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Home My WebLink AboutSex ed curriculum needs parental voice — and evidence too OPINION - Toronto Star - 10/10/2018 - Toronto Star - 10/10/2018 - Toronto Star - 10/10/201810/11/2018 Sex ed curriculum needs parental voice — and evidence too I The Star This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation- ready onnips of Toronto Star content r,. , * r .or r Sex ed curriculum needs parental 0 voice — and evidence too By FAE JOHNSTONE Opinion Wed., Oct. 10, 2018 In late September, the Progressive Conservative government launched consultations r r r r,,curriculum. As an unexpected rr,..,.litwist, they rolled the sex ed consultations into ♦ broader ♦covering ♦range cellphoneas a. cannabis legalization and standardizedtesting. The Progressive Conservatives ♦. claim . repealed e♦r r 2015 a ed curriculum disagreebecause parents weren't consulted. While 1 believeli ~# �+ `.,. their♦ lir nothing but ♦ false homoy,hobia and transyhobial, and aMeasint4 the social r rou)Ls whose support were crucial to Ford's election , . there is . we agree: rr r. * parents ♦. meaningfully g . r ed, and we need r their help raising kids to rhealthy, informed decisions about their sexuality. iao G ii/i ,a i I� t a I fir,' f d S t..J s c r,J` to T[ //w Stfr , Just $ � 11�1 � f first s( /I,r https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/1 0/1 0/sex-ed-cu rri cu I m- need s -parent -voice -and -evidence -too. html 1/5 10/11/2018 Sex ed curriculum needs parental voice — and evidence too I The Star "Parents know their kids need to learn about LGBTQ inclusion, consent and online safety," writes Fae Johnstone. "I fundamentally believe that parents in Ontario know that the best sex education is inclusive, evidence - based and built on strong partnerships between parents, educators and kids." But, vernment rolls out consultations with parents, I am left wondering: What role will evidence play? Parent voice is crucial to a modern and comprehensive sex ed curriculum. If — and it's a big if — we take the government at its word, this new consultation represents an historic opportunity for parents to have their voices heard, both on sex ed and a myriad of other issues related to their kids'education. i L is I know that our communities are filled with parents who know that their kids need access to comprehensive sex ed. 4 '-f-0- T9T?T=_ 11MMIMMMIT I-SM111 I W safety. I fundamentally believe that parents in Ontario know that the best sex education is inclusive,, evidence -based and built on strong partnerships between All a c s e f," 'ciribe ft:m I/ 9 S _j/ 1, s c - e t o 'T [//��i e S t a �r f o Just $o ) ,c—', 1 11 1 1, r f lest -t 6 o �- fi I 1� �, (,) Y () https://www.thestar. co m/op in io n/co ntri butors/201 8/10/1 0/sex-ed-cu rri cu I u m- need s -pare nt-vo ice -a nd-evi de nce-too. htm 1 2/5 10/11/2018 Sex ed curriculum needs parental voice — and evidence too I The Star However, regardless of the results of the consultation with parents, it must be acknowledged that parents, while a crucial voice, are not the only voice. Scienti evidence and best practices, too, must have a strong role in this curriculum. I While advocates for the repeal of the sex ed curriculum —organizations like the Campaign Life Coalition — claim the sex ed curriculum is pure "liberal ideology,"' the evidence is quite clear on sex ed: when kids get access to comprehensive, evidence -based information around topics like gender, sexuality and sexual health,, they make healthier decisions. In fact, the United Nations International Technical Guide on Comprehensive sexuality Education states: An evidence -informed approach, a guiding document L. best - practices internationally on sexuality education, matches up quite closely LO the 2015 sex -ed curriculum. That's not ideology —it's just a fact. While 1 am no supporter of the sex ed repeal — and indeed believe the overnme gnt has violated the rights of LGBTQ2+ youth in revoking the 2015 curriculum — there is an opportunity here for the Ford government. Parental voice is crucial to an effective sex ed curriculum. Evidence, too, is a key ingredient to success. So, I have to ask: Will Doug Ford and the Government of Ontario show themselves to be anti -science? Will they ignore best practices and established evidence by continuing to cater to the small but mighty social conservative groups within Progressive Conservative ranks, or will they seize this opportunity to deliver on what parents and kids need: a comprehensive sex ed curriculum, based on our kids in a modern., fast -changing world? The truth is, I don't think the Progressive Conservative government cares about sex ed. I believe Ford repealed the curriculum to pay back those social conservative factions that were crucial to his electoral success. However, in repealing the 2015 sex ed curriculum, Ford set off a political backlash he couldn't have anticipated. As one of his first major moves as premier, he incited F 'ciribe ft:m I/ 9 St..j.1 scri[,,,//),e to T[//�w Star fa Just $o ) ,c, 1 11 1 1, r f i �r s t -t 6 o �- fi I 1� �, (,) Y () https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/1 0/1 0/sex-ed-cu rri cu I u m- need s -pare nt-vo ice -a nd-evi de nce-too. htm 1 3/5 10/ 11 /2018 Sex ed curriculum needs parental voice — and evidence too � The Star � � � i! ' �` . . � � ' � • . f . � �, � �* �, � • � i � r � ! � . � � '; � f � �., � �, . . � �i i�� R . ■, ��. . � . � `' � ! ` � `� � . � �� r � � . � �� . y„ r � r,� . � i r , � . . �� . . �;� . �. . . � � .�� Fae Johnstone (she/they) is a community-based gender and sexuality educator, organizer and consultant. She is a young professional with a background in LGBTQ nonprofits and the Ontario child and youth mental health sector. Twitter: @FaeJohnstone. REPORT AN ERROR J�URNALISTIC STANDARDS TQ ABOUT US � •; . 1 � ♦ � 1 i �. ; 1 ! //%% �/ I�iia p � �i rraioi�� i I I � I. �,,. I � I. �� i �.,. iao� Gi ii/i� . ,a ,,. i I� I t,;a I I. I,,.- �r,' I�� d i�; 1 �, f � 1� , � ' 1 ��E I r Y � � � �� mI,'� r., �� I ,J';` � .�1 � ( r, : ,� � o � � l t�, I � ��1,� t o` �, r �" l'.� �� /� , 1�1� �� l � � �;� ( I � 6'0� I [ � � � https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/10/10/sex-ed-curriculum-needs-parent-voice-and-evidence-too.html 4/5 10/11/2018 Sex ed curriculum needs parental voice — and evidence too I The Star Copyright owned #«\c_ se by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution oft < content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com St,,).,bsciriIbe k ft:m St-ifl, scri[,,,//),e to T[-//�w Star fa Just $o,c' ')� 9 r Y r I �r, S' 1"""' cy https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/1 0/1 O/sex-ed-cu rri cu I u m- need s -pare nt-vo ice -a nd-evi de nce-too. htm 1 5/5