Young teacher's ordeal.

• Author: Mitchell, Teresa

Richard Morin was a young teacher still on probation in Prince Edward Island in 1988 when he showed his grade 9 class a BBC documentary about religious fundamentalism. Several parents objected. He was ordered to stop showing the film, placed on an involuntary leave of absence, and not rehired the next year. He sued the school, principal, and school board alleging that his right to freedom of expression under s. 2 of the Charter of Rights was violated. The Phi Court of Appeal agreed, writing "What is being dealt with in this case is the freedom of teachers to carry out their mandate in a free and democratic society without fear that a whiff of controversy could spell the end of their careers. Should...