Proposed law in Canada, Schools cannot out students to their parents

Ten of Swords

Alberta Education minister David Eggen is proposing a new law that will require schools to inform students of their right to have a GSA club (gay straight alliance) and will make it illegal for the school to inform parents if their kids are members of such a club.

Although privacy law and the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s code of conduct would, in many cases, prevent school staff from disclosing a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to their family members without the student’s permission, Eggen said Albertans need legal clarity after some parents demanded the right to know what their children are doing at school.

I can certainly see the benefits to students who potentially come from very conservative families but who wish to make friends and explore their sexuality in a safe environment but part of me wonders if this is an example of legislation overreaching.

Edmonton Sun Article

Canadian National Post Article

I wonder if this idea will make any progress in Canada and if something like this would ever be considered workable in Ireland.

Annasopra

Overeach in what way?

Ten of Swords

The proposed legislation hasn't been drafted yet so there is little point in speculating on what exactly it may or may not include. I absolutely get the benefits of such a law and the need for teenagers to have their privacy protected, and for the record I would be in favor, but I feel that laws like this might make parents feel uneasy. I just wonder what kind of reception legislation that forbids state agencies answering parents questions about their (minor) children would have in Ireland. I'd say such legislation would face considerable resistance.

The broader issue I see with it is that it appears to be less about helping teens and more about these two politicians getting one up on each other, the more I read about it the more I'm forming the conclusion that Jason Kenney is acting like a dick.

Manion

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Overeach in what way?

Inserting the state into the family. Perhaps teachers are best placed to determine if something should be brought to a parents attention? Why are parents the enemy?

I had a childhood friend who committed suicide as a young man. He was bullied most of his days in school. He came out at age 16. I'm sure his parents had not a clue what was going on with him in school. I know they loved and accepted him in the end and had they known maybe his formative year wouldn't have been so hard.