In Canada: "Challenging Homophobia and Heterosexism."in School Children
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| Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak puts on his headphones in the TSN studio as he appears on TSN Radio 1050’s Mike Richards show in Toronto on Thursday September 22, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young |
TORONTO - As the Ontario election campaign moved into its final two weeks Friday, Dalton McGuinty, the self-proclaimed education premier, was accused of keeping parents in the dark about guidelines to combat homophobia in schools.
The Toronto District School Board updated a 219-page curriculum resource guide for the 2011 school year to cover kindergarten through Grade 12 called "Challenging Homophobia and Heterosexism."
Among other things, it recommends schools not advise parents when teachers will be introducing concepts such as gender discrimination, homophobia and non-traditional families in the classroom.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said that’s "just wrong."
And he said it was typical of a government that was forced to withdraw a new sex-ed curriculum last year after some religious and conservative groups said they were uncomfortable with kids in Grade 3 being taught about same-sex families and sexual orientation.
"I have a child who started JK, so I?m one of the parents who Dalton McGuinty is basically saying that we have no right even to know what my daughter is being taught in school," Hudak said in an interview.
"I think it?s wrong that he?s telling teachers to keep parents in the dark."
However, McGuinty said Friday he disagreed with the Toronto board’s decision not to inform parents when classes would be discussing sexual orientation.
"Obviously I would encourage the board to speak to parents and to make sure that they get it right," McGuinty told The Canadian Press.
"I think parents should be aware of the kind of curriculum that is being taught in the classroom."
The board said it does send a newsletter to homes at the beginning of each term to keep parents, guardians and caregivers informed of all upcoming equity talks in the classroom, but "without having to single out one topic over the other."
The "Challenging Homophobia" guide recommends schools not send home notes or permission slips before starting any class work on lesbian, gay, bisexual transgendered or queer issues.
If a school treats sexual orientation or anti-homophobia differently from the other curriculum topics "this could be construed as discriminatory practice," concludes the curriculum guide.
The guide also says there should be no accommodations for parents who want their children exempted from the anti-homophobia discussions because of religious reasons or for teachers who feel it contradicts their beliefs.
"If a parent asks for his or her child to be exempted for any discussions of LGBTQ family issues as a religious accommodation, this request cannot be made because it violates the human rights policy," states the guide.
Again, McGuinty said he disagrees with the Toronto board’s approach.
"I believe that parents should always have the right to opt out of some curriculum if they feel that’s very important," the Liberal leader said.
"I want to bring all our kids from all our faiths, all our traditions, all our cultures, all our sexual orientations together in a healthy, safe environment where they can learn together, grow together and develop an understanding of each other."
Hudak said he believes it’s up to parents to teach their kids about discrimination, tolerance and the dangers of bullying.
"In our home, just like parents across the province, you talk to your kids and teach them the values of tolerance every day, but this is not about tolerance," he said.
"This is another example of Dalton McGuinty who thinks he knows better what’s best for our children than parents do, and I think that’s wrong."
The school board’s curriculum guideline also includes discussion of specific slang and offensive words such as "fag," "dyke" and "queer" so kids understand their meaning and why they are hurtful.
It also recommends girls and boys be encouraged to role-play opposite roles and to talk about why some toys are considered a "girl toy" or a "boy toy."
Hudak has been complaining about McGuinty wanting to teach adult concepts to young children since last year when the Liberals backed off the proposed new sex education curriculum for the province. It still has not been re-introduced.
The New Democrats said they too believe parents should be notified when sexual orientation or similar topics are to be discussed in the classroom, and they like the idea of having the issues dealt with at school.
"I don?t have a problem with teaching children the terms that are used so that when they hear them they know what they mean," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
"I did that with my own son, but I know some of his friends’ parents didn?t."
Hudak’s concern is the new anti-homophobia guide isn’t being clearly explained to parents.
"The problem I have with this new curriculum is Dalton McGuinty?s keeping it secret from parents and indicating that teachers can?t even tell parents about this," said the Tory leader.
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