|
Religious Groups Protest New Sex Ed Curriculum
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Jennifer_P_ |
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...article1542657/
| quote: | Muslims, Christians challenge Ontario’s more explicit sex ed[SIZE=3]
Christians and Muslims in Ontario are united in their objections to the province’s new sex education curriculum.
Mentions of homosexuality as early as Grade 3 have raised objections from diverse groups and the participants in a school boycott on May 10 – aimed at putting pressure on Premier Dalton McGuinty to pull the new curriculum – will likely represent a cultural cross-section of the city.
“There’s a big reaction in Muslim community,” said Suad Aimad, president of Somali Parents for Education. “We believe basically that sex education may be taught by the parents to their children. It’s not public, it’s a private matter and that’s why I don’t think [sex] should be part of education, especially at such a young age.”
The new curriculum, outlined in 208 pages that were quietly posted on the Ministry of Education's website in January, will for the first time teach Grade 3 pupils about such topics as sexual identity and orientation, and introduce terms like “anal intercourse” and “vaginal lubrication” to children in Grades 6 and 7. The new curriculum begins in Grade 1 with lessons about the proper names of body parts.
The changes are part of a regular review of Ontario’s physical education and health curriculum, which hasn’t been updated since 1998. They went nearly unnoticed until a Christian group, led by evangelist Charles McVety, threatened to pull its children from school.
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak plans to use the new sex education curriculum as an opportunity to attract advocates for family values, party insiders say.
The Tories began staking out their position Wednesday, arguing that it is the responsibility of parents to teach children in Grade 1 about body parts.
“A six-year-old should be learning how to tie their shoes and playing with Barbies,” said Lisa MacLeod, a Tory MPP and mother of a five-year-old daughter.
The Tories already have the support of conservative and religious groups. But Mr. Hudak also has an opportunity to characterize himself as a moderate, and Premier McGuinty as a leader who has gone too far, said David Docherty, a political scientist at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont.
This will involve walking a political tightrope, Prof. Docherty said, where Mr. Hudak and his caucus colleagues will have to stick to their message that children in Grade 1 are too young to be taught such words as penis and vagina.
“It’s going to allow Tim Hudak to talk about family values,” he said. “If he goes any further, it does risk becoming a faith-based education argument where he risks losing ground.”
A party insider said the Tories plan to seize on the new curriculum, because it is such a sensitive issue that speaks to many families’ values and beliefs. Mr. Hudak echoed Ms. MacLeod on Wednesday, saying children in Grade 1 are too young to learn about genitalia.
“The notion of teaching sex ed to kids as young as six years of age just doesn’t sit right,” Mr. Hudak told reporters. “I don’t think it sits right with the vast majority of moms and dads in our province.”
Murielle Boudreau, of the Greater Toronto Catholic Parent Network, said Catholic parents aren’t happy that Mr. McGuinty is condoning such an explicit approach to sex education and she expected many would keep their children at home in protest.
“I don’t understand how the business of sensual behaviour between consenting adults has anything to do with Grade 3,” she said. “Grade 6? Getting them ready for masturbation and vaginal lubrication? Give me a break. They’re going to traumatize these children – they’re going to be doing everything out in the schoolyard.” |
Give me a fack'n break you moronic parents.... :mad:
Straight-up - kids are comming face-to-face with sexual images and information now more than they ever have. Is it not better to answer age-appropriate questions before they are asked?
Are parents really comfortable with providing information to their children? I highly-doubt it - especially the "concerned" parents protesting the new curriculum. Let your children figure it out themselves you dumb dumbs... great idea... :confused:
Gawd - everything I learned about sex came from my friends and the (very little) sex-ed I got in the Catholic School Board, (and of course there's no such thing as birth control - it's a SIN for goodness sakes ~ we Catholics only practice abstinence ya know.... ):rolleyes:
I fully-intend to teach my (future) kids about sexuality, homosexuality, and all that jazz someday... but we all know that's not the norm... I never had "the talk" with either of my parents... and I know I'm not the only one whose parents were uncomfortable with the subject matter. These parents are fooling themselves into thinking that (accurate) information is going to in any way affect when their children will actually put what they know into action. (and Gawd - at least they have accurate information!)
Stuff like this irks me to no-end. Deliberately keeping your kids ignorant is a perverse and counter-productive parenting strategy. |
|
|
| Intangible |
If you don't want your kids to learn about this because it goes against for faith then send your kids to a religious school... Religion and public education should not mix.
However, learning about 'anal intercourse' at grade 6 seems like a bit much.
