may experience injustice, due to factors such as sexual orientation.”

As a natural part of all human beings’ intellectual growth the teen years are a time of intensive activity in the brain chemistry, which causes all of us to question our beliefs in all things  – social, political, philosophical, sociological, etc.

We do not need a course in school to teach tolerance and kindness to individuals who are committed to the practice of homosexual sex, something which is repugnant to the vast majority of people. If a person is going to be tolerant of such practices that will be up to them to decide.

Students do not need a course to tell them that they must be tolerant of such practices or they are homophobic (a completely meaningless and non-word word) or hatemongers, which seems to be a common view espoused today by the two Mr. Correns and many others.

A person’s sexuality should be a personal and private matter.  It should not be something that is up for discussion and debate in the school curriculum.

The two Mr. Correns should have no say in what is offered in the school curriculum. Social Justice 12 has no place in the schools of Mission nor in any school district in my opinion, and in the opinion of many other parents, teachers and students.

Karen Gardner

Mission