Fifteen residents stood outside the office of Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott last week in protest of the new sexual education program that begins in Ontario classrooms this fall.
The group was part of a province-wide protest on Sept. 2 organized by Campaign Life Coalition that converged on 103 MPP offices, including Arnott’s office in Fergus and Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece’s office in Stratford.
“I think it is trying to violate the rights of parents who are the first educators,” said John Finochio, pastor at Crossroads Life Church in Harriston and a member of the protest.
“We think it’s imposing an agenda upon families and upon children by an extreme viewpoint about sexuality. I don’t think it’s a viewpoint that most Ontario families share. They might tolerate it, but that’s not where they’re at.”
Joyce Freeman, leader of the Wellington-Halton Hills protest, read a speech in front of the group and Arnott.
“We are here to request that you oppose the sex ed curriculum as publicly and as vigorously as you can muster. We are asking you to work toward its repeal in (the) Legislature,” said Freeman.
“We are here with heavy hearts with concern for our children and grandchildren, whom we know will be sexualized by a flawed and reckless curriculum.”
Freeman mentioned numerous reasons why the group wished to see the “age-inappropriate curriculum” repealed, stating it is “too much information too soon,” it “increases the risk for STIs by nudging [students] toward premature sexual experimentation” and it “plants adult concepts of sex.”
Freeman presented Arnott with a signed petition and he thanked the members for taking the time to express their views.
“I agree completely that the government did not adequately consult with parents before they made the decision to proceed with the implementation of the curriculum,” said Arnott.
He said he would continue to engage the government on this issue when the Legislature resumes on Sept. 14.
Premier Kathleen Wynne has said thousands of school council chairs were consulted about the curriculum, which has not been updated since 1998, as were 70 health organizations and parent groups.
Education Minister Liz Sandals has stated there is a lot of “misinformation” being circulated about the new curriculum and she has urged parents to talk with teachers and principals about it. She recently told the media that parents opposed to the curriculum can withdraw their children from particular classes.
Under the new curriculum, Grade 3 students will learn about same-sex relationships, while those in Grades 4 and up will learn about the dangers of online bullying. Lessons about puberty move from Grade 5 to 4, while masturbation and “gender expression” are mentioned in Grade 6, and the dangers of “sexting” in Grade 7.
