Toronto school softens sex-ed language after concern from some parents

A Toronto public school that was hit by protests over the province's updated sex-ed curriculum is now making accommodations to lessons about body parts for younger students. 

At Thorncliffe Park school, a separate sex-ed class will refer to genitals as "private parts" rather than using the words penis and vagina. 

I think it's very clear to the students what they're learning about and where.- Communications officer Ryan Bird, Toronto District School Board

Ryan Bird is a communications officer for the Toronto District School Board. He tells As It Happens host Carol Off, "We could have run up into a case where literally dozens of students may not be in school at all that day because of the simple mention of body parts."

"I think that this is where we can ensure that they're in school learning the lesson, with a very minor adjustment." 

Hundreds of parents pulled their children out of Thorncliffe Park public school last September because they objected to the content in the new Health and Physical Education Curriculum.