Are kids really having sex that young?? |
|
|
| Jennifer_P_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Intangible
Religion and public education should not mix. |
+ 1 |
|
|
| daves |
I dunno, I'm not sure it needs to be part of the curriculum itself... maybe optional/extra-curricular or something?
I think parents should have the right when to introduce their own children to sexuality.
I also think some parents have no clue... but, are we facing some sexual crisis that prompts this? |
|
|
| ChemEnhanced |
There is no place for sex in the school system.
Let kids learn the way all animals do....by instinct. |
|
|
| VDub |
I am by no means religious but I agree with this as well!!!
There is NO WAY I want my grade 3 child to learn about anal, and oral sex!!!
Sex ed should wait till grade 6 and even then, leave it to the ing basics please...
Do you really want your 7 year old child to learn what a damn blowjob is????? |
|
|
| Jennifer_P_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Intangible
However, learning about 'anal intercourse' at grade 6 seems like a bit much.
Are kids really having sex that young?? |
Well - I remember grade 6 sex-ed... Our teacher had us put questions on little pieces of paper and into a bowl. She answered (some) of our anonymous questions.
I recall her making a (sad) attempt at answering what a blow job was... That was *cough* 19 *cough* years-ago... I'm sure that now, by age-11, they know something about anal-sex. |
|
|
| Jennifer_P_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by VDub
I am by no means religious but I agree with this as well!!!
There is NO WAY I want my grade 3 child to learn about anal, and oral sex!!!
Sex ed should wait till grade 6 and even then, leave it to the ing basics please...
Do you really want your 7 year old child to learn what a damn blowjob is????? |
Re-read the article...
| quote: | | The new curriculum, outlined in 208 pages that were quietly posted on the Ministry of Education's website in January, will for the first time teach Grade 3 pupils about such topics as sexual identity and orientation, and introduce terms like “anal intercourse” and “vaginal lubrication” to children in Grades 6 and 7. The new curriculum begins in Grade 1 with lessons about the proper names of body parts. |
Grade 1 - proper names of body parts
Grade 3 - sexual identity and orientation
Grade 6 and 7 - anal intercourse and vaginal lubrication
I have no issues with this and find it age-appropriate. Teaching children about sexual orientation breads tolerance at a young-age. Most gay people that I know have told me that they realized they were gay at a young age; dealing with the subject matter could very-well be a positive step.
I think we are forgetting what we knew at 11 and 12... They are not as sweet and naive as we might think - I know I wasn't and that was before the internet age.... |
|
|
| Intangible |
The school's should just play old episodes of the Sunday Night Sex Show
Sue taught me everything I know... and I turned out okay... I think... :p
Sex Ed was always something sooooo awkward in elementary school. I remember in grade 7 (which I believe was the first time we had it) my teacher put in a video called 'Changes' and left the room for an hour - came back as the video was over and asked if we had any questions... by that time we had already gone through so many 'changes' that we didnt really learn anything new.
Grade 8 our teacher tried to teach us about STDs, sex, and protection but it was the most awkward thing ever... no one listened.
I do see the pros of starting it younger... it makes it less of a tabboo suject. It becomes easier to talk about when the big important issues become more relevant.
But what is taught is another thing... I really think schools should cover the basics, that mostly relate to public health and personal respect. Things like how to make decisions (providing students with different approaches), safe sex, the risks (but delivered in a less threatening way), respecting your body and your partner...
But teaching students what blow jobs are or what anal sex is doesnt seem necessary. Leave that for friends, tv, the internet... |
|
|
| *~LiSa-LoO~* |
While I do think it's important to teach children the realities of sex at a young age b/c they're going to do it anyway, grade 3 is a bit young IMO.
And in response to Catholic schools. I think it should be expected that at a Catholic school you're not going to have extensive sex ed classes, and also have mandatory religion classes. If you don't want that, go to a public school. I know some people will say "well my parents made me go there," well you can transfer. I had a lot of friends who transferred schools even though their parents didn't agree. |
|
|
| I_Am_Vince |
| quote: | Originally posted by Intangible
Religion and politics should not mix.
|
|
|
|
| RobSt*r |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jennifer_P_
Gawd - everything I learned about sex came from my friends and the (very little) sex-ed I got in the Catholic School Board, (and of course there's no such thing as birth control - it's a SIN for goodness sakes ~ we Catholics only practice abstinence ya know.... ):rolleyes:
|
Same here, LOL......I never had the "talk" with my parents but they knew I would learn from friends and school anyways.
Who cares what your kids know.......they are gonna know it eventually. What age they know it at? Thats pretty much the argument here isnt it? |
|
|
|
|
