Ontario's New Sex Education Curriculum Analysis

As of September 2015, the Liberal party in Ontario has produced a new sex education curriculum for elementary and high school students that is up to date with todays society. This subject matter will be introduced to students in the beginning of Grade 1 and ending in their senior year of Grade 12 (“Ontario’s New Sex Education”). Sex education is provided for students to ensure they make well-informed decisions in their personal lives that may either have a positive or negative impact on their well-being. What makes this new sex education curriculum controversial is, though some may find it acceptable and informative, some parents feel some subject matter goes against their religious beliefs and values particularly immigrant groups with orthodox

From the way I grew up, my sisters and I were taught to be modest and reserved. The topic of sex was rarely brought up by my parents especially my Canadian father who was born in the early 1940s having been born in that era he may have reservations about talking about sex and relationships to his children. Whenever the subject of sex did get brought up, it was by my mother who advocated strongly for an abstinence only approach. This method of abstinence was not conducted for my sisters and I not only to wait until we’re married but also to ensure her children do not destroy the reputation of the mother and father and the children themselves. Though my parents were not opposed to sex education, they were not willing to answer pressing questions I had asked out of curiosity from hearing what others my age were talking about at school that related to sex, for example, at some point in my elementary schools years I had asked my mother an awkward question- “what is an orgasm”? My mother scolded me for asking what she deems as an inappropriate question and refused to give me an explanation. Fast forward to my late teens, I was in a relationship for a few years and I began to use birth control as a precautionary measure. My mother was not entirely

It is acceptable for immigrant and religious groups disagree with Canadian principles, and there is no need for them to abandon their culture and beliefs because that is what makes Canada the ideal country to live in because people are allowed to be their true authentic selves (Gee). Though these parents who do have good intentions of protecting their children and want their children to grow to be honorable individuals in their adulthood need to expand their minds should consider that depriving them valuable knowledge with be detrimental to their welfare as sex education provides life saving information and access to resources that will make their lives easier (Gee). For example, high school students should have knowledge about different forms of contraception such as condoms, IUD’s, birth control pills etc. High school students should also have free access to the resources to prevent teenage pregnancy and from contracting STD’s/STI’s. If students do not have knowledge of contraception such as condoms they will not use them. If students do not have knowledge about different types of STD’s/STI’s they will contract them. Parents hope Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Minister of Education Liz Sandals make changes to