Toronto

McGuinty supports new sex ed curriculum

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he stands by a sex education curriculum that will see lessons being taught as early as Grade 3.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he stands by a sex education curriculum that will see lessons being taught as early as Grade 3.

The curriculum, to be implemented in September, is raising the ire of so-called family focused groups who say the material is inappropriate.

But McGuinty says kids are going to get their hands on sexual health information and it's better to present them with information from reliable sources.

P.O.V.:

Sex education: How young is too young?

In Grade 3 kids will start learning about "invisible differences" between people such as gender identity, sexual orientation and family background.

In Grade 5 kids will be taught to identify parts of the reproductive system and describe how the body changes during puberty.

The Grade 7 curriculum will include learning ways of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.