Section 11.1, Alberta's Parental Opt Out: Implementation, Reaction, and Legacy

• In Event: 30.081 - Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: 30.081-1 - Division L Section 3

Abstract

Introduced in 2009, Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act required schools to provide prior written notice to parents when classroom activities were to deal explicitly with religion, human sexuality, or sexual orientation. Parents then had the right to request their child be excluded from that portion of study. This study is the first province-wide assessment of this legislation, and recognizes that teachers’ experience of this legislation exists independent of formal policy intentions or procedures. This research examines how Section 11.1 has impacted teaching practices in Alberta, analysing contextual documents and surveying practicing teachers to determine if, and to what extent, they have altered or removed any curricular materials as a result of Section 11.1.

Authors

• Alix Esterhuizen, University of Calgary

• Dianne Gereluk, University of Calgary