24 Walters Pace, Ledu, alberta T9E 857 Phone: (760) 913-0194 Website: www.cessa.ca September 2, 2018 Dr. David Turpin President University of Alberta 2-24 South Academic Bullding (SAB) Edmonton, Alberta T6G 267 Dear Dr. Turpin, | am writing to you in my capacty as president of the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA). Please note that | am also the Deputy Superintendent of Ek Island Catholic Schools ‘nd a University of Alberta alumnus (8. Ea. "26, M. E06). My purpose in wing isto convey CCSSA membership’s concerns regarding Dr. Kristopher Wells recent ‘grading’ of four school board's policies on Inclusive Communities fr students (eluding LGBTQ). Our perception is that Dr. Kristopher Wells, spokesperson for Public Interest Alberta, is attacking Catholic education valves and in particular the two Catholic Boards identi inthe ‘grading’ press release, This commentary along with numerous social media posts and quotes within local ‘media has our membership asking how an educational institution has an individual profess inaccurate ‘and intolerant judgments on another educational inttution. Clearly the statement below identifies Dr. Wells by his association withthe Universty: The University of Alberta's Dr. Kristopher Wells, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Policy Studies, ad the Intiute for Sexual Minonty Stuoies and Services says "The policy from Greater St Albert Catholic Schoo! Board includes a cal o chastity asa solution. I's ‘embarressing and inappropriate in 2016. Many other elements ofthis policy are deeply ‘concerning and may contravene government legislation." (630 CHED - August 30, 2016) If chastity is embarrassing, is promiscuty then the alternative? Is Dr. Wells promoting those echool- ‘aged children in 2016 being encouraged to be sexually active? Is Dr. Wells lecturing his UofA eduction students to promote thei grade school students being sexually active? Is Dr. Wells representing the University of Alberta when he chastses Catholic school boards and Catholic educators? As absurd ‘and extreme our presumptions, we ‘ee! Dr. Wells has been allowed to be absurd and extreme without ‘fear of consequence, We fee that as educational professionals, there isa place for academic debate but not within social media and general news media. The use of winerable chien for politcal agendas needs to stop. Regardiess of his personal bli, tc publically state that a elit held sacred to many people of faith is ielevant in 2016 i irresponsible and resembles discrimination of religion but then accuses religion of discriminating against the LGBTQ population. Vision Statement “The Counc of Cathe Schoo! Superintendents of Alberta a community of ips providing 2 valuable and valued voice thet nuances the developrent and decton of cao Educa in AlaCrue of ati Seto Sueintstets Abeta 21 Wakers lace, Leduc, Alberta T9E 857 Phone: (780) 913-0194 Website: www.cssa.ca ‘As reported in the mela, there was a public response from one of our colleagues that we feel was fair ‘and factual. Unfortunately we do not expecta response from Dr. Wells: “Grande Praitie Cathal Schools recelved a thumbs up from Alberta Education forts inctusive schools policies and procedures", said Superintendent Karl Germann. "The district deserved a better grade on the rpot car’, he sald. He encouraged Wells fo "redo and resubmit his homework. (Edmonton Journal, August 30, 2018) Public interest Alberta (Or. Wells) missed many policy documents ints analysis ofthe Greater ‘St. Albert Catholic Schoo! District, Superintendent David Keohane said. "Keohane was s> baffled by the report card's conclusions, he caled Alberta Education again Tuesday for reassurance their policies were acceptable fo the ministry. He said they ae.” (Edmonton Journal, August 30, 2016) ‘The fundamentals of academic freedom are understoad and promoted a the highest levels within Catholic education and within the post-secondary system thet we support. What | am hoping to convey ‘on behaif of our association is our disappointment withthe lack of professionalism demonstrated by a fellow educator and the public discrimination of our fundamental belief that “every chile a profound gift from God and welcome and cared for n our inclusive system.” Is Dr. Wells representing the University of Alberta when he publicly undermines another publicly funded ‘educational institution? ‘Dr. Well's twitter account staee that he is "Faculty Director, ISMSS & Assistant Professor, University of Alberta yet the twitterfeed is used to undermine the quality work that is beng done in Catholic schools to protect vulnerable students and undermines the role of Catholic Education in the province of Alberta. Are these views sanctioned by the Univesity of Alberta? What are the avenues of appeal a publi institution such as a Catholic School Board have, when itis percaivec. that ‘one public institution such as the University of Alberta is being used by a professor to undermine another? ltyou have any questions