Studying religion should be optional in Edmonton Catholic Schools, one trustee says.

Marilyn Bergstra said it's wrong for the school district to stop students from participating in graduation ceremonies if they neglected to finish three religion classes in high school.

“I don’t want to impose it. I think faith needs to be inspired, not bargained for," Bergstra said Wednesday.

Bergstra and fellow trustee Patricia Grell say the school district should have a written policy that spells out which religion courses students are required to take, and the consequences of failing to complete nine credits of religious studies.

“I don't agree that we should be using grad as a carrot to finish religion," Grell said.

Parents should be able to opt their children out of religion classes, Grell said.

She said her son worried he might not get credit for religion class after missing two lessons that were scheduled during diploma exams, and that this may affect his ability to participate in the cap-and-gown ceremony.

Alberta Education doesn't require students to complete religion courses to receive a high school diploma.

“Policies for graduation ceremonies are set out by local school boards and we encourage them to be as inclusive as possible," Lindsay Harvey, Education Minister David Eggen's press secretary, said in an email.

At an April 18 school board meeting, Bergstra attempted to introduce a motion to allow all students to participate in graduation ceremonies who have met Alberta Education's graduation requirements. She also proposed no penalties be levied against students who choose to skirt religion classes.

A majority of trustees voted the item off the agenda, and the board did not discuss it.

Edmonton Catholic Schools has no written policy requiring religion classes as a condition of graduation, but it's a long-standing practice in district high schools, district spokeswoman Lori Nagy said. The rule has been in place for decades, and no one is sure when or how it started, she said.

Some school handbooks spell out the requirement, such as Archbishop MacDonald's school guide, which says: "Students wishing to participate in the Archbishop MacDonald Catholic High School Graduation ceremonies must obtain nine credits in Religious Studies." The handbook points to a school district policy that says religion instruction is "essential" and will be taught in all schools.

Nagy said the situation rarely arises. Students do still receive their diploma from the government, and are welcome to take part in other graduation activities, like a celebration dinner and dance.

Twenty-five per cent of Edmonton Catholic Schools students are non-Catholic, according to data collected on registration forms, Nagy said.

Board chairperson Laura Thibert said religion classes are still an essential component of Catholic schools, as people purposefully choose to enrol their children for a religious education.

“We're a Catholic school district. Part of being a Catholic school district is, we teach religion," Thibert said.

Thibert said there's no need for a district policy spelling out religion classes as a graduation requirement. Teachers and administrators at all schools work with high school students from the beginning of Grade 10 to explain graduation requirements, and help them choose options and pre-requisites.

For students who can't fit religion into their regular timetable, there are options like summer school, distance learning and some classes offered after school, Thibert said.

When families new to Canada enrol students at the district's newcomer centre, staff there also explain religion courses are required for graduation, Nagy said.

Students in Calgary Catholic Schools must also complete nine credits of religion classes to participate in commencement ceremonies, spokeswoman Karen Ryhorchuk said. That situation arises rarely, she said.

Calgary Catholic does have an administrative policy that says students must take three credits of religious studies in each grade of high school.

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