Revised sex-ed needlessly ties the hands of teachers

Re: Ontario sex-ed will still teach modern themes — July 17

I wonder if the Ontario government would consider using the following hashtag to represent their stance on what Ontario students need to know about human growth and development: #NotUs. Consider how the Ontario government might respond to the following questions:

Who will give our children the language to identify their body parts, so that they can communicate questions or concerns about their bodies? #NotUs.

Who will help our children understand the meaning of consent, and why it is important? #NotUs.

Who will warn our youth about the consequences of sexting and the dangers of online relationships? #NotUs.

When the Ontario health curriculum was revised, it took 10 years of conversation, and input from thousands of people, including parents, students, teachers, and other professionals. Doug Ford has promised greater consultation before releasing a revised health curriculum, so I’m wondering when we can expect that — 2030?

Allow me to speak for the teachers of Ontario, whose hands are now tied as to how we can equip our students for the challenges they face in the modern world, as I answer the following question:

Who will be held accountable for the sexual confusion, shame, and violence that our students needlessly experience over the next number of years? #NotUs. Devon Girt

Kitchener