PITY the education authorities in Canada where political correctness is tying teachers in ever-tighter knots.

Take the case this week of the dilemma faced by a kindergarten in Montreal, which was asked by the parents of a five-year-old Muslim girl to allow her to wear a noise-reducing headset in class … because they don’t want her exposed to music “for religious reasons”.

According to this report, though music is an integral part of the kindergarten programme, the principal of Bienville School decided to cave into the parents’ demands.

Said Diane de Courcy, President of the Montreal School Commission:

The principal thinks the family is acting in good faith. (They) would have otherwise kept the child at home.

And she pointed out:

Once she’s in grade one, she’ll have to follow the same curriculum as everyone else.

Elaine Bertrand of union the Montreal Teachers’ Alliance added:

I find it sad for the child and the teacher, who may have to redesign her teaching programme as a result.

Many teachers argue the issue is not strictly about music or faith, but rather the pressure they feel to reasonably accommodate a variety of demands from health-related issues to religion.

Hat tip: BarrieJohn

