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| Parents protesting the sex education curriculum |
The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to, ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.The idea of accepting diversity through gender, gender equity and sexual orientation runs through the entire document. The government argued that the policy was needed to make Ontario schools safe and free of bullying and anti-oppression. At the time, a false crisis was manufactured so that the most important educational issue was to have safe and "inclusive" schools for all students and teachers. The mainstream media went along. The idea was spread throughout the province's 31 public boards and 29 Catholic boards by a government Equity team. By 2011, most boards fell like a house of cards and were eager to approve Equity education for a government that had given them billions for all day kindergarten.
The next phase was to release, in 2013, a Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM 119) titled, "Developing and Implementing Equity and Inclusive Education Policies in Ontario schools," together with a series of guidelines, 2014, for school boards known as, "Equity and Inclusive Education in Ontario Schools: Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation." Another resource How Do We Know We Are Making a Difference was issued for schools to monitor the progress they were making in implementing the policy.
Equity education was next supported by the Accepting Schools Act, also called Bill 13, and legislated into law in 2012. Here's one of the things that Bill 13 is intended to legally accomplish. Note how the wording is in part about Equity education and anti-bullying:
Bill 13 requires school boards to prevent and address inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour among students in our schools.These behaviours include bullying, discrimination and harassment.The new law makes it clear that these behaviours are unacceptable in our schools. It promotes respect and understanding for all students regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other factor.The promotion and societal acceptance of gender and sexual orientation went from school 'policy' to law. But the anti-bullying Bill 13 has also the force of law to back teachers in both Public and Catholic schools to teach the LGBT lifestyle. Bill 13 was an important step in turning Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy (policy) into law. Ontario went from school guidelines, to school board policy and finally to provincial law.
Essentially, Bill 13 Section 2. (1) Paragraph 29.1 of subsection 8 (1) amends the Education Act to include Equity and Inclusive Education. This Section 29.1 will require all boards, Public and Catholic, "to develop and implement an Equity and Inclusive Education Policy, and, if required by the Minister, submit the policy to the Minister and implement changes to the policy as directed by the Minister."
In addition, Ontario school boards are required, should a student request it, to establish Gay/Straight alliances in both Public and Catholic schools. In addition, Bill 13 Section 9, under the title of "Board Support for Certain Pupil Activities and Organizations," states:
Every board shall support pupils who want to establish and lead,
(a) activities or organizations that promote gender equity;
(d) activities or organizations that promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name gay-straight alliance or another name. (303.1)The new legislation may even force Christian churches or any other group renting school property to adhere to the Equity Policy. Bill 13 under Section 7 (2) dealing with agreements with third parties' use of schools states:
If a board enters into an agreement with another person or entity, other than a board, respecting the use of a school operated by the board, the board shall include in the agreement a requirement that the person or entity follow standards that are consistent with the code of conduct. (3.1)So, Bill 13 will serve to legalize (in the same way Canada's Omnibus Bill of 1968-69 legalized abortion) a social experiment on Ontario’s children under the pretense of protecting them from bullying and discrimination. Every Ontario school has the legal backing to set up with a Gay/Straight Alliance, teach the acceptance of gender theory, new family arrangements and sexual orientation. We don't think this has much to do with education but a great deal of legal indoctrination.
There is no evidence that forcing all schools, Public and Catholic, to implement and teach the Equity policy will stop bullying, sexting and make schools safer. This approach is not based on a sound view of the human person but mere propaganda and political correctness. Yes, it seems that we are all "equal" under the Equity policy, except that some are more "equal" than others. It's a clear case of the minority dictating and controlling the majority. Even before the passage of Bill 13 and Equity education policy, schools already had rules and procedures in place to combat bullying, racism and discrimination.
Here's the latest step. As part of the Physical and Health education in Ontario, there's a component that has the sex education curriculum. Premier Wynne's Liberal government re-introduced it this year. The former premier Dalton McGuinty withdrew the same radical curriculum in 2010 after he received numerous complaints regarding its age inappropriate contents. The 2015 version is much the same except for the addition of the concept of consent, and that along with addressing bullying and discrimination schools need to add cyberbullying and sexting.
Parents in many parts of the province have been protesting the explicit nature of the sex education curriculum. There have been parent meetings in Peel, Windsor, Brampton, Toronto and Ottawa. But premier Wynne has so far not listened to objections and says that her government plans to implement the curriculum for the school year 2015-16.
