An Ottawa parent participates in the protest with elementary school students
Tens of thousands of Canadian students walked out of their schools en-mass to protest their outdated sex ed curriculum.
The walkout took place on Friday, 21 September.
The Toronto Star estimates that about 38,000 students from 75 different schools across Ontario participated.
In their own words
‘A walkout is a classic student protest strategy; it shows that we value something over our learning,’ 17-year-old Thea Baines told The Star.
Baines is one of the students who helped organize the protest.
‘In this case, we value a good education over having an outdated and not-inclusive education, which is what the Ford government is bringing back.’
The walkout was largely organized on social media. It was in response to the province’s repeal of the 2015 Health and Physical Education curriculum for elementary students. According to many conservatives, this curriculum was not ‘age appropriate.’
The 2015 curriculum was replaced with an older program, used between 1998 and 2014, which doesn’t address issues such as gender identity, same-sex relationships, and consent.
‘It will affect the next generation of adults and we want everyone to grow up learning about their bodies, consent, mental health and LGBTQ rights,’ Baines said.
‘We want to live in a Canada that values diversity and equality.’
‘Since I grew up around that, I don’t quite understand why we would not include that in our sexual education,’ 15-year-old Malikye Wyse, who is critical of the curriculum’s lack of focus on LGBTI rights, said.
‘There’s not really a difference between same-sex marriage and different-sex marriage, even if it looks like that. Love is love.’
Parent participation
Some parents even attended the protest to show their support. Wynne Hartviksen, whose 9th grade daughter Emma participated, is one such parent.
‘She had the benefit for grades 6, 7 and 8 of the 2015 curriculum, in the most formative years, and I saw the incredible positive impact of that curriculum on my daughter,’ Hartviksen said.
‘There were great conversations about consent that I honestly wish I could’ve had myself, even in university … Great conversations about gender diversity and LGBTQ issues, and (being) openly able to articulate questions that she had, to us as her parents.’
Protest images
Check out pictures from the student walkout below.
At École secondaire Le Caron in Penetanguishene, Ontario a school of 180 take part in #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent. “Learning about consent is so important!” student @allyssadaltonn said. They are also demanding more Indigenous education, so it doesn’t take away from their history. pic.twitter.com/uEU5N5zpn0
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
So proud of our students at @foresthillci who get it: #sexEd saves lives! Outdated 1998 curriculum turns back the clock on progress and is frankly dangerous. Equitable & inclusive education = #HumanRights ✊. #onpoli #TOpoli #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent pic.twitter.com/rj05jKaFSq
— Jill Andrew (@JILLSLASTWORD) September 21, 2018
In Toronto’s Northern Secondary School, student Noah Sparrow has been helping lead the #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent protest. “1998 called. They want their curriculum back!” pic.twitter.com/oJQ1T4mMEd
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
At William Lyon Mackenzie C.I., @rayneydaes speaks to the other students. “40000 students across ontario are walking out right now. I had no idea three weeks ago that this idea would become largest student walkout in Ontario’s history. The young people will always win.” pic.twitter.com/3SdzI4XqHt
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
In Guelph, students from three different high schools came together to protest at converged at city hall. pic.twitter.com/7axQKiHZu1
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
In St. Catharines, Ontario, @pacifickiss and her classmates marched out of school to protest. “Sex-ed saves lives,” she said. #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent pic.twitter.com/sEPA0cGq4K
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
These students from University of Toronto Schools marched along Queen St. to protest #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent. pic.twitter.com/E4tEP4xfLO
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
In Thornhill, students at Thornlea walkout for the #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent protest. “It’s 2018 and we shouldn’t be forced to go back in time,” @roxanneeeliza said. “I don’t want students learning about Sex Ed to feel like the information they are being taught excludes them.” pic.twitter.com/hvYQ8hNjae
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
At Bloor C.I., the students had a clear message on their signs. Sex-ed from 1998 belongs in 1998. @RussellPhotos made his way to snap photos of the #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent. pic.twitter.com/NM53AmoVYW
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
A few more signs from all over Ontario from the #WeTheStudentsDoNotConsent student walkout. Julia from Bloor C.I. holds up a sign reading “would you rather I learnt from my boyfriend,” while Waterloo C.I. student Catherine’s sign reads “Curriculum? More like curricu-dumb” pic.twitter.com/GdUF09Y587
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) September 21, 2018
