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By David F. Dawes
A CLOVERDALE father who threatened to take the Surrey School Board to a human
rights tribunal withdrew the threat a few days afterward.
The conflict began when Paul Jubenvill approached Colebrook Elementary School
with a request to set up a prayer club in the school.
According to the Surrey Now, “Jubenvill wanted permission to start the club where students could spend 20
minutes per day on their lunch hour studying the Bible and praying.”
Jubenvill had spoken to school officials in November; but, said the Now, “Colebrook’s principal rejected the notion on the grounds the club would [violate] the
School Act.”
Jubenvill responded by email that the Surrey School District “supports this blockade, in violation of the provincial B.C. Human Rights Code.”
Frustrated by the rejection, he said he would set up the Bible club on the
sidewalk adjoining the school.
The Now reported that school district representative Doug Strachan said Jubenvill had
been sent a letter with an explanation of the district’s reasons for turning down the club proposal.
“It’s our position [that] it would not be consistent with the School Act,” Strachan told the Now, adding: “Any study of religion must be focused on the academic rather than the devotional
aspects.”
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Jubenvill had noted that there were a variety of Bible clubs and prayer groups
in some of Surrey’s high schools. Strachan, however, responded: “The high school clubs are age appropriate.”
Jubenvill withdrew his human rights complaint soon after.
According to the National Post, he stated December 9 that “he was taken aback by the storm of controversy over his plans.”
He told the Post: “It turned into a war. It’s not what I want.” He added: “People have totally misunderstood my actions.”
January 2010
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