Nova Scotia school to debate religious T-shirt controversy with students
CHESTER BASIN, N.S. - A Nova Scotia school board official says a facilitator has been brought in to help resolve a dispute over a student's right to wear a T-shirt stating his religious beliefs.
Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, superintendent of the South Shore Regional School Board, says she is planning to hold a forum with students to discuss the issue that has attracted attention and generated debate across the country.
The dispute arose after Grade 12 student William Swinimer was suspended from his school in Chester Basin for continuing to wear a shirt with the slogan, "Life is wasted without Jesus."
He says on his Facebook site that he did it to stand up for the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.
Pynch-Worthylake says Swinimer and his pastor have agreed to take part in the debate that will look at how to ensure students' rights are not violated, while protecting other students from criticism.
She says it's not clear what the school will do if Swinimer wears the shirt when he returns to classes Monday, but added that the board has never said it would suspend him again if he persisted.
