Ontario’s new sex ed curriculum was unveiled Monday, five years since the last major update was scuttled by a minority chorus of objection.
The new health and physical education curriculum covers everything from anatomy, to masturbation, to consent, to anal sex, and it marks the first substantive update since 1998. The coverage of the new guidelines for teachers has focused on sexual education, but the curriculum also includes lessons on nutrition, exercise and overall physical wellness.
When the 2010 curriculum was updated, it stirred controversy for including more explicit lessons at younger ages, but education Minister Liz Sandals said Monday there is scientific proof that puberty is occurring at younger ages and those lessons are necessary at an earlier age. Some of the updates also include lessons on “sexting” and other technological aspects that simply didn’t exist in 1998.
Curious about what the kids will be taught starting in September? Read both the elementary and the secondary school curricula for yourself here.