Read detailed response document here
SUDBURY- The Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) has an advertising campaign claiming that students are being disadvantaged because of a curriculum that is 15 years old. An article in the Toronto Star describes the campaign.
In January 2010 the Ministry of Education released the new 2010 Gr. 1 to 8 Health and Physical Education curriculum, which includes three sections, each having 2 to 4 units of study (9 units in total):
| Section | Units |
| Active Living | 1) Active Participation 2) Physical fitness 3) Safety |
| Movement Competence and Concepts | 1) Movement Skills and Concepts 2) Movement Strategies |
| Health Living | 1) Healthy Eating2) Personal Safety and Injury Prevention3) Substance Use, Addictions and Related Behaviours4) Human Development and Sexual Health |
After the curriculum release, concerns were expressed by parent groups from various organizations over some of the content within the Human Development and Sexual Health Strand (1 of 9 units… 2 or 3 lessons per year). Concerns included:
- anal and oral sex references as part of the grades 7 and 8 “Teacher Prompts” section which provides information to teachers on responding to questions about anal and oral sex, however does not provide information about the STI infection rates with respect to such sexual activity
- Students in grade 1 would be required to identify in detail the genitalia of male and female. This many parents felt was too early.
- Grade 2 and 3 classrooms would include discussions about gender identity – that gender has little to do with your physical anatomy and more to do with the clothes you wear, the music you listen to and the activities in which you participate. This reinforces other units and university level teacher instruction at the primary grade levels about gender fluidity – that a person can change their gender (even multiple times) throughout their life. Such ideology has led to school board policies allowing students and staff to use the change rooms, shower facilities and washrooms with which are most consistent with their gender identity.
- The absence of instruction to teachers with respect to informing parents about sensitive curriculum. Prior to this document schools were required by the Ministry of Education to inform parents about sensitive sexual content so that parents can engage in the discussions at home, or choose to opt out of instruction they felt was not appropriate. It is feared that the omission of such requirements is leading in the direction of taking control from parents.
In response, to the expressions of concern, the Ministry of Education removed the one controversial unit (Human Development and Sexual Health), and released the remaining document for teachers to implement. Teachers were instructed to continue using the Sexual Health expectations from the 1998 Health document until parents could be consulted and amendments made to the new curriculum.
Therefore, the elementary curriculum is not 15 years behind – 8 units out of 9 have been implemented since 2010, However, the secondary curriculum is fifteen years old, and does need to be updated. OPHEA spokesperson Chris Markham stated, “There is an updated secondary document that is sitting on the shelf and the Ministry of Education will not release it until all of the elementary curriculum is in place.” Why is the Ministry of Education withholding the secondary document because a small portion (1 unit of 9 … 3 lessons) of the elementary health document still needs input and potential amendments?
On Tuesday December 10, a TDSB trustee hosted a public information meeting in Scarborough that included OPHEA . The response from parents was a confirmation that the public does not want the curriculum released until these issues are addressed. During the one hour question period every participant expressed concern about the sensitive content and wanted to be informed in detail before their children were included in such instruction. This contrasts with the biased poll question OPHEA is putting into the newspapers, “Do you think the health curriculum should be updated.” Of course people who do not have all the information will assume that updates are always good. Beware if OPHEA begins quoting survey results suggesting the majority favour updates. That was not supported by the gym full of parents at last night’s meeting in Scarborough.
The reality – 90% of the Health and Phys Ed curriculum at the elementary level was updated in 2010. The secondary health curriculum was re-written, but is sitting there. The government is the one disadvantaging the health of our students. Release the sections of the document (90+%) that build upon the learning in the 2010 Elementary Health and Physical Education Curriculum, work with those in the population who have concerns over the sexual health unit, and develop a solution with that is respectful of all communities. That would be inclusive!
Parents, please respond to your MPP. The next generation thanks you!