Ontario Supports Sex-Ed Curriculum

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty recently posted changes that would occur in the Ontario sexual education curriculum. The changes were part of a regular review of Ontario’s physical education and health curriculum, which hasn’t been updated since 1998.

However, as a result of criticism, Mr. McGuinty is now re-thinking one of the most important changes to our education curriculum of our time. We need to act as role models for the rest of our country and the world at large. Let's show the Ontario government our support by signing this petition!

Under the changes, Grade 1 kids will be taught to identify genitalia — among other body parts — using the correct word, such as penis, vagina and testicle. The 1998 curriculum made no mention of genitalia.

Grade 3 lessons about the differences that make each person unique will now also include discussion about same-sex families and students with special needs to “reflect the government commitment to equity and inclusive education,” according to provincial officials.

In Grade 5, kids will be taught to identify parts of the reproductive system and describe how the body changes during puberty. In Grade 7, they're taught how to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Below are some reasons (among many) why sexual education is important for everyone:

-The new sex curriculum is about being sex positive. By expanding the breadth of topics covered in class and by encouraging an open dialogue about bodies, sexual orientation and identity, masturbation and sex, we can increase tolerance and reduce shame. By making sex an appropriate topic for discussion in childhood as opposed to just in adolescence, youth are afforded more time to explore their own sexuality and boundaries. It's that added learning time coupled with a sex positive attitude that increases safer sex practices.

-Many parents aren't comfortable discussing sex, and prefer to hope that their children are figuring it out from other sources such as television, movies, their friends and school.

-Kids are bombarded daily by the media with sexual topics and images. Our kids have easy access to it, and these media often do not provide accurate information.

-Studies have shown that when kids are given comprehensive sex education in school, the rates for teens getting pregnant or contracting STI's goes down.

-Children are having sex at earlier ages. 63% of kids who are high school age have had sex by the time they reach their senior year. We need to educate our kids before they get to the point of being sexually active so they don't wind up contracting diseases and or getting pregnant in the first place.

-The Public Health Agency of Canada’s (2008)
Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education state
that “Effective sexual health education recognizes
that responsible individuals may choose a variety of
paths to achieve sexual health” (p. 25). Educational
programs that withhold information necessary for
individuals to make voluntary, informed decisions about their sexual health are unethical (World Association for Sexology, 2008). “Abstinence only” policies may violate the human rights of young people because they withhold potentially life-saving information on HIV and other STI (Ott & Santelli, 2007).

-Some are worried that providing too much information to kids on sex will encourage them to have sex. From a review of 83 studies measuring the impact of curriculum-based sexual health education programs, Kirby, Laris and Rolleri (2007) concluded that “The evidence is strong that programs do not hasten or increase
sexual behavior but, instead, some programs delay
or decrease sexual behaviors or increase condom
or contraceptive use” (p. 206)

-Surveys taken during the last 20 years say that 85 to 95% of parents want comprehensive sex education in schools.

-Having comprehensive sex education in schools makes dialogue between kids and their parents more likely.

In addition, feel free to write an e-mail directly to Mr. McGuinty (dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org), and feel free to copy and pasting the following example letter written by Ms. Natalie Phillips:

"Dear Mr. McGuinty:

The buckling of the new sex ed. curriculum on account of criticism from the Conservatives and religious groups is an embarrassment. The new curriculum is sex positive, not vulgar. By expanding the breadth of topics covered in class and by encouraging an open dialogue about bodies, sexual orientation and identity, masturbation and intercourse, we can increase tolerance and reduce shame. By making sex an appropriate topic for discussion in childhood as opposed to just in adolescence, youth are afforded more time to explore their own sexuality and boundaries. It's that added learning time coupled with a sex positive attitude that increases tolerance of others and increases safer sex practices later on in life.

Sexuality begins at birth. Masturbation begins in toddlerdom. Children can identify their sexual orientation years before puberty sets in. Sex shouldn't be a hushed topic, and we shouldn't want our children to be ignorant. They can still be children even with an understanding of sexuality, and shame on you for not standing your ground and saying so.

I have signed a petition that shows support of the changes, and I encourage you to look at it:

http://www.gopetition.com/online/35703.html

Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME HERE)"

Ontario thanks you.