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R. v. Wiebe, of the late 1970s, is a fascinating case
involving two statutes, the Alberta Bill of Rights and the School Act, in
direct conflict with each other, and a lack of precedent in determining the
extent to which religious freedoms apply.
 Born out of the clash between the growing liberal
sentiment of 1970s Alberta and the Mennonite approach to life was the Knee
Hill Christian School, an alternative to the Three Hills public school.
In an age of accelerated social development, the Knee
Hill School, among others, provided the Mennonite community with the ability
to educate their children in core subjects while simultaneously maintaining
their religious beliefs. However, as the teachers of these schools were not
in possession of teacher’s certificates, the schools were refused official
status by the government, leaving the parents of the students open to
truancy charges.
Despite the law of the time, the Mennonite people held
firm to their beliefs, even refusing legal counsel when pressed with
charges.
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
;)
