These kids are not alright

When schools exclude children on the basis of religion

Abstract

Schools should be places where all children are welcome to receive education. Yet sometimes they are a battleground for political conflicts amongst adults, as schools are often used to inculcate common values. It is therefore particularly demeaning for children to be excluded from schools. In Canada, children have been excluded from school on the basis of religious practices, thereby violating their religious freedom. Little legal scholarship exists on children’s rights to religious freedom. This article reviews international law regarding the religious freedom of children in relation to education and then examines three legal cases.