Trustees want sex ed kept as is
Say 1998 curriculum not best for students
The public school board is urging the Ontario government to leave the current sex-ed curriculum in place until consultations are done.
The trustees of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board released a statement Monday expressing concern over the elimination of the current curriculum.
Premier Doug Ford says schools are to drop the existing curriculum and return to the province’s 20-year-old syllabus in the fall. It’ll stay in place until his government consults parents on developing a new one.
“We do not believe that reverting back to that curriculum, for any period of time, is in the best interests of our students,” the release from KPR stated.
Ford’s announcement created an uproar among Ontarians. Groups gathered across the province Saturday – including Peterborough – to protest the reversion.
Trent University educators also expressed their concern last week by writing a letter to Lisa Thompson, minister of education. They articulated their “utmost dissent” to the revocation.
A similar public reaction occurred in 2015, when the updated curriculum was introduced by the Liberals. Parents and caregivers thought kids were learning too much, too soon.
The curriculum Ford wants to return to is from 1998, before cell phones and cyberbullying.
“Youth today need knowledge and skills to respond to the realities, benefits and pressures associated with our rapidly changing, technology driven world. Students need our support in managing the modern risks and challenges of cyber-bullying, sexting, the prevalence of online pornography and other similar issues,” the release states.
In addition, students need to learn about consent as well as the proper names of body parts, which safeguard children against sexual abuse by helping them speak clearly to police.
The board is also asking the minister of education to clarify curriculum expectations for September.
Trustees want to assure people that the board’s schools will continue to be welcoming environments for everyone, including LGBTQ students, families and staff, despite the curriculum.