By now you’ve probably read or heard about the recent controversy surrounding the revised Ontario Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Curriculum for Grades 1-8 and the Ontario government’s decision to withdraw its intended implementation beginning in the 2010/2011 school year. Ophea has supported our members in teaching kids about health since 1921, and we feel that it is time to provide some clarification on this issue.
To begin, characterizing the policy as a “sex ed program” is a misrepresentation of the curriculum content; Human Development and Sexual Health is one topic in an overall comprehensive, quality H&PE curriculum. The areas of controversy, such as gender identity, same sex marriage and sexual relations, are supported with content and discussion pertaining to personal and family values along with multi-cultural and multi-faith beliefs and ways in which these can shape decision-making.
The development of the revised H&PE Curriculum was a comprehensive two-year process led by health, physical education and curriculum experts within the Ministry of Education. It was a collaborative effort that involved thousands of consultations with issue experts, parents, students, child and youth health organizations and health promotion organizations, as well as religious groups. The H&PE Curriculum also integrates a number of existing government policies, including the Safe Schools Action Team Report, The Healthy Schools Framework and the Ontario Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy.
The resulting H&PE Curriculum addresses a broad range of topics related to health and physical education and impacts lifelong health by providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to live and promote a healthy active lifestyle.
The revised (H&PE) Curriculum, if fully implemented, will be the most significant advancement in health promotion the province has ever seen. It is good for students, education, communities and the health of Ontario.
Good for students because it focuses on developing physical and health literacy that will enable students to thrive in an ever-changing world by making good decisions for their personal health and wellbeing.
Good for education because it brings schools and communities together in support of a common goal (healthy active children and youth) and addresses social, physical, emotional, cultural and developmental aspects of learning.
Good for communities because it strengthens the role of schools as a hub for healthy active living within communities. It enables public health, sport and recreation, parents and others to get involved and make connections within their community to impact student health and learning.
Good for the health of Ontario because it addresses many contemporary health topics, including healthy eating, sexual health, mental health and others, in an integrated and holistic way.
All of this considered, the reality now is that the government has withdrawn the H&PE curriculum. It is uncertain at this time whether this includes the curriculum as a whole or simply the Human Development and Sexual Health strand.
This province needs a quick resolution that will move the H&PE Curriculum forward in a timely manner and that will benefit Ontario's children and youth. We will support the ongoing re-development of this curriculum to ensure that children are equipped with the knowledge and self-efficacy needed to make healthy choices - now and in the future - for themselves, their families and their communities.
Surely we all share this common commitment. Now is the time for all of us to work together to implement an H&PE Curriculum that meets the needs of all students.
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