Sex-ed snitch line shocks local officials

Parents should talk to teacher about concerns first, local trustee says

Local school and union officials say they are shocked and concerned about Premier Doug Ford’s “snitch line” for elementary schools.

On Wednesday, Ford announced his government had implemented a website (Fortheparents.ca), where parents can report concerns about what their kids are being taught.

It’s been dubbed a “snitch line” by critics and school groups.

Michael Nasello, director of education at Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, said he was “shocked” to hear of the reporting tool.

“I’m really dismayed that such a mechanism was even conceived, much less put in place. It completely bypasses school boards,” he said.

Shirley Bell, president of the Kawartha Pine Ridge local of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, felt the same.

She said she was troubled when she heard the news.

“I think that setting up a system that circumvents the communication system that’s already in place is reallyi’ concerning,” Bell said.

If guardians have a concern, they can contact the teacher, the principal, superintendent or school board, she said.

The snitch line “undermines” the relationship between schools and guardians, she added.

Diane Lloyd, chairwoman for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, said the public school board would prefer parents talk to teachers if there’s an issue in the classroom. “Our preference would be that they would at least talk with a teacher, because sometimes a talk with the teacher would clear things up quite nicely,” Lloyd said.

Last month, Ford said schools would be dropping the current sex-ed curriculum implemented by the Liberals in 2015 and reverting to the 1998 syllabus.

In a statement Wednesday, Ford said elementary teachers will use a revised “interim” version of the sex ed curriculum, based on the old curriculum taught from 1998 to 2015.

But Bell isn’t biting.

“It’s the version from 1998. I think asking people to believe it’s (something else) is insulting,” Bell said.

The previous curriculum predated cellphones, social media and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Times have changed since then,

‘‘ I’m really dismayed that such a mechanism was even conceived, much less put in place. MICHAEL NASELLO

CATHOLIC EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Lloyd said, and the curriculum should reflect that.

“Children need to be taught about consent. They need to be taught about inclusion, about inclusion of different types of families and different types of relationships. That’s the society we live in,” Lloyd said.

Nasello said he thought the newer curriculum brought to light many things that became important in schools in the last five years, such as inclusivity and understanding the diversity of families in the school system.

“We’re never going to stop doing that, because that’s about who we are and how we treat kids,” he said.

However, Nasello, Lloyd and Bell all agreed their organizations would comply with the government’s interim curriculum, whether they agree with it or not.

As for the warning Ford issued for teachers who break the rules, Bell said it starts the school year off on a negative note.

“I think it’s an irresponsible threat,” Bell said.