More than 100 parents and their children are showing their opposition to Ontario's new sex education curriculum in the first of at least two protests in Windsor.
They gathered outside Northwood Public School on Northwood Ave. just after 9am Tuesday; the second day of a week-long protest where parents across the province are keeping their children home from school.
Saliah Al Nassiri's young son will start Grade 1 next year, and he fears the curriculum provides too much information too soon. "They're going to teach him the names of the privates. This is not right."
Hawraa Shaalin echos Nassiri's concerns. "I looked at the curriculum," she says. "It's age inappropriate."
Greater Essex County District School Board spokesman Scott Scantlebury says the board respects the rights of parents to protest but calls it a missed learning opportunity for their children. He insists the board has no control over the curriculum and won't act as an advocate for the parents. "The demonstration, itself I would think, is a message to the government and the ministry, but as educators, we support the ministry's efforts to develop curriculum that is appropriate."
Scantlebury says absenteeism at the board's elementary schools was about 15% on Monday; a 10% increase from the same day last year. It was 11% in secondary schools.
The protesters are planning a second demonstration Wednesday at 10am outside the school board's office at 451 Park St. W.
