DCHP-2

separate school DCHP-2 (August 2016)

• in a compound — Education

  a publicly funded school for students who belong to a religious minority, either Roman Catholic or Protestant.

  Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The term was first used in Canada to refer to the establishment of separate tax-funded schools for Roman Catholics or Protestants. In Ontario, where the majority has traditionally been Protestant, separate school often refers to a Roman Catholic school. The right to set up separate schools funded by taxpayers now exists only in certain provinces (Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta) and in the territories, although in the past such schools existed in more provinces. Now-obsolete uses referred to girls' schools (see also separate school ((1)) or segregated schools for Black students (see the 1855 quotation). As Chart 1 shows, despite a number of different meanings in the US, where such schools are generally privately funded (see also DCHP-1, separate school ((1)), meanings 1 & 2), the .ca domain features twice the frequency of the US, with most hits referring to the present meaning.
  J. Donald Wilson asserts the growing importance of separate schools in Canada since the mid-1990s, which few would have predicted only a generation earlier. He summarizes: "The extraordinary growth in the past 3 decades of enrolments in separate and nonpublic denominational schools and the increased political power of denominational groups attest to the importance parents attach to schooling as a means of preserving religio-cultural values and improving economic position." (Wilson in Canadian Encyclopedia reference).
  This meaning is culturally significant, shows a semantic change over the US term (see the fist note) and is also by virtue of frequency Canadian (see Chart 1).
  See also AHD-5, s.v. "separate school", which is marked "Canadian", COD-2, s.v "separate school", which discriminates between Ontario (meaning 1) and Saskatchewan and Alberta (meaning 2), and marks both meanings as "Cdn".

  See also: separate school ((1))  multiculturalism  

  • Separate schools operate independently of public schools and have their own school boards, which are elected exclusively by the minority taxpayers of the denomination in question. In contrast to the US, where such schools are funded privately, Canadians have successfully used constitutional rights in order to secure state funding for such schools (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference). Separate schools in Canada are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education and follow the same basic curriculum as that laid down for public schools. In practice, separate schools are almost always Roman Catholic schools today, but some others exist (see, e.g. the 2016 quotation).

  • 1844  It is provided, in the 55th Section of the "Act for the establishment and maintenance of Common Schools in Upper Canada," that in all cases where the teacher of a Common School, in any township, town, or city, shall happen to be a Protestant, the Roman Catholic inhabitants of such township, town, or city, shall be entitled to have a separate school with a teacher of their own religious persuasion. 
  • 1855  And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of the municipal council of any township, and of the board of school trustees of any city, town or incorporated village, on the application in writing of twelve or more resident heads of families, to authorize the establishment of one or more separate schools for Protestants, Roman Catholics, or colored people [...]. 
  • 1863  Whereas it is just and proper to restore to Roman Catholics in Upper Canada certain rights which they formerly enjoyed in respect to Separate Schools, and to bring the provisions of the Law respecting Separate Schools more in harmony with the provisions of the Law respecting Common Schools: Therefore Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada, enacts as follows: - Roman Catholic Separate School Act of 1855 repealed. I. Sections eighteen to thirty-six, both inclusive, of chapter sixty-five of the Consolidated Statutes for Upper Canada, intituled, "An Act respecting Separate Schools," are hereby repealed, and the following shall be subsituted in lieu thereof, and be deemed to form part of the said Act. 
  • 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.]
  • 1872  The Roman Catholics spoke frankly and sincerely for their separate schools, the New Brunswickers for their local liberties; in all other quarters strategical considerations manifestly prevailed.
  • 1891  St. John has outgrown the wretched Separate school system, having abolished it fifteen years ago . . . with the happiest result to all, and especially to the Catholic people.
  • 1896  Applying these principles to the Manitoba school question, I shall proceed to an examination of the question itself. From 1870 to 1890 here existed in Manitoba a separate school system. I am not here to say that system had given entire satisfaction. 
  • 1924  By an overwhelming majority, a motion to devote all the revenue of the Separate School Board to the primary schools at the expense of the two separate high schools was defeated at last night's meeting of the board. 
  • 1942  The newly created Toronto and Suburban Separate School District Board held its inaugural meeting last night in the Jarvis Street building of the former Toronto Separate School Board, which went out of existence at the close of last year. The chairman of the former board during its last year, Rev. C. W. James, was unanimously chosen chairman of the new board. 
  • 1954  The separate school supporter levy breaks down as follows: Metro secondary school, 2.98 mills; Metro general, 4.93; separate primary school, 14.00; Board of Education secondary school, 3.27; city general, 22.47.
  • 1955  Added to this, of course, is the fact that numerous children are educated at the Separate School, without charge to the ratepayers.
  • 1963  It called for increased financial aid for separate schools from the Provincial Government and the establishment of separate secondary schools and teachers colleges.
  • 1970  In Cornwall, about 70 per cent of separate school children are in the bilingual elementary schools, and nine of the twelve trustees are Franco-Ontarians. The chairmanship alternates yearly between a French-and English-speaking trustee.
  • 1978  The decision to remove non-resident tuition fees of $460 to $570 charged Catholic students might result in as many as 2,000 Catholic children in public schools this fall. For the city's separate school system - already plagued with declining enrolment and empty classrooms - the public board's decision couldn't come at a worse time. The decision means that Calgarians will no longer be asked their religion when they register their children in public schools. 
  • 1989  At a board meeting Thursday night, the separate school board agreed to waive its right to renew the lease for Sunnylea if the Etobicoke board can provide alternate space for Cardinal Slipyj students. 
  • 2000  The Caisses now have assets of $1.5-billion (190,000 members, $131-million in member investment) and is a vital part of the Acadian economy. In the 1960s and 1970s, after massive public participation and struggle, unilingual schools and separate school districts were formed, followed by separate school trustees' and parents' associations. In 1970, francophone teachers separated from the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, although they still work together on common issues. 
  • 2009  The discrimination of individual Catholics is sanctioned through the Alberta Act of 1905 in the federal constitution. It enshrines the right of Catholics to form separate school districts where they are the minority. If a district is established through a vote of Catholic residents in the proposed area, all Catholics are obligated to support the separate system whether they want to or not. The will of the majority of Catholics who vote in favour of the new district is imposed on all Catholics. 
  • 2009  Bramadat told a sellout crowd of about 200 policy-makers at a breakfast Thursday in the Parliamentary Restaurant that we have the Charter of Rights and other laws protecting religious individuals, yet only Catholics get separate school funding: "an odd arrangement, to say the least." 
  • 2016  ENGLEFELD PROTESTANT SEPARATE SCHOOL DIVISION Serving: 101 students in Englefeld and the immediate surrounding area. Spending: $1.2 million. The gist: The division saw a $30,000 increase in its provincial grant over last year, but is intentionally running a $10,000 deficit to afford some part-time staff - an educational assistant and administrative support for the principal. There will be no staff reductions.