There is no other subject that is so values-laden. In a pluralistic society, where there are so many worldviews, achieving agreement on sexuality values is impossible. However, the ultimate goal of CSE is to force a change in the sexual and gender norms of society – through a one-size-fits-all program. Because of this, many express concern ‘CSE is one of the greatest assaults on the health and innocence of children’.[1]
Video Resources Explaining Concerns with CSE
- Stop the War on Children
This video resource from Family Watch International provides a detailed look at CSE around the world.
Resource Link: Stop the War on Children
- 10 Reasons Parents Should be Concerned About the New Sex Ed
This Video, produced by the Institute for Marriage and Family Canada looks at the Ontario Sex Ed curriculum.
- Mommy Mommy, I don’t Want to Be A Boy
This video produced by the CBN outlines the instruction in SOGI (sexual orientation and Gender Identity) in Canadian Schools.
General Concerns with CSE
- It burdens kids with adult decisions [2]
“The new curriculum teaches the importance of consent. It doesn’t mention that the legal age of consent in Canada is sixteen. The message to kids is that it’s up to them to decide when they’re ready to have sex. Unfortunately, children are not equipped to make adult decisions. Modern neuroscience tells us that even the teenage brain is not fully developed in the area that evaluates risk.[3]What kids need to hear is that they are not ready, and that they won’t be ready until they are adults.”
- It’s not age appropriate.[4]Too Much Information Too Soon
“The new sex ed is not age appropriate because there is no such thing as age appropriate for every child. Parents know that their children – even siblings within the same family – mature at different rates. Information that’s fine for one child might be upsetting to another.
The American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry advises that, “Parents should respond to the needs and curiosity level of their individual child, offering no more or less information than their child is asking for and is able to understand.”[5]
Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting, talks about the burden of too much knowledge. He explains that it can upset a child’s development to give them more information than they’re ready to handle.[6] “
- Program Must be Highly Graphic to Achieve Goal of Reducing Risk
If the curriculum supports students engaging in consensual, respectful, mutually satisfying sexual relations, there is a responsibility to provide all of the needed information to reduce risk.
To meet the goal of reducing the risks of STI transmission the program must be very explicit/graphic; providing information about all forms of sexual activity, the various STIs that are transferred through the different sexual activities, and techniques to reduce the risk.
Below is a chart of sexual activities, the STIs which may be transferred, and strategies to reduce the risks. This is what all children will need to be taught, if the goal of the program is to reduce the risk of transmitting STIs for youth who are sexually active.
If the program does not provide this kind of explicit detail, then it affirms sexual activity without providing the needed information.
The Following Chart was Created from information in the Safer Sex Guide[7]
| Sexual Activity | STIs the Can Be Transferred | Ways to Reduce Risk |
| Kissing | HSV 1 or 2, HPV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, genital warts, chlamydia | Avoid kissing if you or your partners have sores on the lips or mouth, or if one of you has an active oral infection (such as a herpes outbreak). |
| Mutual Masturbation
|
Syphilis, Herpes, HPV, Hep B | Risk of infection increases when more fingers or whole hand are inside the vagina or anus, as this can cause small tears or trauma, which can cause atransmission.
To prevent STI transmission, latex or nitrile gloves can be used. There is higher risk of infection if someone puts their fingers in their mouth or a partner’s mouth after touching the genitals or anus. |
| Oral Sex on Genitals
|
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HPV, Herpes (HSV), Syphilis, HIV, trichomoniasis | Infections can be passed from mouth to genitals, or vice versa. The female vagina should be covered with a barrier such as an oral dam or cut condom. The male partner’sshould cover his penis with a condom. |
| Sharing Sex Toys | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hep B, Hep C, Herpes (HSV), HIV, HPV, Syphilis | Wash sex toys thoroughly with soap or disinfectant before and after each use. Use a new condom on inserted toys for each partner. Make sure you change the condoms between partners. Place a condom or oral dam between a vibrator and the skin. |
| Oral Sex on Anus | Hep B, Herpes (HSV), HPV,Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea | Infections can be passed from mouth to anus, or vice versa. Cover the anus with a barrier such as an oral dam or cut condom. |
| Penis – Vagina Intercourse | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hep B, Herpes (HSV), HIV, HPV, Syphilis, Hep C | Infections can be passed from penis to vagina or vice versa. Use a condom |
| Penis – Anus
Intercourse |
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hep B, Herpes (HSV), HIV, HPV, Syphilis, Hep C | Infections can be passed from penis to anus, or vice versa. Use a condom |
- CSE does not meet the learning needs of most kids
The reality is that in grades 6 to 8, more than 91% of youth have had no sexual experience[8]. In addition, research shows that the majority of youth who have engaged in sex regret they have and did not have the refusal skills to resist. [9]
Therefore, the vast majority of elementary school students would benefit from an improved abstinence (Sexual Risk Avoidance) program that emphasizes the negative effects of teen sexual activity and helps to develop the refusal skills to resist negative peer pressure.
