As a mother of two daughters, 6 and soon to be 9, I want the new curriculum to be introduced. My almost 9 year old is starting puberty, and she's wearing deodorant already, but hasn't yet started her period. I have told her what is happening, and why, and if the new curriculum was in place, when she goes to Gr. 4 in September, she'd be learning about puberty. Perfect timing. My MIL started puberty when she was 9 (and she's 65 now). So, we should be realizing that kids will need to know sooner. My 6 year old is going into Gr. 1 in the fall, and she already knows her genitalia - so no big deal. As a mom, I try to answer all the questions they have, but I know parents who don't do that - and this curriculum is perfect for them. Sex shouldn't be made to be a scary topic - we are sexual beings - and knowing about it won't make them go out and have sex.

I’m so relieved this program has been halted. What good are our tax $ and votes if they don’t reflect our choices. I choose not to have my child’s innocence stolen at age 8! I should have the choice to teach my child what and how i want to about sex, and especially WHEN i want to teach them. This “education” is only going to open doors to the many vices already present- but just start at an earlier age. Don’t we pay enough in healthcare to cure STDS and other such diseases that result from “sexual curiosity?” parents against this program shouldn’t stop until it is completely removed.

Those of you saying that they should learn around 11-12 because that's pre-pubescent, you need to wake up and realize what world we're living in. My niece got her period at age 9 (an increasingly common occurrence for girls these days) and by the time she was 13 she and her best friend had both had two sexual partners. If any of you are parents you know that kids start getting curious about their bodies and physical gender differences around the ages of 3-5 (you ever heard of kids playing doctor???). I'm not saying grade 3 is the age to start learning about pregnancy, but I think gender issues and orientation is a great place to start, especially since so many grow up feeling ostracized because of differences in gender socialization, or their own bodies, etc. As much as we think kids need to keep their innocence, we also need to realize that these things are coming up in their lives and they're already not as innocent as we think.

I am a senior who was raised in what some call an old fashioned way. In that raising I was taught that nice girls did not have sex before marrage only tarts and hookers did, and decent boys respected decent girls, sadly these days anything goes and it goes to show that parents do not teach their own children the way they should, that why we have kids having kids and their parent should be made responsible for the up keep of any grand child because of their lack of teaching not the government, which in turn comes from our tax dollars

This is ridiculous. I think it is unacceptable for a grade 3 kid to be learning about sex, and orientation. They are only 7 years old! A child of that age does not even think about sex, they are just kids. If we were to start teaching these kids about sex so early, the only thing we would obtain is to take away their childhood and innocence. Now if we were to stop teenage pregnancy, well then I agree on teaching children who are within the age group of 11-12 years going into middle school because this is the stage in which many of the kids start becoming more curious about their body and start puberty too. Sooner than that would be unacceptable in my opinion because although im only a teenager myself and I see these issues happening. Furthermore, I wouldn’t want to expose my children into becoming acquainted at such a young age, for example at the age of 7.

Personally, I've been taught about sexual education by my mother since I was 10. Yeah, a lot of people thought it was a bit young, but it certainly helped me be ready for the hormones that come later. That way, I wasn't completely bewildered when the time actually came. So yeah, I think it's better to learn it earlier - having two years worth of time to digest the whole thing certainly helped with controlling the panic of bleeding from my vagina, to put it mildly.

As someone who has yet to have children of my own maybe some would feel that I am unqualified to be writing in response to this article. However I believe that too often people stay quiet afraid to speak up because o what others will think of them etc. I am not going to be one of those people.

I was just discussing in a group setting last night the new education sex ed curriculum and I have to say that Mr. McGuinty made a good decision. Children at the age of 8 should be learning about things like spelling, math and problem solving not sexual acts. That kind of thing is a complex issue for their young & might I add very impressionable minds.One of the best things about children is their innocence. Do you really want to take that away from them that early?

