Education Minister defends use
The B.C. Education Ministry is under fire for its decision to list a Scientology website among potential resources for teachers. Two ministry publications include Scientology’s Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) website as a supplementary resource for teaching a new elective course in social justice, and in a guide to help make the curriculum more gay-friendly. Patti Bacchus, chairwoman of the Vancouver board of education, called the mention of YHRI “kind of alarming.” But Minister Shirley Bond is defending the decision, which she says does not amount to a championing of the Church of Scientology. She says teachers and boards will use their professional judgment in determining whether to use the website.