Rights and Freedoms
A Muslim student wants to wear a hijab to school, but a classmate says, "You can't wear that here because this is Canada." Is the classmate correct?
No. Muslim students have the right to wear religious clothing, including the hijab, in Canadian public schools.
You witness your best friend cheating during a game of Jeopardy at Wellness, but Ali doesn't notice. What should you do?
Justice means being truthful even when it involves someone close to us.
Wellness is handing out burgers at their summer BBQ, but one person has a severe hamburger allergy. Would giving that person a snowcone instead be unfair to everyone else?
No. Fairness sometimes means giving people different things based on their needs.
Someone says, "You don't look like a Muslim. You're not Arab." What is wrong with this statement?
Muslims come from many different ethnicities, cultures, and countries.
Someone makes an racist joke in your group chat. Person #1 replied, "hahaha". Person #2 replied, "That's not nice to say." Person #3 ignored the message and left the group chat. Which person is actively challenging the behaviour?
Person #2 who spoke up.
A school allows students to wear crosses and other religious symbols but tells Muslim students they cannot wear hijabs. Why is this rule unfair?
Students are being treated differently because of their religion.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that we should help both someone being oppressed and someone doing the oppressing. How can we help the person doing the oppressing?
By stopping them from harming others and educating them.
During Ramadan, a coach offers fasting students the option of completing a fitness challenge after iftar. Another student complains, "That's special treatment!" What could you say to this student to help them better understand your decision?
This adjustment helps fasting students participate without being disadvantaged.
Amir and Malik give a presentation about global warming in their science class. Malik gets 100% on the assignment, but Amir only gets 70%. When he asks his teacher why, she says his accent makes it hard to understand him so he probably doesn't understand the material. What assumption is being made?
That someone's accent reflects their intelligence or ability.
You want your school to offer halal food options. What can you do to create change?
Gather peer support and speak with the administration.
A student wants to pray during their lunch break. Their teacher says, "You can pray at home, but we won't be able to accommodate a space for you to pray at school because all the classrooms are being used." What right should the student be able to exercise?
The right to practice their religion at school.
Two of your classmates, Tom and Jerry, get into an argument. You agree to mediate the conversation to help them resolve the issue. Tom tells you Jerry is at fault because he stole a snack from his lunch. What should you do next?
Ask Jerry his perspective of what happened. You must listen to both sides before making a judgment.
After the new renovations, the mosque has stairs at its entrance but no ramp. Everyone is technically allowed to enter, yet a student who uses a wheelchair cannot get inside. What's the difference between being allowed to participate and actually being able to participate?
Having permission isn't enough if barriers prevent someone from participating.
A Muslim student makes a mistake, and someone responds, "Why are Muslims always like this?" What is wrong with this statement?
One person's actions don't represent everyone who shares their religion.
A student shares a video claiming that Muslims are being banned from a public event. Before reposting it, what should you investigate?
Whether the claim is true, who posted the video, and whether important context is missing.
A school schedules a mandatory event on Eid. Several Muslim students ask for an alternative way to participate, but the organizer says, "The date is the same for everyone, so it's fair." Why might this still be unfair?
Because applying the same rule to everyone can disadvantage students who observe different religious holidays.
Your friend says, "That person was rude to me, so I don't have to treat them fairly." Is this correct?
No. We should act justly even toward people we dislike or disagree with.
A mentorship group decides that every student must pay $30 to attend a weekend trip. The organizers say the fee is fair because everyone pays the same amount. Why might this rule still create inequality?
Because students have different financial circumstances, and the same fee may prevent some from attending.
A teacher assumes a Muslim girl wearing a hijab wouldn't want to participate in sports, so they don't invite her to try out for the team. Even if the teacher thinks they're being considerate, what is the problem with their decision?
They're making assumptions about her interests and abilities instead of allowing her to decide for herself.
Wellness discovers that students from certain neighbourhoods rarely attend its events because public transportation is expensive. What could organizers change to make participation more accessible?
Offer transportation support, choose more accessible locations, or organize events closer to those communities.
A school introduces a rule that no students can wear head coverings indoors. The rule applies to everyone, but Muslim students who wear hijab and Sikh students who wear turbans are especially affected. What should the school consider before enforcing this rule?
Whether the rule creates religious barriers and whether exceptions or changes are needed to respect students' rights.
A group of students wants to exclude someone from a community event because that person previously made hurtful comments. One student argues that the person should be given an opportunity to take responsibility and make things right. How could the group balance justice with mercy?
By holding the person accountable while allowing a meaningful opportunity to apologize, repair harm, and change their behaviour, without ignoring the needs of those harmed.
A community centre provides a prayer space for Muslims but only after students repeatedly request one. When designing a new centre, what could organizers do differently so future students don't experience the same problem?
Plan for different religious needs from the beginning rather than waiting for students to encounter barriers.
After hearing about 9/11, a classmate asks a Muslim student to explain why Muslims support violence. What is unfair about this question, and how could it be asked more respectfully?
It unfairly assumes Muslims support violence and makes one student responsible for defending an entire religion. A more respectful approach would avoid making assumptions and ask an open-minded question about beliefs or perspectives.
A youth group responds to repeated Islamophobic incidents by holding an awareness workshop. The workshop is successful, but similar incidents continue. What could the group do to create longer-lasting change?
Develop ongoing education, improve reporting and accountability, involve community members, and address the underlying attitudes and practices contributing to the incidents.