Borderland Pride is expressing some satisfaction with the new health and physical education curriculum for elementary students.
It was extremely vocal when the Ford government repelled the former curriculum last year.
Co-chair Doug Judson sees the core elements of the previous curriculum still intact.
“There are some changes and are various opinions on some of those changes but for the most part, we’re seeing the core element of the previous curriculum appear to be intact and that’s a good thing,” says Judson.
One of the differences is the moving of the teaching of gender identity from Grade 6 to Grade 8. Judson notes when the government had to defend itself court, it was identified the Grade 6 age being critical to the development of identity and when many students begin forming their sense of self-concept.
“It’s certainly our hope and our wish that educators will use their discretion they have available within the bounds of the wider scheme of the curriculum to ensure that at each stage they are providing the relevant resources and pertinent context for what they’re teaching.”
The biggest disappointment for Judson isn’t something contained in the curriculum, but how the government arrived at the new one
“The Premier did vigorously campaigned on a pledge to scrap what was really Ontario’s first LGBTQ2 inclusive curriculum. When political leaders take positions like that it is dangerous and responsible.”
He does applaud new Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, for his efforts deliver a curriculum that, for the most part, is modern, inclusive and fact-based.
