Province Makes Major Changes To Sex Education And Gender Practices At Schools
The fallout from a sex education pamphlet brought into a grade 9 classroom in Lumsden by Planned Parenthood from Regina has the provincial government temporarily banning third-party groups being part of sex education courses in Saskatchewan classrooms.
The ban includes all local Boards of Education to pause involvement with any third-party organization, such as the ARC Foundation and SOGI 123 Program effective immediately to allow the ministryto review the educational resources to ensure an aligns with curriculum outcomes.
“Only teachers, not outside third-parties, will be able to present sexual education materials in the classroom. This directive does not include professionals employed by government ministries or the Saskatchewan Health Authority,” a news release from the province stated.
On its website the ARC Foundation states it provides inclusive education to allow for all students to feel safe in the classroom.
The move comes after an employee with Planned Parenthood allegedly brought an inappropriate pamphlet into a Lumsden High School what many parents thought were over the top.
Although the sexually explicit pamphlet was not for distribution to the high school students. It made its way into a community backlash after it was finished by a Grade Nine student.
Regina Planned Parenthood stated at the time the employee had inadvertently brought the pamphlet into the classroom and had no intent of distributing it to the Grade Nine students.
The pamphlet became an issue in the recent Lumsden - Morse byelection when the Saskatchewan United Party promised to make changes to sexual education in the province if they were elected.
Screenshot of the objectionable pamphlet, allegedly brought into a Lumsden Grade 9 classroom by a Regina, Planned Parenthood employee - source X the social media platform formerly known as Twitter
Temporarily banning third-parties from school based sex education courses does not apply to employees of the provincial government such as the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
In addition to the temporary ban all parents are to be advised about any sexual education courses to be taught to their children in advance and parents must give permission to allow their children to participate.
Parents will be allowed to opt out their children from sexual education programs at school without the student being penalized.
Additionally the provincial government has instituted a number of measures when it comes to sex and gender in provincial classrooms.
The province has banned schools from using pronouns and names assigned to a student under the age of 16 unless the parent/guardian of the child agrees to it.
"Our government has heard the concerns raised by Saskatchewan parents about needing to be notified and included in their children's education in these important areas," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said in a statement.
Minister Duncan further stated "Parent/guardian involvement is critical in every student's education…Schools will continue to ensure safe learning environments where all students feel included, protected and respected."