Chilliwack superintendent’s report says parental views, while important, can’t override diversity, tolerance

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The school system is expected to promote values expressed in the Constitution Act, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Official Languages Act, the Multiculturalism Act, the BC Human Rights Code, the Employment Equity Act and the School Act, respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law, he wrote.

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“Parental views, however important, cannot override the imperative placed upon the British Columbia public schools to mirror the diversity of the community and teach tolerance and understanding of difference,” Arul-pragasam noted in his report. Later in his report, Arul-pragasam said, “There is no parental right to exempt students from discussions regarding gender identity and expression.”

Arul-pragasam’s year-end letter to SD33 parents in December 2023 touched on several themes around SOGI, inclusivity and diversity, while briefly addressing student success and outcomes. Arul-pragasam acknowledged in his letter to parents dated Dec. 20 that the year was a challenging one, particularly in light of protests that pitted parental rights against those who espoused sexual orientation and gender identity policies. One such protest held in September in downtown Chilliwack brought out several hundreds of parental rights supporters against a smaller contingent of counter-protesters.

“As the year draws to a close, this year, more than ever, we realize how all of us are impacted and challenged by events in our province and our world,” Arul-pragasam wrote. “The fast pace of innovation, change, and the intricate dynamics of our relationships with others in our school communities have brought about both opportunities and challenges in our lives and work environment. Despite the protests that have emerged in various school communities across the province, impacting our collective sense of belonging and safety, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering safe and caring school environments where everyone can be their authentic selves.”

There were at least three protests in Chilliwack in 2023, including a March 2023 incident where a 45-year-old man was briefly detained by police but later released without charge. In September 2023, hundreds of protesters filled downtown Chilliwack for a demonstration. The following month in October, protesters on both sides of the SOGI policy debate squared off outside the school district office.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Protesters hold signs at a downtown Chilliwack protest in September 2023.

Arul-pragasam did not necessarily tout any particular academic success from SD33 in his December 2023 letter to parents, or the district’s ongoing strategic plan efforts, but did promote the responsibility of every adult in the K-12 school system to proactively create what he called “safe, caring and inclusive learning environments” for all students, and support experiences of safety, dignity and respect.

“As a District, we are responsible for developing students who will become good stewards of their health and environment and can contribute to the global community. We are proud of the richness of the diversity of our students and staff while also recognizing the multidimensional experiences of intersectionality that are unique to each of us,” Arul-pragasam wrote. “The Province created the Erase (Expect Respect and A Safe Education) Strategy to provide resources to help schools, families, and communities build safer and more caring school communities to help ensure every child feels safe, accepted, and respected.”