Graffiti at site of sex-ed school protest leaves Wynne concerned

Premier Kathleen Wynne says she's very distressed by vandalism at two Toronto schools that appeared to be in protest of Ontario's new sex-education curriculum.

The words "shame on you" were sprayed on the walls of Thorncliffe Park public school and the neighbouring Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy.

"What makes me feel distraught about this is that kids are caught in the middle," said Wynne. "There are little children going to school today who won't understand what's been written on the walls. I hope that in a short time this will calm down, that kids will be in school.

"Obviously that kind of behaviour has nothing to do with a civil protest against a particular government action. That has to be for the police to deal with."

About half of the students at Thorncliffe Park were absent for the first day of classes on Tuesday as their parents kept them out of school to protest the sex-ed curriculum.

The board says about 1,000 of the school's 1,400 kids are in classes today.

Wynne said parents have the option of pulling their kids from classes on the days the controversial elements of the curriculum are taught. She also mentioned that the government consulted extensively with teachers, parents and police before creating the curriculum, and pointed out that the curriculum hasn't been updated since 1998.

"I will not withdraw a curriculum that I know will keep kids safe," she said.