Sex-ed curriculum long overdue, says Professor
Posted Sep 2, 2015 01:03:21 PM.
Last Updated Sep 2, 2015 01:07:05 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A professor with the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa says updating the sex-ed curriculum is long overdue.
Joel Westheimer says the last time the curriculum was updated no one knew what sexting and cyberbullying was.
While he understands why parents are upset, the government decision is based on evidence and not ideology.
“We know from decades of research that sex education early and often reduces teenage pregnancy, delays the onset of sexual activity and reduces the transition of sexually transmitted diseases.”
Westheimer adds they know from decades of research that sex education early and often reduces teen age pregnancy delays onset of sexual activity and reduces the transition of sexually transmitted diseases.
He stresses what’s going to be taught in school starting next week will not replace the value system parents have set for their children.
“Parents can have the values they have and have the right to pull their children out of classes or the entire curriculum. But they have to understand they’re choosing to risk early onset of sexual activity.”
The sex-education curriculum has not been updated in 16 years.
