Premier Doug Ford announced in July that Ontario students will be taught the province’s 20-year-old sexual education curriculum in the coming school year. RNAO president Angela Cooper Brathwaite says the decision may put children at risk. “It is irresponsible to do away with the current version and revert to a 20-year-old sexual education curriculum that doesn’t address today’s realities of the Internet, smartphones and social media,” says Brathwaite. 

“If children are going to be safe and healthy, they need to learn about consent, sexual orientation, gender identity, as well as the dangers of cyberbullying, online predators and sexting.” In response to the premier’s announcement, deputy premier Christine Elliott says the government is acting upon the wishes of parents for more consultation, noting the government was concerned about the age that children were being taught about certain subjects. “We want to conduct a full public consultation with parents to make sure that we understand what parents are comfortable with having their children learning in schools,” says Elliott. (Toronto Star, July 19)