On November 6th we were joined by Lyndsey Butcher MSW, Executive Director of Shore Centre.
The Shore Centre was founded in 1972 under its original name of Planned Parenthood. It's purpose is to provide all residents of our community with sexual health information and support. It is a pro choice organisation that strives to recognize and value all gender identities, sexualities and consensual sexual experiences as well as being inclusive and accessible to all its clients.
The Centre's programs reach 10,000 students annually to help enable them to grow up with healthy and safe relationships.
In the fall of 2018 there were some sudden changes by the newly elected provincial government to the sex ed curriculum affecting primary schools in Ontario. These changes reverted the curriculum back to the content from 1998 and was controversial as it seems to have been a political act rather than a move forward in supporting our children. This sudden change was poorly communicated and was accompanied by a snitch line for parents to report inappropriate teachings to the college of teachers. Confusion around these changes seems to be rampant at every level (educators, parents, etc.). Some of the most controversial curriculum content that has been repealed includes the idea of consent and the various teachings on gender identity.
The Shore Centre is not bound to the 1998 curriculum (which is now the law of the land again) and can compensate for the shortcomings of the school curriculum but walks a fine line to be invited into the classroom by teachers that are potentially under the scrutiny of the snitch line for punishment if they violate the curriculum rules. It appears that the curriculum is currently moving towards an abstinence focus which studies have shown to be ineffective. Also in today's society it is likely that if kids have questions that cannot be answered in schools they will turn to other sources (probably online) which may be unhealthy.
The last curriculum took 6-8 years to develop and it is important that it not take as long this time. A public consultation is currently taking place until December 15th. There are several ways that we can help with the consultation that is taking place: 1) take the online survey; 2) participate in an online town hall (which is sort of like a call in radio program; 3) meet with your MPP about this issue; 4) donate to the Shore Centre. For information on how to participate in the public consultation refer to the website.
For further information on the Shore Centre refer to their website.