Thursday, February 25, 2016

Revised sex-ed curriculum to be taught soon in Peel


The Ministry of Education's revisions to the sexual education curriculum have made headlines and drawn the ire of some Peel parents over the past year.

With the contentious lessons now just around the corner, local school boards have been working to mollify those who feel the changes to the human development and healthy sexuality part of the ministry's health and physical education curriculum are inappropriate for some age groups.

Poleen Grewal, superintendent of curriculum and instruction support services at the Peel District School Board (PDSB), said the unit that's "causing some angst" will be taught in two to four lessons and was loosely slated to be given after March Break, but she suspects the date to now be closer to May or early June.

"We asked them to delay it," said Grewal, adding that schools have been given time to better prepare for things like student exemptions, community consultations and teacher training.

The PDSB began accepting exemptions on the grounds of religious accommodation in January. PDSB spokesperson Brain Woodland said those numbers aren't being tracked centrally at this time.

However, Grewal suspects the exemption requests to increase when notification letters are sent home to parents two weeks before the lessons begin. The grade-specific letters will explain what the child will be learning.  (more...)


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