Hundreds of Calgary students walk out of class, demand better sexual consent education

Hundreds of students walked out of class in Calgary on Monday morning to raise awareness about sexual violence and demand change in the education system. 

At Western Canada High School and Central Memorial High School, students held up signs reading, "No Means No," "Silence Is Not Consent" and "Protect Survivors."

This is the second time students at these schools have walked out of class demanding better consent education and more action to support survivors of sexual assault.

One of the organizers of Monday's protest, Grade 12 student Hayley Bryant, said there needs to be more accountability from the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and provincial government. 

"I've been doing this work since the eighth grade, so I have been reaching out to administration and the CBE, and it seems like with these walkouts, I'm finally being heard," said Bryant. 

"But the progress is very slow. So, we're going to keep doing this and, you know, contacting employees and MLAs and really trying to push for this change."

Bryant said students want consent education added to the K-12 curriculum and for data on sexual assaults in schools to be recorded and publicized across Canada.

In an email to CBC News, the CBE said all schools and staff work to ensure schools are safe and that students know how to report concerns of sexual assault. 

"Senior leaders continue to work with schools to review what is being heard from students," the email stated. 

In an emailed statement, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange's office said that the draft kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum includes expectations for students to learn about consent. However, it's the school authorities who decide how to implement the curriculum.

"It is up to school authorities to choose resources to meet curriculum requirements while providing a balanced approach to subject matter," the statement said.

'Students deserve to be protected'

According to Bryant, Monday's walkout was part of a nationwide protest that included more than 18 schools across five provinces. 

"It's just really heartwarming to see that support," she said.

Bryant said large systemic changes are needed to prevent sexual violence in schools.

"Rape culture is a very prevalent issue not just within my high school but within schools all over Canada," she said. 

Western Canada High School student Elizabeth Kalinowski said the CBE and provincial government need to do more to support student survivors of sexual assault. She also said teachers should have trauma-informed training.

"Students deserve to be protected at the school they're forced to go to," Kalinowski said. 

"It's important that people can feel safe where they learn, or they're not able to reach their fullest potential."