If we connect all the dots, one can see the complete picture of how Equity education went from a policy to law and then numerous government issued support resources to make the implementation possible. Here are the main steps taken by the government:
1. Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009
2. Accepting Schools Act, 2014
3. Physical and Health Education, 2010 version, JK to Grade 12 , with a component on sex education curriculum
4. A series of support guidelines and resources released to implement the Equity policy
5. Physical and Health Education, 2015 version, JK to Grade 12, with a component on sex education curriculum
Many parents, as they were in 2010, are justifiably concerned that the 2015 version of sex education component of the Physical and Health program goes too far and is age inappropriate. We could make a long specific list, but essentially there are a number of topics parents are seriously worried about. First, a convicted child predator had a hand in developing the curriculum. Second, the introduction under communication skills the concept of consent to sexual behaviour is introduced. Children don't understand what's involved and it's illegal for someone under 16 to give consent in Canada's Criminal Code. Does the Ontario government wish to override the criminal code on this issue? Third, in Grades 7 and 8 students will be introduced to the gender identity and sexual orientation. Children should not be forced to accept a disputed gender theory and the claims to numerous sexual orientations.
Fourth, Vaginal and anal intercourse and oral sex are put on the same level of risk. The dangers of homosexual acts in terms of HIV and AIDS are downplayed in order not to offend anyone. Sexual acts are not just about protecting oneself from STIs and unwanted pregnancies but should entail responsibility and respect for the dignity of other people. Fifth, in Grade 3 the topic of masturbation and new family structures may be introduced. Sixth, there's much in the curriculum on sexual activity, but no mention of marriage, love and that the majority of children still come from traditional families with a mother and father. Finally, the sex education curriculum potentially violates denominational rights that Catholics have to govern their schools in matters of faith. This is the content that has mainly angered and upset many parents who are informed.
Protesting parents would like to have a say in what is taught. Parents do have this right. Many parents would like see the sex education part removed or given the option to opt in to that component only if they choose to have their children taught the controversial topics. So far the premier has refused to make any changes to the curriculum or listen to the parents. The next day of protest is planned for April 14, 2015, at Queen's Park beginning at 10:00am. The theme for the rally is "My Child, My Choice." Do help spread the word in order to fight this age inappropriate curriculum and help protect parental rights and the innocence of children.
Here's the latest step. As part of the Physical and Health education in Ontario, there's a component that has the sex education curriculum. Premier Wynne's Liberal government re-introduced it this year. The former premier Dalton McGuinty withdrew the same radical curriculum in 2010 after he received numerous complaints regarding its age inappropriate contents. The 2015 version is much the same except for the addition of the concept of consent, and that along with addressing bullying and discrimination schools need to add cyberbullying and sexting.
Parents in many parts of the province have been protesting the explicit nature of the sex education curriculum. There have been parent meetings in Peel, Windsor, Brampton, Toronto and Ottawa. But premier Wynne has so far not listened to objections and says that her government plans to implement the curriculum for the school year 2015-16.
If we connect all the dots, one can see the complete picture of how Equity education went from a policy to law and then numerous government issued support resources to make the implementation possible. Here are the main steps taken by the government:
1. Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009
2. Accepting Schools Act, 2014
3. Physical and Health Education, 2010 version, JK to Grade 12 , with a component on sex education curriculum
4. A series of support guidelines and resources released to implement the Equity policy
5. Physical and Health Education, 2015 version, JK to Grade 12, with a component on sex education curriculum
Many parents, as they were in 2010, are justifiably concerned that the 2015 version of sex education component of the Physical and Health program goes too far and is age inappropriate. We could make a long specific list, but essentially there are a number of topics parents are seriously worried about. First, a convicted child predator had a hand in developing the curriculum. Second, the introduction under communication skills the concept of consent to sexual behaviour is introduced. Children don't understand what's involved and it's illegal for someone under 16 to give consent in Canada's Criminal Code. Does the Ontario government wish to override the criminal code on this issue? Third, in Grades 7 and 8 students will be introduced to the gender identity and sexual orientation. Children should not be forced to accept a disputed gender theory and the claims to numerous sexual orientations.
Fourth, Vaginal and anal intercourse and oral sex are put on the same level of risk. The dangers of homosexual acts in terms of HIV and AIDS are downplayed in order not to offend anyone. Sexual acts are not just about protecting oneself from STIs and unwanted pregnancies but should entail responsibility and respect for the dignity of other people. Fifth, in Grade 3 the topic of masturbation and new family structures may be introduced. Sixth, there's much in the curriculum on sexual activity, but no mention of marriage, love and that the majority of children still come from traditional families with a mother and father. Finally, the sex education curriculum potentially violates denominational rights that Catholics have to govern their schools in matters of faith. This is the content that has mainly angered and upset many parents who are informed.
Protesting parents would like to have a say in what is taught. Parents do have this right. Many parents would like see the sex education part removed or given the option to opt in to that component only if they choose to have their children taught the controversial topics. So far the premier has refused to make any changes to the curriculum or listen to the parents. The next day of protest is planned for April 14, 2015, at Queen's Park beginning at 10:00am. The theme for the rally is "My Child, My Choice." Do help spread the word in order to fight this age inappropriate curriculum and help protect parental rights and the innocence of children.