"I don't want my kid taught any religious beliefs in school," says Cindy Schmegelsky, whose 11-year-old son attends Princess Alexandra School.

Cindy Schmegelsky of Hay River wants all references to religion and spirits out of public schools. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

She says her son is being excluded from lessons and activities because he objects to religious and spiritual references in texts and class projects. "It's negatively affecting his education."

Schmegelsky describes herself and her son as born-again Christians.

The Education Act states a teacher can discuss religion in a manner "respectful of the spiritual or religious values or beliefs of all the students."

Schmegelsky interprets that to mean parents must approve any mention of religion in the classroom. "I as a parent said it offends me. That was the moment they contravened the act."

She proposes banning all literature mentioning religion or spirituality, including aboriginal spirits, and any reference to historical events of a religious nature. And she would also rid schools of Christmas and Santa Claus, Halloween, Easter and Valentine's Day.

Schmegelsky recently stated her case before the Hay River District Education Authority, and even filed a complaint with the RCMP, claiming the Education Act is being contravened.

She also wrote Curtis Brown, the superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council.

"We took the complaint seriously," says Brown, who consulted the Department of Education on interpreting the brief mention of spirituality and religion in the Education Act.

"Basically, the intent of the legislation, as we've been told, is the inclusion of all students' religious and spiritual beliefs, as opposed to their exclusion," he says, explaining students can't be told one belief is right and another is wrong.

Brown says it's not the act's intention that every parent must consent before a religious reference is made.

The legislation also permits historical and current references to beliefs and religion in text and instruction, he notes.

As for the suggestion to remove all reference to religion from texts, he observed, "It would certainly be a big task."

Brown hopes, once Schmegelsky receives his reply to her letter, she will be able to work with her son's school to accommodate his beliefs.

And while he says he doesn't promote it, Brown points out a parent has the option of home schooling, or a group of parents with similar religious beliefs can seek to establish a private school.

Currently, schools can provide space for voluntary religious instruction outside of the instructional program, during lunch or after school.