Public school board asks Ontario to maintain current sex ed curriculum
HWDSB passed a motion that supports maintaining the 2015 revised curriculum
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is asking the Ministry of Education to keep the revised health curriculum for this September.
"We have a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion that is foundational to our strategic directions," said HWDSB chair Todd White in a statement.
Go rogue! Come to all the workshops in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SexEdSavesLives?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SexEdSavesLives</a> series!<br><br>Brought to you by <a href="https://twitter.com/speqtrumYHM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@speqtrumYHM</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAIDSNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAIDSNetwork</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/YWCA_Hamilton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YWCA_Hamilton</a>, SACHA and North Hamilton Community Health Centre.<a href="https://t.co/qdB7q5GhkB">https://t.co/qdB7q5GhkB</a> <a href="https://t.co/QwCwdFhOD4">pic.twitter.com/QwCwdFhOD4</a>
—@SACHAhamontWe have a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion that is foundational to our Strategic Directions. We want all students and staff to be safe, welcomed, and feel that they are valued members of their school community.<br><br>HWDSB Chair Todd White
—@HWDSBIt's a softer motion than Larry Pattison, Ward 3 trustee, wanted. Pattison originally planned to introduce a motion to defy the province.
But HWDSB director Manny Figueiredo said that would have been out of order. Trustees can't direct teachers to defy the province, he said.
This is disappointing, and not enough support for LGBTQ2S+ students, and students generally. <br><br>We're here to help <a href="https://twitter.com/HWDSB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HWDSB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HWCDSB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HWCDSB</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/HWDSB_ComEngage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HWDSB_ComEngage</a> <a href="https://t.co/L6VLCRK6l3">https://t.co/L6VLCRK6l3</a>
—@speqtrumYHMPattison isn't confident a letter will make a difference either.
"We're tired of writing letters," he said. "There are many other issues in the past few years where I feel we should have been stronger."
Speqtrum Hamilton, meanwhile, is holding a "We're Going Rogue" series to teach students parts of the curriculum that have been omitted. The AIDS Network, YWCA Hamilton, North Hamilton Community Health Centre and the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton are co-organizers.
The sessions are from 6 to 8 p.m. at the YWCA. Here's the schedule:
- Aug. 8: Consent.
- Aug. 15: Safer Sex.
- Aug. 22: Truth and reconcillation.
- Aug. 29: Youth action planning.
In the London area, the Thames Valley District School Board is seeking a legal opinion on how far teachers can go in teaching the health and physical education curriculum.