A small group of high school students who are passionate in their support for the province’s new sex-ed curriculum held a rally at Queen’s Park this morning.
The curriculum has come under heavy criticism in recent months for what some are calling age inappropriate content, however, the students standing on the lawn of Ontario’s legislature Friday say they believe the updated curriculum is long overdue.
“I think with the evolution of social media, technology, how kids communicate … I think it is very important to implement things like the dangers of sexting (and ) consent,” Andrew McLean, a Grade 12 student and one of the rally's organizer told CP24.
The students say they think it is important that topics like gender identity, puberty, and same-sex relationships are taught in the classroom as early as possible.
“When we talk about these issues or a teacher talks about it in class it normalizes it, it destigmatizes it… and people become more comfortable with these topics,” McLean said.
“They feel more comfortable because it is becoming more normal to be talking about gender identity and sexual orientation.”
The new sex-ed curriculum is expected to be implemented this coming fall.
