Local school boards are getting ready for some proposed changes around sex education in the province.
The government plans to bring in legislation that would require parents sign up to have their children opt-in, rather than the usual practice of opting out.
Mike McMann, the superintendent of the Fort Vermilion School Division, says they believe in “informed consent for parents.”
“Opting-in is by far the preferred method for us. We don’t actually see a big change coming for the Fort Vermilion School Division. We want parents to be informed on what their kids are learning and when topics are sensitive, we want them to give permission to it. Opting-out is by default and maybe some parents aren’t aware of what they’re learning in sensitive topics and so we 100% want out parents to be informed.”
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says school boards, teachers, superintendents and parents are being consulted.
McMann says they’ve been involved in the consultation process.
“The College of Alberta School Superintendents we’ve been in conversations with, as well as our school board has been in consultations at the Alberta School Boards Association. There’s been a number of opportunities for engagement with different bodies and with the ministry directly around the changes that are coming, those even started last year. I think everyone is just anticipating what it will actually look like and how is will roll out.”
McMann says they want to have parents “at the forefront” of every decision.
You can listen to the full interview below.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
