Updates posted in large typeset!
My Blogsite Acronym Guide is @ Here!
NEWS UPDATES!
Part 2 of your Teacher Free Speech Guide continues
SEPTEMBER 2nd
Campaign Life continues it's sex ed protests across the province outside 107 MPP constituency offices as classes are set to resume for the fall @ Campaign Life
The Peel board announces it won't exempt students from learning about gay families and gender issues @ Star
The Ontario government releases a new TV add promoting the new sex ed curriculum that is about to take effect @ CBC
JUNE 30th
Social Conservative Mike Coren explains his controversial change of position on LGBTQ at the Metropolitan Community Church @ Toronto Star
June 18
PC party leader Patrick Brown fought and won his spring leadership race in large part by engaging and inciting the provinces anti-sex ed vote. He's been awfully silent ever since. You can read about his strategy in the "Party Politics" section of my spring "Teacher Free Speech News + Views" blogs. It begs the question, where do the protesters go from here? Or the PC's, who as a caucus, supported the new curriculum?
Anger and resentment, once ignited, continues to burn, now widely out of control. Witness the recent attacks and altercations at the June 7 QP Rally where NDP MPP and ordained United Church Minister Cheri DiNovo was swarmed by protesters who erroneously thought she was "mocking" them @ Now/ Video and @ Twitter Also the recent HCDSB Catholic board meet on the new sex ed curriculum where police had to be called in after angry parent protesters started to fight and spit as they lost a vote @ Sparks Fly!
Is this the message that responsible "religious" parents wish to send out? And where is PC Patrick Brown's leadership now that the situation is spinning out of control?
May 19
Ontario's new PC party leader Patrick Brown signed up 41,000 new members to win the leadership race. Many are from the province's multicultural community, opposed to the Wynne government's new sex ed curriculum and support for abortion and gay marriage. Often overlooked, in the great debate, is the fact that the PC's support the new sex ed curriculum. But will Brown stay the social conservative course, now that he has won? @ Brown
Former right wing Catholic columnist Mike Coren claims many extremists in the "Church of Nasty" have turned on him since he came out in support of LGBTQ. The attacks have been very personal, brutal, and none too Christian. Hmmm. Just like his own columns back in the day @ Coran
Mike Coran is on the outs: no longer right?
Multiculturalism, religion, and Ontario's political discourse over sexual intercourse @ Sex Ed?
On favouring a fact based approach to sex ed @ Pros
May 5
Thousands of students were kept home from school in the first day of a parent strike against MOE's new Sex Ed Curriculum. In Toronto, 1350 students were absent at Thorncliffe Public School, 400 at Gateway public and 590 at Valley Park Middle School. More @ Sex Ed?
A Fact Check on criticisms of the new Sex Ed Bill. What does the curriculum actually say @ Sex Ed
April 29th
Premier Wynne refuses to withdraw new Sex Ed Bill despite parents renewed protests @ Wynne
Here's a link to the Parent Strike Facebook page. They are threatening to withdraw their children from classes the week of May 4th to protest the new Sex Ed Bill @ Parents
National Post editorial argues pulling kids from school doesn't make sense. Incorrect claims about the new Sex Ed curriculum explained @ Post
Difference between required "curriculum" and "prompts" may be causing some parent confusion over what new Sex Ed Bill requires to be taught @ Prompts
5000 parents protested the new Sex Ed Bill again on April 15th as part of a renewed second wave of the attack which seemed to die down after somewhat fizzling earlier in the year @ QP
QP: Angry parent protesters are back for another round!
Ontario's long awaited overhaul of the Ontario Ministry of Education's [MOE] Sex Education program Grades 1-12 was finally released today, replacing the last curriculum documents from 1998. Implementation is due in the provinces publicly and Catholic schools this fall. Minister Liz Sandals is adamant that extensive consultation has been completed and that the program will not be withdrawn again, unlike the last time in 2010.
After all is said and done, it will be you our provinces teachers who are on the front lines in the classroom. You are ultimately responsible for properly instructing the students in your care. This is a teacher free speech blogsite. We don't toe any party line here from parents, parish, school boards or union in discussing issues or concerns.
It's important, though not easy in the course of your busy day, to readily find the information you need. Also to be able to have an intelligent and meaningful self directed discussion on the daunting task at hand. I hope this blog can assist you at least in some small way!
Below you will find a compendium of news and research links for your erudition. There's also a link at the bottom of the blog for an open forum free speech discussion on the issues that arise, should you wish.
