These are some signs, situations, and sayings we are exposed to everyday:
Government of Ontario. (2017, May 01). Ontario gender and sex information on government IDs and forms.
The Canadian Press. Ontario has just issued its first non-binary birth certificate.
Graham, Jennifer. The Globe and Mail. (2016, December 30). All-gender washroom a big sign of inclusion in these Canadian schools.
The Canadian Press. (2017, November 28). 2 Toronto policemen who mocked woman with Down syndrome plead guilty to misconduct.
Reuters, Thomson. CBC News. (2018, February 26). Teen sexting may be more common than you think.
And let’s be real, “It’s not a dick, it’s called a penis.”
In addition, social media platforms have prominent roles in our everyday lives. Google, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook are some examples of apps we all use to communicate and access information. (And don’t lie, we’ve all used WebMD.) Reality check, our children and youth see, hear, and feel it too!
So how are we educating our children and youth to help them access, understand, evaluate and communicate this information?
On July 11th 2018 Ontario’s Premier and Minister of Education announced that the sexual health education “sex-ed” component of the Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum would revert back to the 1998 version until additional parent consultations have been conducted.
Benzie, Robert. Ferguson, Rob. Toronto Star. (2018, July 11). Ontario students will be taught the 1998 sex-ed curriculum, education minister says.
I am proud to have had the opportunity to be part of the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Technical Analysis Team, the Curriculum Focus & Review Team, for the development of the H&PE curriculum. Putting the ‘Education back into the Physical’ has always been my passion and expertise. If you know me, you could only imagine how much anger this announcement conjured up.
This is me stuffing my OG coiled bible (held together in a Ziplock bag) into my purse to go off and write this blog post...
Since this announcement, I've been feverishly following threads of conversations online via: #sexed #savesexed #HPE #ONpoli @ONeducation @LisaThompsonMPP @fordnation @samoosterhoff. Check out these tweets from my online professional learning network via Twitter:
The development of the revised H&PE curriculum was the result of a comprehensive two year process that involved gathering of evidence and best practices from around the world and consultations with thousands of experts, parents, and for the first time, students themselves. The original version of the 2010 elementary H&PE curriculum has the support of many different religious groups, administrators, principals, public health professionals and parent groups. For more facts on the Ontario H&PE curriculum, click here.
Ontario children and youth have had only 2 years of the H&PE curriculum in its entirety. And then we find out that this September, students will be taught a curriculum that was developed before the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada and predates smartphones, social media and online bullying?! What the fraaaaaack?!
I urge the Ford government to not only read and understand the depth and breadth of the H&PE curriculum, but to also review the extensive consultation that was undertaken in the development of this curriculum. And just be warned... know that before you walk with your machetes into this jungle of educators, health professionals, and advocates for H&PE, we are equipped to fight for Ontario's children and youth.
As an Ontario educator, an Ontario Physical & Health Education (Ophea) ambassador, and a standing member on the Ontario Association for the Support of Physical & Health Education (OASPHE) please take some time to educate yourself with some of my weapons of choice in response to the announcement of sexual health education “sex-ed” component of the Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum.
“Ontario students have a right to learn from an up-to-date, research-based Health and Physical Education curriculum that includes human development and sexual health education, and addresses current issues including online safety, consent, self-esteem, mental health, healthy relationships, respect for others, diversity and equity. Sexual health education should be delivered in a developmentally appropriate manner and structured so that it meets the learning needs of students at different ages to build the skills they need to make healthy choices and protect themselves from potential harms. The delivery of this education should be a shared responsibility that respects the roles of both parents and teachers.” Ophea and OASPHE Position Statement
Ontario Ministry of Education H&PE Parent Guides and H&PE Grade by Grade Overviews for parents.
In a nut shell, I end with this image of why Ontario needs the updated H&PE curriculum...
To share your voice, Leadnow has a petition to our Ontario Premier and Education Minister. Please click here.
