Hello Mr. FFWBT
Thank you for your email; we understand that things are hectic at this time of year.
Unfortunately, we can't both come in for those times this Thursday but we don't think that an in-person meeting will be necessary for the time being as we're just seeking some information about the school district's policy around the sex ed portion of the curriculum. We understand that this is a necessary and mandated part of the curriculum, but were previously unaware that we had options around how the information could be delivered to our children.
When I spoke to you last week I intended to ask about the Alternative Delivery Policy for the sex ed portion of the curriculum. In hindsight I was a little imprecise with my language and mentioned the "SOGI curriculum" when my intention was merely to invoke our rights as parents pursuant to the policy regarding the sexual education portion. When we received the newsletter notifying us of the upcoming sex ed classes there was attached this file:
https://sd38.bc.ca/sites/default/files/2024-08/SOGI - Information for Parents and Guardians.pdf
Inside I found this;
Sexual health education is part of BC’s Physical and Health Education curriculum and focuses on the biological, physiological and reproductive aspects of human sexuality; it is taught separately and follows specific guidelines.
Parents or guardians, in consultation with their child’s school, may arrange for alternate delivery for certain topics contained in the Physical and Health Education curriculum for kindergarten to Grade 10 students.
And
The Ministry of Education and Child Care has allowed for some flexibility in the delivery of topics related to reproduction and sexuality in the Physical and Health Education curriculum through the Alternative Delivery Policy. Please contact your child’s principal if you’d like to discuss options.
Please note that the language of the letter makes clear that the ADP is available to all students K-10. After clicking the link (
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...elivery-in-the-physical-and-health-curriculum) and scrolling through the body of the text I found these two sections;
Policy Statement
Students and their parents or guardians may arrange for alternative delivery for certain sensitive topics contained in the following Education Program Guides:
- Physical and Health Education K-9
- Physical and Health Education 10
Policy in full
The Physical and Health Education 10 provincial curricula include topics related to reproduction and sexuality that some students and their parents/guardians may feel more comfortable addressing by means other than instruction by a teacher in a regular classroom setting. These include learning standards outlined in the following education program guides:
- Physical and Health Education K-9
- Physical and Health Education 10
In such instances, students, with their parents' or guardians' consent, may arrange to address topics related to reproduction and sexuality by an alternative means. This must been arranged in consultation with their school. The alternate means must be agreed upon by the students, their parents or guardians, and the school.
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This is the policy we wish to make use of. The plain language of both the newsletter and the policy includes Physical Education grades K-10, not merely grade 10.This is a matter of great importance to us; as I mentioned when we spoke on Wednesday our daughter was quite upset by the sexual education portion of the curriculum last year, including tears and despondency after each lesson. My wife was quite concerned and made numerous mentions to me of Terryetta's distress. She is usually a cheery and open child but on the days when the sex ed curriculum was taught she was not herself and when asked why that was the case she very clearly told us that these lessons upset her. I have spoken to her in the past few days and asked her if she remembered the talk about private parts last year and she was no less vehement that she felt embarrassed and confused by the things she was told and shown. We have no issue with the idea of Terryetta learning about sexual education topics but we feel it is in her best interests to pursue alternatives to classroom instruction.
My wife would also like to add that we take the subject of sexual education seriously, especially when it comes to appropriate and inappropriate touches and bodily autonomy and we are fully on board with making sure our children know how to communicate if they are experiencing any type of abuse and we are aware of how sexual abuse impacts a child during their childhood and beyond. We don't want Terryetta to feel confused or feel shameful about these topics, and feel that we would best be able to make her feel comfortable when it comes to learning about sexual health.
I apologize for the length of this message but we feel it is our duty to promote the best interests of our child and lessons that cause her emotional distress run contrary to that. One of our core family values is that we do not subject our children to undue emotional distress if it is in our power to prevent it and it is for that reason we are requesting to make use of the ADP policy. We appreciate the care and attention that the school pays to education in general, and are so happy to see how Terryetta is thriving at your Godless Bacchanalia.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email, and we look forward to hearing from you soon. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
- Mr. and Mrs. Terry Fox
laws in Canada so I wouldn't need to inform him) and I probably would have but he came and found me and I didn't think to start the app.
