Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s decision to shelve a middle-of-the-road sexual health curriculum update because of the bleating of rightwing blowhards is cowardly — not the least because it puts more distance between young people and accurate, age-appropriate sexual health information.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around this sex-phobic, theo-con-capitulating blow to education policy. (And I’m trying to get my hands on the 1998 curriculum that Ontario schools will use this fall. If you have it, please email me. [UPDATE: Got it! Thanks guys! Read the 1998 guidelines here.])
Yes, McGuinty is a coward.
Or wait, is there another explanation? Is McGuinty is going through puberty?
The shelved tween-aged curriculum may provide some answers.
On McVety’s public pressure campaign:
Teacher prompt: “Sometimes it is difficult getting used to changes that are happening so quickly. Feelings can be much more intense. What are some the feelings you might have as you experience changes with puberty?”
Student: “Excitement, happiness, embarrassment, confusion, and fear…”
On his new socially conservative pals:
Teacher prompt: “What can change socially as you start to develop physically?”
Student: “Relationships with friends can change, because sometimes people start being interested in different things at different times. Some people start ‘liking’ others. They want to be more than ‘just friends’ and become interested in going out. Sometimes people treat you as if you are older than you actually are because of how you look. Sometimes classmates, friends or family make comments or tease you about the changes.”
In the meantime, join a Facebook group for folks who support sane, non-judgmental, fact-based sex education.
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