I believe that children have a hard enough time growing up as it is. If a child is old enough to ask about sex they are old enough to know. Parents don't want to talk to their children about sex and teachers are not allowed to either. Children are very courious and they are going to find out one way or the other. How are they suppose to learn about sex? Through trial and error? TV and the Internet? Through their peers? These are wrong ways for children to learn about sex, Teaching children about sex helps them grow up to be strong, positive and sexuality confident adults and much happier people and it will eventually break this nasty cycle of keeping sex "behind close doors".

Glad to see the program halted. Imagine the state of this province once kids 12 years onwards have their curiosity stirred? We already have too many young single mothers.
Look back at history, what was the cause of many great leaders and countries to be knocked down or destroyed? SEX!!! The old testament and many other religions will be proof of this besides our very own history.

I think that today for the younger generation to be informed on all aspects of "sex education" is not only ideal but essential to put forth the message that certain things should not be happening at certain young ages. Unfortunately, the archaic, medieval attitude that "sex' should not be discussed in a public institution ie schools, and the fact that ignorance should not be confused with indifference, I believe that age-appropriate information should be a partial responsibility with our educators. I took sex ed in high school but that's where it should be, not with 3rd graders.

Oh please... I cant beleive you wnat to think its the minorities who are in any way screwing things up.. .In case you haven't noticed, being catholic is a majority... so there goes the argument...
What the problem is parents who cannot get it through their heads that children are curious, and they will experiment and make mistakes if not taught soon. So yes, Im not saying start teaching tehm hard core stuff in grade 3... But get them started and make sure its a round education, not one sided... We live in a multicultural community, we must learn to deal and be prepared for all sorts of things, even sex at a young age which surprisingly, does happen, more often than you think.

I was surprised to hear that sexual orientation and gender issues were going to be taught to third graders. I don't really understand the need to teach children sexual education when sex drive usually comes about at the age of 12-15 and often later. Personally I believe that if we are to educate children and teenagers about sexual alternatives, or preventive ways avoiding pregnancy or S.T.I's it's not going to stop the heart of the issue. I believe it was Theodore Roosevelt who said "A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad." Teaching about these things might be a quick sidestep of the problem, but won't address the fundamental issue.

I guess (being a mother of two young kids) sexual education curriculum in Ontario at grade 3 level is pretty early to start with. Perhaps it can be considered for children who are within the age group 11-12 years (as it will be the years just before their puberty). Personally I would think it is the best time to educate kids (grade 6 and above) more on this issue. As a matter of fact at grade 1 teachers do cover the topic on "safe & unsafe touches" which is fine.

HOW PATHETIC! It’s ridiculous to think that children that age do not have some curiosity about sex. With the lack of parental control due to the incredibly high cost of living and both parents working to survive it’s too easy for children to have access to the wrong information via the internet and television. Not to mention rumors and locker room chat. The rate of teenage pregnancies has NOT improved and the slack enforcement of child support in this Province just increases a backlog of the courts and children being deprived of the necessities of life. These teenage Mothers are also being deprived of their education and essential skills in order to provide a positive future for their children. WAKE UP McGuinty!!! Read the statistics, Catholic girls are having sex too; it’s not the same world as it was decades ago. We need to educate the kids and prepare them for the long road ahead. It’s hard enough to make it financially in today’s society.. they don’t stand a chance with a baby at 14yrs of age. Maybe all teenage (and pre-teen) Mothers should knock on his door when they cannot receive child support from the teenage Fathers who helped to put them in that situation. He seems to think he has all the answers, maybe he can reach into his pockets and help them out. JERK

As a student I wish they did talk more about prevention of STDs and pregnancies more as opposed to just abstinence. We have a number of pregnant girls here in grade nine! that's because the curriculum only teaches abstinence in grade nine because they cant seem to accept the fact that SEX HAPPENS. Hello use a condom much?

This is pretty typical of how our country is being ruled by the majority of "Canadians" that bring their culture to our country. The fear years ago was that allowing imigrants into our country that their minority views would change the landscape of Canadian beliefs. Well, it has. This shows that the silent majority are being stomped on by the minorities that came to this country for a better life. But instead they are bring with them what they left behind. Our passive position that most Canadians have taken will ruin this country. All Canadians should have a say...not just those minorities that are will to push their beliefs on us.
JJ