GTA school boards still parsing Ontario PC sex ed changes

Toronto-area school officialshave spent the last week trying to determine every change to Ontario's sex-edcurriculum, with classes set to resume just days from now.

Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative governmentreleasedan interim health and physical education curriculumfor elementary schools last week, scrapping the modernized sex-edcurriculum brought in by the Liberals in 2015 that included information about online bullying,sextingand gender identity.

The government also announced the creation of a tip line for parents who are concerned about what their children are being taught in class.

The move has sparked outrage, confusion, and court challenges, however Education Minister Lisa Thompson hasbeen unavailable to answer media questions about the sex ed changes for six days.

That's created a situation where school boards will have to explain to staff and parents what's staying the same, and what's different, in the new curriculum a modified version of the 1998 sex-edcurriculum.

Peter Joshua, thePeel District School Board's director of education, told CBCRadio's Metro Morning that staff have done a "very careful analysis" of theinterim curriculum Ford's government unveiled last Wednesday.

Human growth and development, which includes sexual health, is the one area that is different, Joshua said.

"We will be outlining for teachers the specific things that can be covered and how," he said.

The Peel board ispreparing resourcesand lesson plans,and isasking teachers not to teach the human growth and development section until those lesson plans are available, it said a statement Monday.

The interim curriculum can be read onlinehere.

Another union vows to protect teachers

Liz Stuart, president of theOntario English Catholic Teachers' Association, told Metro Morning the changes are small in terms of how much classroom time they'll take, but they're important.

"It's significant in its information for students,"Stuart said.

Stuart saidteachersare waiting to hear from their employers about what the changes will be.

The union said it willsupport those who are investigated by the Ontario College of Teachers for teaching the 2015 curriculum.

InMonday's statement from the Peel District School Board, Joshua said staff are reviewing the interim curriculum through a human rights lens.

The board's resources for teachers will "reinforce the board's ongoing commitment to the well-being, safety and success of all students," he said.

With topics related toidentity, the Peel school board willencourage teachers to "embed this work in all curricular areas," Joshua said in the statement.

"We must continue to be guided by our moral obligation to ensure all students feel safe and included in our school communities."