Public school board asks Ontario to maintain current sex ed curriculum

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is asking the Ministry of Education to keep the revised health curriculum for this September.

"We have a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion that is foundational to our strategic directions," said HWDSBchair Todd White in a statement.

It's a softer motion than Larry Pattison, Ward 3 trustee, wanted. Pattisonoriginally planned to introduce a motion to defy the province.

But HWDSB directorMannyFigueiredosaid that would have been out of order. Trustees can't direct teachers to defy the province, he said.

Pattison isn't confident a letter will make a differenceeither.

"We're tired of writing letters," he said. "There aremany other issues in the past few years where I feel we should have been stronger."

Speqtrum Hamilton, meanwhile, is holding a "We're Going Rogue" series to teach students parts of the curriculum that have been omitted. The AIDS Network, YWCA Hamilton, North Hamilton Community Health Centre and the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton are co-organizers.

The sessions are from 6 to 8 p.m. at the YWCA. Here's the schedule:

• Aug. 8: Consent.
• Aug. 15: Safer Sex.
• Aug. 22: Truth and reconcillation.
• Aug. 29: Youth actionplanning.

In the London area, the Thames Valley District School Board is seeking a legal opinion on how far teachers can go in teaching the health and physical education curriculum.