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Ontario parents will be notified in advance about guest speakers and their planned activities in schools starting in the 2024–25 school year, according to a new directive from the Ontario Education Ministry.
The directive mandates that schools inform parents at least 14 days before such events. If an event is scheduled within a shorter timeframe, parents will receive details as soon as they are confirmed.
The notification will include the date, time, location, title, and topic of the event, its connection to the curriculum, names of presenters and the organizations they represent, and information about any handouts or giveaways. Schools must also notify parents promptly if any details change.
The directive is part of “Policy/Program Memorandum 170,” which was released on June 6 and is aimed at improving communication with parents and enhancing transparency and accountability in Ontario’s education system.
A parental rights advocacy group, Parents as First Educators (PAFE), praised the directive in a July 2 press release, saying it “gives hope to parents.” However, the group noted there is still work to be done to protect students from speakers discussing inappropriate topics.
“The lack of parental transparency within schools across Canada has not gone unnoticed by concerned parents. It’s no secret that schools have allowed inappropriate third-party speakers to present in schools, while parents were not aware,” the rights group said.
PAFE cited a June 2023 incident where an advocacy group presenter brought a deck of playing cards titled “Sex: From A-Z” to a Grade 9 class in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. The cards contained explicit graphics and descriptions of sexual practices, drawing criticism from parent groups.
In response, Saskatchewan’s then-Education Minister Dustin Duncan temporarily banned the group from giving presentations in the province’s schools.
The Saskatchewan government introduced a policy last August requiring parental permission if children under the age of 16 want to change their preferred first name or pronouns at school. Alberta has also brought in similar policies.
New Brunswick, which has implemented a similar policy requiring parental consent for children under 16 to change their preferred first name or pronouns, has also banned an organization for presenting inappropriate material in schools.
In a May 24 social media post, Premier Blaine Higgs said parents had shared screenshots and photos of such materials with him. Citing the provincial education department, he said the material is not part of the New Brunswick curriculum, but was presented during a session on Human papillomavirus infection (HPV).
“However, the group shared materials well beyond the scope of an HPV presentation,” Mr. Higgs wrote. “The fact that this was shared shows either improper vetting was done, the group misrepresented the content they would share … or both.”
While he did not identify the group by name, he said the organization would not be permitted to present again at New Brunswick schools, “effective immediately.”