To the editor:
Re: "Holy texts, free stuff and lessons in critical thinking," Oct. 31.
With regard to the brouhaha about Bibles in Chilliwack schools and your useful suggestions for additional readings of books by freethinkers such as Hitchens, Dennett, Harris and company, one crucial piece of information appears to have been overlooked by all concerned, namely, the School Act (1996) of British Columbia.
Section 76 of that Act clearly states:
(1) All schools and Provincial schools must be conducted on strictly secular and nonsectarian principles.
(2) The highest morality must be inculcated, but no religious dogma or creed is to be taught in a school or Provincial school.
For background material on how this Section came about, "google" Joan Russow on Wikipedia, which states: "Russow first gained attention in the 'Lord's Prayer Case' which resulted in the banning of school prayer in public schools in British Columbia in 1989").
Glenn M. Hardie, Vancouver
