Resolved: Canada law banning homeschools teaching against homosexuality is just.

To begin I would like to offer some clarification to the topic at hand. The “law” in question is not an established law, but rather a set of proposed language to Alberta's Education Act of 2012. I ask any reader interested read further at, http://www.education.alberta.ca... Onward to the debate at hand, I would like to take a moment to better define the true heart of this debate, which is if a proposed law in Canada restricting the limits of education within the topic of homosexuality to not include any negative language can be described as just. While I do not disagree with my opponent's initial definition, I would move to provide a more thorough understanding of the word. As defined by Wikionary: Just (adj.): Factually fair; correct; proper. Morally fair; upright; righteous, equitable Through the definition provided by my opponent it is clear his intent is to limit this to fair through moral grounds, but I ask to take a moment to observe the common consistencies between the two definitions. By all meanings, for something to be considered just, it must be also fair. To this I move to make my first argument. Contention 1: The proposed law cannot be applied to other basis of beliefs with consistency. To hold true to the tenets of fair, the same argument would need to be applied to similar situations with equal results. In this application, a belief believed by some to be sinful is proposed to be limited in it's ability to be taught to others. A fair application could be focused on another belief considered by some to be sinful. As an example, if the government were to mandate that no home school or religious school teach that the consuming of pork is sinful, it would be a clear overstepping of the government and a blatant violation on the personal freedoms of the people. Why so then does homosexuality receive a special mention? Homosexuality as a sinful act is just a particular tenant of a belief set, in the same way the adultery is sinful act. The only dissimilarities between the two are that the state believes that in this instance one isn't sinful. Without consistency, the state has applied a monopoly on what can be considered sinful. This inconsistency cannot through definition, be considered fair. Contention 2: The proposed law cannot be enforced as limited to home schools. I must be honest, my education was through public schools, I have never attended a home school. However, I know through experience that a great deal of my applied knowledge comes from my parents. Their wisdom has been passed to me no doubt from living with them for twenty years or so. Because they were not my teachers, I have no trouble discerning what I learned at school and what I learned at home. But in an environment where the two are the same, I would think that the distinction would not be as clear. As proposed, would a family teaching their child that homosexuality is sinful alongside a multiplication table be any more guilty than teaching them alongside the family supper? What is the line between home and school within the home school? If this cannot be unerringly clear, then it cannot be enforced with consistency, and is most certainly not just. Contention 3: The personal beliefs of a student have no bearing on their academic potential. If the ultimate achievement for a student taught through home school is to be a Certificate of General Educational Development from their local jurisdiction, then whatever personal beliefs they may hold have no weight whatsoever on their ability to succeed. The purpose of education mandated by the state is wholly factual in scope. To be granted a diploma or any of its equivalents, one must demonstrate adequate knowledge of facts and the ability to apply them properly. The students belief on the basis of sin in the world is a complete non issue. In the event that as proposed, the law would arbitrarily hinder a select few students based entirely on their personal beliefs from a timely educational career, while allowing others a timely graduation, is by no means just. Thank you. -DS