"Gay" lobby assaults Surrey school board (Canada).

Gay and Lesbian Educators of BC (GALE BC) is a teachers' homosexual advocacy group, whose members developed a private list of teacher resources advocating the normality and moral acceptability of sodomy. The list was "widely circulated to teachers and librarians throughout British Columbia".

In December 1996 and January 1997, James Chamberlain, a GALE member and Surrey kindergarten teacher, asked the Surrey School Board to approve three books from the GALE list for use in kindergarten and Grade 1. The books inculcated the notion that homosexual "marriage" and "family" should be morally and socially affirmed.

The books were reviewed three times: by a helping teacher, several school district principals, and four assistant superintendents. Each review found them "likely to cause parental concern over their presentation of same-sex parents to kindergarten and Grade 1 students."

Upon a fourth review, the Deputy Superintendent concluded that the subject should be dealt with at home, while the Superintendent believed the books unnecessary to meet curriculum objectives. Anticipating controversy if the books were approved, the matter was referred back to the community's elected representatives on the School Board.

Teachers' federation

Shortly thereafter, the secular and leftist BC Teachers' Federation decided to "develop recommendations on strategies for achieving the elimination of homophobia and heterosexism" in state schools. In plain language, they intended to require students and teachers to affirm the normality and acceptability of sodomite conduct, and to forbid social or moral preference for male-female sexual relations.

The BCTF resolution alarmed many parents. As a result, the Surrey trustees passed what came to be known as "the GALE resolution". It informed all staff that "resources from gay and lesbian groups such as GALE or their related resource lists are not approved for use or redistribution in the Surrey School District."

Two weeks later, the Surrey Board specifically disallowed use of the three books put forward by James Chamberlain for kindergarten and Grade 1. Thereupon he and teacher Murray Warren, also a GALE member, decided to force the books upon the students by going to court. Among their supporters were the BC Civil Liberties Association and Canadian childrens' book author, Robert Munsch.

Meanwhile, a mother of a child in Chamberlain's kindergarten class faced a difficult choice. She had been assured by the school principal that Chamberlain would not promote homosexual lifestyles in the classroom, nor use materials not approved by the School Board. Chamberlain's subsequent conduct belied this assurance, and, supported by the principal, the mother decided to remove her child from his class. Chamberlain filed a grievance.

Madam Justice Saunders

The court challenge to the School Board was heard in the B.C. Supreme Court before Madam Justice Mary Saunders in the early summer of 1998. The more significant part of the judgement concerned the Board's rejection of the three books demanded by Chamberlain.

Madam Justice Saunders noted that the BC School Act requires state schools to be run "on strictly secular and non-sectarian principles", and that, while "the highest morality must be inculcated", "no religious dogma or creed is to be taught."

The judge went on to quote extensively from many affidavits filed by parents and others, coming from a variety of perspectives. They reflected a rejection of homosexual conduct, expressing strenuous moral and religious objections to having the books forced upon their children. She noted similar affidavits filed by religious leaders. Finally, she took notice that one of the trustees had, for years, publicly advocated "a greater role for religion in governance of the community", and had made related statements about the issue of homosexuality.

All of this was evidence, in her view, that the books were rejected because they were judged to be "incompatible or inconsistent" with the religious convictions that parents wished to pass on to their children. This, she held, violates the statutory requirement that state schools "be conducted on strictly secular ... principles", because this precludes "decisions significantly influenced by religious considerations". Consequently, she ruled that the Surrey Board should reconsider its decision.

In response, the Board announced its appeal to a higher court.

Needless to say, homosexual activists exulted in the decision, which effectively gives them the exclusive authority to direct moral education in state schools.

In a letter published in the Vancouver Sun and the B.C. Catholic, Catholic Archbishop Adam Exner deplored the ruling as de facto totalitarianism, declaring, "We should not tolerate totalitarianism in our day and age, in our country, in our province, or anywhere else."

Oh, one more thing. James Chamberlain won his grievance against the mother who removed her child from his class.