Controversy Over Ontario’s New Sex Education Curriculum

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled the province’s new sex education curriculum on Monday, though controversy has already brewed in regards to the topics covered, as well as to who was involved in developing it.

The last major update to the sex education curriculum happened 17 years ago, in 1997, and an attempt to update it five years ago by the McGuinty government was scrapped following an outcry from the socially conservative minority.

The new curriculum (which essentially builds on the 2010 attempt) covers grades 1-8, and has added education on things such as consent, sexting, cyber-safety, same-sex relationships, and gender non-conformity. It also covers discussions about sexually transmitted infections, oral, and anal sex. Students will be taught proper names for body parts starting in Grade 1, something investigators of child abuse have been suggesting for a long time, as a way to make it easier to recognize potential cases of abuse.

Some parents are again voicing their concern, citing their belief that young children should not have to learn about such topics at set ages, and saying that they are best able to determine the appropriate time for their child to learn.

Other critics are instead focusing their attacks on Ben Levin, former Deputy Minister of Education, who is expected to plead guilty to a number of charges next week, in relation to child pornography.

However, current Education Minister Liz Sandals, who was heavily involved in the 2010 revamp as Kathleen Wynne’s parliamentary assistant, has stated that Levin had no input into the current curriculum.

“I can guarantee you that Ben Levin was not in any way directly involved in developing the curriculum,” Sandals has said.

Despite the controversy, the curriculum does seek to cover a wide range of topics about healthy living, relationships, making wise choices, anatomy, and sexuality which will benefit children.

Click here to view a copy of the new curriculum in it’s entirety.

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