Parents Urged to Learn More About the Curriculum

Monday, 14 September 2015 07:16

The Ministry of Education encourages parents to read through the parents' guides for the physical education curriculum.

Some children are being caught in the cross fire as parents fight the school boards over the new physical education curriculum.

Superintendent of Student Achievement for the TVDSB Don Macpherson says parents really need to look at the curriculum as a whole, and not believe everything they see and hear from secondary sources. "There has been much sensationalism in the media partly because elements of the cirrculum are pulled out of context. Certain key components are maybe left out to allow a view to be expressed that the curriculum is doing something it's not."

There are several issues that have become a point on contention between parents and the schoolboards. Macpherson says one of the points frequently brought up is the idea of concent. "But in the media and parents who are unhappy with that notion of concent in the curriculum focus solely on the issue of sexual concent. And really the majority of it has nothing to do with sexual consent; it has to do with personal space and how we communicate with each other." Although sexual concent does factor into the curriculum, it does not come in as early as some groups believe."

The best advice Macpherson can give to parents who are anxious about the curriculum is to read it for themselves. Though that could be a daunting task with the documentation spanning over 500 pages. "And in support of that, and recognizing that the Ministry's provided parent guides grades 1 - 6 and K- 12," says Macpherson. "But also new last week you will find a grade by grade summary - so if you're the parent of a grade two child you can look at just that part and say 'Okay, what will the conversations be at my son or daughter's school at grade 2?'"

The documents can be found here

Macpherson suggests if you still have concerns to talk with the teachers. He understands that all parents want what is best for their children and this all comes from a place of wanting to do the right thing.