I support the need for the new updated sex ed curriculum. I have complete faith in our teachers' ability to implement it in a positive, constructive and responsible manner for the good of our youth. Also note, I work on the premise that to be well educated, we need to consider every point of view [POV]. This blog will post complete information as is practical, and not censor news and views links or commentary because I disagree.
Documents:
MOE media release @ Feb 23
MOE Curriculum documents 1998, 2010 and 2015 with parent guides, tip sheets, daily PH Ed info + other support materials @ DOC LINK!
More specifically, for your convenience:
New MOE Curriculum Gr.1-8 @ PDF
Parent Guides to Human Development + Sexual Health Gr 1-12 @ Here including Gr 1-6 and Gr 7-12
MOE Tip sheets for Online and Consent
Equity + Inclusivity 2014 Document @ PDF
MOE cited Supporters of new curriculum @ Pro
EARLIER NEWS LINKS
What's new, grade by grade shown at a quick glance @ Here!
Another good summary of the changes is @ London Free Press
New curriculum is "most up to date" in Canada @ CBC
Critics are ready for a good fight @ PC's 1st
Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto provides Q+A on how new curriculum will be incorporated within the schools Family Life program. They are not protesting the initiative @ Catholic Schools
ICE [Institute of Catholic Education] will provide resources for the provinces publicly funded Catholic schools. Cardinal Thomas Collins explains that the parent's role is always pivotal in inculcating Catholic values @ Collins
TCDSB will incorporate changes within their existing Family Life program @ Catholic Board
Cardinal Collins: Catholic school support is nuanced but on track
Reality check? Key phrases being used by critics are refuted in an article concerning the 5 big myths about the new sex ed curriculum and what the MOE documents really say @ Huffington
It's important to read the documents for yourself rather than be told what they say @ National Post
Concerns exist about how the program is being implemented, including the parent consultation process @ Toronto Sun
They are not radically different from the proposed 2010 curriculum @ Toronto Sun
The existing 1998 Ontario curriculum does not take into account changes in legislation and policy including same sex marriage and inclusivity @ Toronto Star
New curriculum seeks to bring sex ed into the digital age @ Globe
Online sexting concerns explained @ CBC
School straight talk on sexting, consent, body parts, mental health + other relevant life skills are badly needed by today's youth @ Cohn
The students behind the "Consent" petition comment on the new curriculum. Out dated existing program was written before they were born @ Students
Is new sex ed curriculum reactive rather than written from a sex positive approach? Some critics argue it doesn't go far enough @ Positive?
Contrary to popular misconception, the old Sex Ed program was not better back in the day @ Sex Ed
Arguments on why the new curriculum isn't age inappropriate is @ Global
Parents need to educate themselves and also have an open dialogue about the issues with their children for the program to work @ 610
Parents as First Educators explain their opposition to the new curriculum with numerous news links and a petition to support their point of view @ PFE
Campaign Life petition explains it's concerns about the consulting process @ CPL
Conservative pundit Michael Coren is critical of the critics @ Coren
Criticism of the new curriculum is sometimes fueled and fanned by extreme attacks against Ontario Premier Wynnes sexual orientation and her alleged Liberal sexual deviant agenda @ Vox
Premier Wynne takes aim at PC McNaughton's comments about her qualifications for introducing the new curriculum as Ontario Premier. Is McNaughton homophobic? Video included @ Wynne
Key 2010 protest figures are back for the fight. Some consider it an "indoctrination" on gender identity. Other specific concerns are outlined, including teaching youngsters about masturbation, anal sex, sexual orientation + expression, anal and consent @ Christian College
Rev Terry Burns explains the protesters indoctrination and social engineering concerns @ Right
Concerns are expressed about the new curriculum and Catholic gender theory @ Cambridge RTL
Some PC leadership candidates expected to appear at the Campaign Life QP anti Sex Ed curriculum protest rally. However the party is divide. As official opposition, they are quietly supporting the changes @ Feb 24 Rally
PC leadership candidates McNaughton + Brown appeal to sex ed protesters. Elliot plays coy @ Party Split!
PC Brown, parents + other protesters explain their concerns @ Video
QP Rally turns nasty. 2 PC leadership candidates show up. McNaughton accused of homophobia for comments about Premier Wynne. About 300 anti sex ed protesters apparently attended. Video provides a good cross section of parent concerns @ McNaughton
Fear mongering and politicising the new curriculum changes does not help our youth @ Ottawa Citizen
MOE Liz Sandals presents new curriculum for public hearings
More to be added ....
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