On Belief

Episode 8 Religious accommodations – the request for specific considerations on the basis of faith – prove, again and again, to be a source of controversy and, often, hostility. Requesting accommodation in the public school system is the right of every student but as the number of students from religiously observant households increases, there is a growing tension between those who advocate for a “neutral” public space and those who say practicing one’s faith is a fundamental right. The issue comes up each school year…whether it’s the sex ed curriculum or accommodation for prayers or opting out of Halloween costume parades. A seemingly small request can turn into a public fight about values, fairness, and what it means to be Canadian. This episode of on belief brings together two people asking similar questions but in different settings. Suzanne Muir is an equity consultant in Ontario and has worked with public schools for the last two decades. She deals with the day-to-day task of figuring out how peop