Yesterday, over two thousand Albertans gathered at the steps of the Legislature to say to the Minister of Education and to his government that Bill 2 – the proposed Education Act – must be changed.
The focal point of the peaceful rally was the last six words of Section 16 of Bill 2 – “and the Alberta Human Rights Act” – which need to be removed in order to protect the rights and freedoms of all parents, all home educators, and indeed all Albertans.
Two weeks ago, on Friday, March 2, 2012, the Alberta Home Education Association (AHEA) sent notice to its members that it would be holding a rally at the Legislature to express concerns about Bill 2: The Education Act. The rally would take place a mere three days later, and at that March 5th rally, over 500 home educators from across the province gathered to voice concerns and ask for changes.
The Minister of Education subsequently added an amendment to the Preamble mentioning parental rights, but as the Preamble to any act has little force in law, that amendment was virtually meaningless.
So, on Thursday, March 15, 2012, AHEA – in conjunction with the Home School Legal Defence Association (HSLDA) and Citizens for Diversity in Education (CDE) – decided to hold a second rally at the Legislature on Monday, March 19th.
A mere four days later, 2,152 Albertans (confirmed by crowd counters) from all walks of life, from every age group, representing every educational option in Alberta, gathered at the steps of the Legislature to protest those six words in Section 16 of Bill 2: “…and the Alberta Human Rights Act.”
Read more at AHEA
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