Montreal teacher abandons career in education due to Bill 21
Posted June 21, 2020 6:14 pm.
Last Updated June 21, 2020 6:24 pm.
MONTREAL (CITYNEWS) – A Montreal teacher is turning down a full-time contract and will no longer pursue a career in education because of Bill 21, Quebec’s secularism law.
Mariam Aziz says the legislation from Quebec’s CAQ government has added extreme stress on her life and made her feel like a second-class citizen.
Bill 21 bans public workers like teachers and police officers from wearing religious symbols while on the job.
“I came into teaching for the students, but I left for teachers,” said Aziz. “And what I mean by that, I felt like there had to be someone who’s able to be comfortable talking about it, but it’s not going to be someone who is still a teacher.”
At 26 years old, Aziz never thought she would say goodbye to her passion for teaching. She says Bill 21 made her feel as though she would not be able to advance in her career.
“They have to choose their religious symbol or their voice,” she said. “And so for me, I decided to just make a different choice. I decided to no longer give to a field that was no longer giving back.”
RELATED: Supreme Court rejects the suspension of Bill 21
The controversial legislation marked its first anniversary last week. The bill has forced many teachers to question their careers, hurt their mental health, and left them wondering whether they are still welcome in the province.
“I was so unsure if I was allowed to be there,” said Aziz, who was afraid to speak out before, for fear of losing her job. “It would make me extremely anxious and uncomfortable. And I felt like I had to be so careful.
“Even if we had certain moments where we were taking pictures for the union. I didn’t participate in those pictures. And it’s not because I didn’t feel like being part of my staff group. It’s because I no longer felt like I was at an equal standpoint. And I felt like I almost needed to hide.”
RELATED: As Quebecers cover faces for COVID 19, some hope for tolerance of religious garb
That uncertain future led to her decision to turn the page on teaching.
“I really felt like in order to get my voice back, I needed to be okay with leaving the education field.”
