Controversial sex-ed curriculum fuels intense debate
OTTAWA, ON—When it comes to schools and sex education, is there such a thing as a Christian perspective?
This spring the Ontario government planned the launch of a new health curriculum. It proposed sweeping changes to the way Ontario children learn about sex. These included introducing the anatomical names for sexual organs in Grade 1, mentioning homosexuality in Grade 3, discussing masturbation in Grade 6 and learning about oral and anal sex in junior high.
A coalition of Christian groups erupted in criticism, claiming the curriculum had been quietly introduced without parental consultation and that it introduced inappropriate concepts to school children.
The resulting firestorm of media attention—which gained international headlines—forced the Ontario government to back down and withdraw the proposed curriculum.
Now, as the dust settles, many are left wondering what schools should be permitted to teach children about sex.
Not that much, says Charles McVety, spokesperson for the "family-focused" coalition that led the charge against the new curriculum.
The president of Canada Christian College says it's important for schools to teach children the dangers of sex outside of marriage and that it's wrong to hate or attack anyone. Broader sexual education should remain the prerogative of parents.
Uniting under the banner "Stop Corrupting Children," the Institute for Canadian Values, Canadian Family Action Coalition and Canada Christian College called the proposed curriculum "evil," "horrific" and "criminal."
"It's unconscionable to teach eight-year-old children about same-sex marriage, sexual orientation and gender identity," McVety says, "or to teach 11-year-olds about the pleasures of masturbation or about vaginal lubrication.
"Gender identity shouldn't be taught in schools at all. It's a complex psychological teaching. It should be reserved for at least university—even graduate school."
McVety stresses that Christians aren't the only ones fueling opposition to the curriculum. But, he adds, Christians have extra cause for concern due to Christ's teaching on care for children and the Bible's strong opposition to sexual deviancy.
But not all Christians are opposed to the curriculum. Pastor Joe Abbey-Colborne who publically stated his support for it on the social networking site, Facebook.
"I'm an evangelical, Bible-believing Christian," says Abbey-Colborne, pastor of Parkdale Neighborhood Church. Claiming many of the coalition's specific examples were taken completely out of context or grossly exaggerated, Abbey-Colborne says he was impressed with the way the new curriculum dealt with sexuality within the context of a person's wider physical, emotional and social health.
"It was part of an entire curriculum that took into account people's relationships with each other," he says. "It incorporated sexuality into emotional and community wholeness."
Having ministered for several years to sexual abuse victims and those involved in the sex-trade, Abbey-Colborne has seen a correlation between lack of access to open, honest sexual information and sexual abuse.
"Kids need to be able to talk about issues like this openly and without shame," he says. "Growing up in an atmosphere of ambiguity, uncertainty or shame around sexuality isn't helpful. I believe an atmosphere of judgment and secrecy around the area of sexuality is more harmful than an honest and matter of fact approach.
"Schools need to equip kids for the world they're going to grow up into," he says. "We need to teach kids the proper names of different parts of their body, from elbow and earlobe down to penis and vagina. We need to teach them that some boys are attracted to boys and some girls are attracted to girls. That's just teaching them the facts. And that's something I think the schools should be doing.
"It's still primarily the role of the parent to teach kids to critique society through the filters of morality, spirituality and religion. I don't want the schools teaching my kid what is and isn't sin. I want them teaching my kids about what is and what isn't the social norm of my culture. Then it's my role as a parent to help my kids interpret and critique that culture."
Parents will continue to have the primary influence on children's view of sexuality, regardless of what schools teach, says Peter Jon Mitchell, research analyst for the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada.
"Parents chronically underestimate their own influence," Mitchell says.
Calling school-based sexual education a "dull arrow in the quiver," he says research continues to show that "parents are extremely influential when it comes to teens making decisions about sexual behaviour."
"Parents are the primary sex educators. It goes beyond having that 'big talk.' It starts with parental attitudes and behaviours… including parenting style, communication, structure and boundaries.
"Family dynamic goes a long way in helping kids grow into autonomous adults. Parents need to model the values they hope their kids will model as well."
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