or require clarification of our concems or questions, please feel send me an email orcall me directly. Thank you for your time, we look forward to your response. Sincerely, sha (CSSA President ‘lo 21 Walters Place Leduc, AB TSE 887 C: 786 242-4200 E chauna@ece abe Co: Dr. Randy Wimmer, Dean of Education 12 Vision Statement “The Cound of Cathoe School Superintendents of Alberta sa community of dpe providing alable and valved ‘vole that uence the development an direction of Catholic avestion in alberta”Grande Prairie .. bias se CatholieSchools one ‘September 8, 2018, Dr. David Turpin President University of Alberta 2.24 South Academe Building (SAB) Edmonton, Alberta T&G 2G7 Dear Dr. Turpin, | am writing to you i my capacity Superintendent of Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools. My purpose in ting is to convey our concems regarding Dr. Kristopher Wells recent ‘grading’ of four school board's polices on Inclusive Communities for students (Including LGBTQ), Our perception is, that Dr. Kristopher Wels, spokesperson for Public Interest Alberta, is attacking Catholic education values and in partcslar the two Catholic Boards identified inthe ‘grading’ press release. This ‘commentary along with numerous social media posts and quotes within local media has our membership asking how an educational institution has an individual profess inaccurate and intolerant Judgments on ancther educational institution. Cleary the statement below iderifies Dr. Wells by his, association with the University The University of Aberta’s Dr. Kristopher Wells, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Palcy Studies, andthe Institute for Sexual Minorly Studies and Services says"The polly from Greater St Albert Catholic Schoo! Board includes a call fo chastity as a solution. I's embarrassing ‘and inappropriate i; 2016. Many other elements ofthis policy are deeply cancerming and may ‘contravene government legislation.” (630 CHED - August 30, 206) {thas is embarrassing, is promisculy then the alternative? Is Dr. Wells premoting thase school- ‘aged chitcren in 20°6 being encouraged to be sexually active? Is Dr. Wells lecturing his University of Alberta Education sudents to promole their grade schoo! students being sexuslly ative? Is Dr, Wells representing the University of Alberta when he chastises Catholic school boards and Catholic educators?” As absurd and extreme our presumptions, we feel Dr. Wells has been allowed to be absurd and extreme without fear of consequence. We feel that as educational professionals, there is ‘place for academic debate but not within social media and general news mecia, The use of vulnerable children ‘or poltical agendas needs to stop. Regardless of his personal belie, to publically state that a belief held sacred to many people of faith is irelevant in 2016 is tresponsible and resembles discrimination of religion but then accuses religion of Aiscriminating agairst the LGBTQ population, ‘As reported inthe media, there was a public response from one of our colleagues that we feel was fair ‘and factual. Unfortunately we do not expect a response from Dr. Wells "Grande Praiie Catholic Schools received a thumbs up fram Alberta Education for its inclusive ‘schools policies anc procedures’, said Superintendent Karl Germann. "The dsirct deserved a better ‘grade on the report car’, he said. He encouraged Wels to “redo and resubmit his homework (Edmonton Journal, August 30, 2016) Inspire. Create. Believe.Grande Prairie t. so on ope Catholic Schools Public interest Alberta (Dc. Wells) missod many policy documents in is analysis of the Greater St. Albert Catholic School District, Superintendent David Keohane said. “Keohane was sobaffied by the ‘report card's conclusions he called Alberta Education again Tuesday for reassurance their policies were acceptable fo the ministry. He said they are.” (Edmonton Journal, August 30,2016) The fundamentals of academic freedom are understood and promoted at the highest levels within Catholic education and within the post-secondary system thal we support. What | am Foping to convey on behalf of our association is our disappointment with the lack of professionalism ‘demonstrated by a fellow educator and the public discrimination of our fundamental belef that “every Chilis profound gift from God and welcome and cared for in our inclusive system.” 