Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative government is sending mixed messages on its decision to teach the 1998 sex-education curriculum, which predates Google, social media and same-sex marriage.While Education Minister Lisa Thompson reiterated the modern 2015 syllabus, opposed by social conservatives, is being scrapped, she insisted issues of consent, gender, same-sex relationships, and cyber safety would still be taught this fall, even though those elements are not included in the old curriculum.“We are going to be preparing our students and preparing them for the realities of 2018 and we’re going to be embracing what was being taught in 2014,” Thompson said Monday.At that time, students learned the 1998 curriculum, which does not address those issues.“What we’ll be taking a look at and rolling back to 2014 with is specifically the curriculum that embraces preparing students for the realities of today. We will be rolling back our sex-ed focus. What we’ll be looking at is the developing sexual relations. That’s the part in the curriculum that we’ll be taking a look at,” she said.The rookie minister bolted from reporters after taking questions for less than three minutes.Four hours later, she issued a 210-word statement saying the 1998 syllabus “leaves ample space to discuss current social issues.”“As of today, we have made no decisions on what the new curriculum will look like. The final decision on the scope of the new curriculum will be based on what we hear from Ontario parents,” said Thompson, noting Premier Doug Ford would keep his election promise to consult on the curriculum.Last Wednesday, she unilaterally announced “the sex-ed component is going to be reverted back to the manner in which it was prior to the changes that were introduced by the Liberal government.”That meant returning to the 20-year-old curriculum instead of the updated one covering subject mat ...
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