By Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun
First posted September 26, 2012
TORONTO – An astounding link on the Toronto District School Board website which entices children to experiment sexually with vegetables has a Christian group calling for a criminal investigation.
It has a lot of others vexed, perplexed and scratching their heads. Who is behind the school board’s curtain pulling these curious strings?
For full story, click here
Comment from PEACE Ontario:
It is interesting to note that the Board spokesperson stated, “To be clear, these links are not part of the curriculum or taught in the classroom. What is taught in the classroom is guided by the Ontario curriculum and OPHEA (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association).”
But what happens when a teacher or school board goes beyond the Ministry of Education curriculum guidelines?
What most people do not realize is that when a teacher does go beyond the Ministry of Education curriculum expectations, and a parent or community group expresses concern, the response from the Ministry of Education and the school board is the curriculum guidelines are the minimum expected outcomes and School Boards and teachers have the authority to go beyond the expectations based upon their interpretation of the needs of the students in the community.”
This has been the “canned response” to parents when anal and oral sex were taught in classes under the previous 1998 curriculum guidelines.
Another interesting statement made by the board person was the intent of these links on the TDSB website is to “provide sexual health information that’s not covered as part of the curriculum for those that are interested.” If that is so, then why does the board not provide links to information that supports the value of long term heterosexual relationships, faith teaching regarding sexuality, or the medical evidence supporting students who are not sexually active, or may be concerned about these kind of sexual exploits.
For example, Ontario Public Health statistics demonstrate that in 2004 the Toronto MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) population had an HIV infection rate of 19.6% ( 1 in 5!), and that the increase in infection rate at the time was 1.6% per year.
If we put as much energy and funds into reading and math our kids would lead the world academically. Unfortunately, there is no balance within TDSB – it’s all about sex!