's Dr. Wells representing the University of Alberta when he publiely undermines another publicly funded educational instittion? Dr. Wel's Twitter account tates that he is "Faculty Director, ISMSS & Assistant Professor, University of Alberta yet the Twitter feed is used to undermine the quality work that is being done in Cattoic schools to protect vunerable students and undermines the role of Catholic Education in the province of Alberta. Are these views sanctioned by the University of Alberta? What are the avenues of appeal a public insttution such as a Catholic School Board have, ‘when itis perceived, that one public institution such as the University of Alberta is being used by a Professor to undermine another? you have any questions or require clarification of our concems or questions, please feel send me an femal or call me directly “Thank you for your consideration of this matter. | look forward to your response, Warmest Regards, Al 4— Karl Germann Superintendent of Schools f. Randy Winer, Iterim Dean of Education, University of Alberta ‘Board of Trustees, Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Inspire. Create. Believe.nine CSTA Ee — sss ‘Alberta Catholic School Teste’ Associaton Inca vrwacinchs cal eine brate, preserve, promote and enhance Cathollc education September 16,2016 Douglas R Stollery University ot Aberta Charcot he Senate - Universi of Abeta Ose of he Chenestr ond Senate, SEP 19 216 S22 Bln Unters of Abeta Senet once Edmonton, Abra T8G 266 Deer Mr. Stole (On 2ehalf ofthe Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association (ACSTA), | am wring to'srare with you conceme that the ACSTA and the member school boards we represent have in regards to satements made by Dr. Kristopher Wels. For the past few years Dr. Wells has publicly ‘expressed what we perceive tobe very negative and harmful views towards Catholic education in Alberta, culminating with the most recent and very public 'grading’ of fou school boars Policies on incusive communities for students (including our LGBTQ students), Inthis most recent example, Dr. Wells, who appeared as the spokesperson for Public Interest ‘Alberta, was introduced as a professor at your university, suggesting thatthe fling grade on inclusive schools poiies and procedures represents the views ofthe University of Alberta Dr. Wells has aiso been quoted as saying in the media: “The policy from Greater St. Albert Catholic Schoo! Board includes a cal to chastly as a solution i's embarrassing and inappropriate in 2016. Many other elements ofthis policy are deeply canceming and may contravene goverment legislation.” (690 CHED - August 30,2016) We perceive this tobe a direc attack on our Catholic fath and beliefs and speaks of religious sdsciminaton. After al, 2 cal to chastity is not something thats embarrassing or something to bo cast off as ancient or out of date. To publisy state that a belief wich is held as sacredto ‘mary (incuding alot of non Catholics) is somehow irrelevant today is completely absurd, 38 is the misinformation thatthe Greator St. Albert Catholic School Board's policy contravenes ‘government legislation. This statement borders on being libelous ‘The ACSTA and our member boards take very seriously the education of our students in al aress. As we govern schools of fait, itis, i fact, our consutional responsibilty to ensue that ‘our students are taught in @leaming environment winere our Catholic faiths permeated and play a vital role (See Supreme Court of Canada: Loyola High Schoo v. Quebec (Aitomey Genera) 2019)Douglas R Stollery September 16, 2016 Page 2 ‘While Or. Wells i entitled to his opinion, we feel that there isa strong conflict of intrest at play «due tothe fact that Or. Wells is Faculty Director, ISMSS & Assistant Professor, at the University ‘of Alberta, He appears tobe using his positon (which is pubiy funded) to undermine another pubiily funded institution, namely Catholic Schools in Alberta, We siongly believe itis not Dr. Wels place as facuty member ofa publicly funded institution to tell others what thei religious beliefs shouldbe. We are disaprointed in Dr. Wells failure to speek prudenty as a public ‘adem and hi intolecance a he freedom of conacious in others which he has dentstale, ‘especialy inthis instance. (Our greatest concem is fr whom does Dr:Wells speak when criticizing Catholicism and Catholic education in Alberta as nis afliation with the University of Alberta and tha Department ‘of Policy Studies in the Faculty cf Education are presented as hs qualifeatons and credentials. We would ask for clarification if the Universiy of Alberta supports his negative views of Catholicism and Catholic educaton in Alberta, In this particular case the report card. does Dr. Wels speak forthe University inthis context or is he speaking rom his avn personal opinion’? ‘The ACSTA and al of our member board take the education and the emetional, physical, and spitual heath of our students very seriously, especially when it comes to ensuring that each {and every individual in out care is protected and served in a safe and caring manner. We also look to the University of Alberta to assist Catholic school visions across Alberta in the formation of Cathoic educators, a we have forthe past century. We look forward to continuing {o work closely withthe Universi of Alberta to ensure we are forming teachers with open minds. ‘and crtcal thinking skills, who have the best intrest of al students in mind. We would appreciate a response at your earest convenience. Ifyou have any questions or require clarification on any issue rom the ACSTA, please contact us direc