March 11, 2008

Sex Ed Class Cancelled in Quebec

Recent education reform in Quebec removes mandated class time for sex education and instead suggests teachers incorporate sex ed lessons in all classes, from math to gym, The Canadian Press reports (canadianpress.google.com, 3/9).

While some educators are praising the move to make sexual education a more comprehensive and integrated part of the curriculum, many teachers fear the lack of specific government mandates for sex ed will make students miss out on important health information.

”If left completely to their own devices, many teachers, many schools and many school boards will chose to do nothing,” said Alex McKay, a research coordinator with the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. “That's a more comfortable spot for them to be in.”

McKay says that the new measures make Quebec the only province in Canada that doesn’t have some sort of sexual health education mandate. ”Quebec is bucking a trend because other provinces have ever so slowly been increasing what they mandate be taught about sexual health,” he said.

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Deidre, , 2008-04-28 16:40:12
General education teachers often lack the knowledge to teach about sex, STI's, reproduction and health in general. They need adequate training before implementing this sort of program.