Learning like it's 1998: Ontario's throwback sex ed curriculum

CTV News Channel: Sex-ed curriculum change Ontario Institute for Studies in Education's Lauren Bialystock says the sex-ed curriculum change was unfairly made an election wedge issue.

Ontario will be rewinding the clock 20 years in its health classes this fall, after Premier Doug Ford made good on a campaign promise to scrap the province’s sex-ed curriculum.

That means Ontario’s school children will now be taught a curriculum that was developed before the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada and predates Google, smartphones, social media and online bullying.

The vast majority of people hadn’t sent their first text in 1998 and the concept of sexting was at least seven years away from entering the lexicon.

The change means:

The curriculum was updated by the Kathleen Wynne government in 2015, but came under intense fire from religious and conservative groups, which opposed the discussion of homosexuality, gender identity and masturbation.

Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson says the government will soon begin consultations for a new curriculum.

In case you’ve forgotten how long ago 1998 was, here are some highlights: