Last year there were a great number of sessions across New Brunswick to inform parents and indeed all New Brunswickers about the new sex education program in the middle schools. The government agreed to reassess the program. Unfortunately, they failed to make any substantial changes to the curriculum.
To the thousands of interested men and women who attended these sessions it is with great sadness that we must say this. The curriculum continues to ask teachers to instruct students in the best way to have oral sex. The curriculum asks teachers to teach students how mutual masturbation and anal sex are desirable ways "to show love and sexual feeling that satisfy both partners". Sex at an early age and sex with multiple partners is not discouraged in this curriculum. In fact, it is stated repeatedly in the curriculum that abstinence can be defined to include mutual masturbation and oral sex.
On the other hand, it is with great joy that we wish to say that there is an alternative. A curriculum that encourages abstinence and includes accurate up to date information on sexually transmitted diseases has been selected by our committee and will be presented province wide. We are tremendously excited about this curriculum. It is a dynamic, secular common sense curriculum that deals with teenage sexuality in terms of a healthy lifestyle. The first such presentation which is open to all middle school students will take place in Fredericton in Februrary, 2006. The time and place will be announced in the next couple of weeks.
Parents and students are welcome. Please plan to attend.
Provincial Sex Ed Committee