n. the political problem of deciding whether denominational schools should be allowed to exist beside the public schools, both getting support from public funds.
1868  (1941)  [The Separate Schools story has been ingeniously distorted and lied about and there is no use for any person who does not speak Gaelic trying to go among them or influence them.]
1958  Another controversial issue associated with the separate school question concerned bilingual schools.
1963  The Ontario separate-school question played a notable role in French Canada's lack of enthusiasm for World War I.