- Little to no time Is Invested in Helping Students to Establish Boundaries and Refusal Skills:
The emphasis of the program is instruction on sexuality (orientation, activities and capacity for sexual feelings), so thatstudents are able to decide what is right for them, including engaging in sex in whatever formats, as long as it is respectful, consensual, and mutually satisfying.
This does not address the learning needs of the majority of students who are abstinent. These students
need assistance to identify and establish common boundaries and develop refusal skills to resist negative peer pressure. However, instruction and rehearsal in refusal skills by all students would be deemed discriminatory because that is being applied to all students.
- Epidemic increase in teen STI rates since 1998.
| STI | 1998
Mandates condom instruction. |
2015 | % Change |
| Chlamydia | 39 372 cases | 117 499 cases | + 298.4 % |
| Gonorrhea | 5 076 cases | 18 645 cases | + 367.4 % |
| Syphilis | 501 cases | 4 551 cases | + 908.4% |
- 15 – 24 year olds (only 12.3% of population) account for 67% of chlamydia cases [10]
Note: STIs contribute to serious, life-threatening complications including cancers, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortions, stillbirth, low birth weight, neurologic damage, and death.
- HPV Throat & Oral Cancer … Between 2012 & 2015 – 350% increase in throat cancer doe to oral sex. Oral Sex with 6 people or more result is an 8.6 times greater risk of getting throat cancer.
- Research proves that CSE programs do not work, and may even lead to negative results. [11]
- Other Consequences
Whether or not a pregnancy or STI occurs, teen sexual activity has been associated with:
- Poorer academic achievement
- Reduced earning potential
- Poorer physical, mental, and emotional health
- Increased depression and suicide rates
- regret of sexual activity sexual activity
- increased exposure to crime
- higher likelihood of experiencing sexual exploitation, dating violence, and unwanted or forced intercourse/rape.
[1] https://www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org/what-is-cse/
[2]https://www.imfcanada.org/sites/default/files/eReview_Oct%2015[2].pdf
[3] Jensen, Frances E., with Ellis Nutt, Amy. (2015). The teenage brain: A neuroscientist’s survival guide to raising adolescents and young adults. Toronto: Harper Collins Publishing.
[4]https://www.imfcanada.org/sites/default/files/eReview_Oct%2015[2].pdf
[5]American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2005). Talking to your kids about sex. Facts for Families, No. 62. Retrieved from http://www.aacap.org/App_Themes/AACAP/docs/facts_for_families/62_talking_to_your_kids_about_sex.pdf
[6]Payne, K.J. (2009). Simplicity Parenting. New York: Ballantine Books, pp. 187-194.
[7]https://www.catie.ca/sites/default/files/CATIE_SaferSexGuide_2016_English_WEB.pdf
[8] https://www.imfcanada.org/sites/default/files/teen%20sexual%20activity_2013.pdf
[9]TheNationalCampaign.org , With One Voice 2012, America’s Adults and Teens Sound off About Teen Pregnancy, Albert
[10] https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-sexually-transmitted-infections-canada-2013-14.html
[11] (i) Weed Stan, Re-Examining the Evidence – School Based CSE Programs in the United States (Source: https://www.institute-research.com/CSEReport/CSEReport-Final_9-13-17.pdf
(ii) Weed, Ericksen, Re-examining the Evidence for School-Based CSE Programs: Part 2 – Research Findings in Non-US Schools (Source: https://www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/Re-Examining_the_Evidence_for_CSE_in_Non-US_Settings5-31-18.pdf )
(iii) New Brunswick (2004 – 2010) implemented CSE in 2004/05 school year. Between 2006 and 2010 there was a 40% increase in teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. (Source: https://www.imfcanada.org/sites/default/files/making%20sex%20education%20work.pdf )