Content area
Full Text
Facts
A group of parents objected to the family life program called Fully Alive which was being implemented in their Catholic schools. The program was designed for students in grades one through eight and incorporated the following five themes:
1. Created and Loved by God;
2. Living in Relationship;
3. Created Sexual: Male and Female;
4. Growing in Commitment; and
5. Living in the World.
The Fully Alive program had been designed by the Ontario Catholic Bishops over a period of eight years, and was endorsed by Church leaders in Saskatchewan. By 1999, seven Catholic school divisions in Saskatchewan had implemented, or were in the process of implementing, the program.
The Board of Education of North West Catholic School Division 16 (the "Board") had been considering the program since 1994 and authorized implementation for the 1999/2000 academic year. In March, 1999, the Board moved to initiate preparations including teacher in-service training and parent information meetings. Textbooks, manuals and resource materials were acquired.
There were two parent information meetings held in April, 1999, at which the Religious Education Coordinator for the Board explained the program. In June, the Board approved a policy which permitted parents to withdraw their children from Theme 3, but recommended that the Theme be taught at home. There was evidence that out of the 10,000 students enrolled in Saskatoon schools which already offered the program, approximately 100 had been withdrawn from Theme 3 pursuant to similar policies.
Opposing parents presented a petition against the program...