TVDSB chair concerned by PC's education reform announcement

The Ontario government says it has released an interim sex-ed curriculum for teachers to use this September, and Premier Doug Ford is suggestingthere will be consequences if they don't adhere to it.

That's something Matt Reid, chair of the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), says is concerning.

"I've never seen language like that in a press release from the provincial government," said Reid.

"I think they're sending a very clear message to the unions both ETFO and the OSSTFthat have indicated that they will support any teacher who teaches beyond the 1998 curriculum," he added.

• Changing sex ed curriculum called 'a disservice to students'

The Progressive Conservative government issued a news release about the changes on Wednesday afternoon, saying teachers will use the 2014 health and physical education curriculum when students return to class in September.

"We expect our teachers, principals and school board officials to fulfill their obligations to parents and children when it comes to what our students learn in the classroom," Ford said in the news release.

"We will not tolerate anybody using our children as pawns for grandstanding and political games. And, make no mistake, if we find somebody failing to do their job, we will act," the statement said.

The PC'salso announced plans for an "unprecedented" province-wide consultation process on education reform and a future parents'bill of rights.

"The 2015 curriculum was put in place after years of consultation," said Reid. "Every school in the province was able to have a parent representative who was able to give input and was involved in the process, so when they talk about this being the first time, that's just not true," he added.

Students in grades 1 to 8 will be taught the 2014 curriculum, while students in grades 9 to 12 will still be taught the modernized curriculum from 2015.

• Ontario government says it has an interim sex-ed curriculum teachers must follow

The government saidit will engage in province-wide public consultations starting in September. Those will include in an online survey, telephone town halls and a submission platform where individuals and groups can submit proposals to the Ministry of Education.

Reid saidthe move by the governmentcould have a negative impact on what students are learning in the future.

"It's just going to create a really troubling environment and teachers are going to feel very much like they'reunder a microscope and that's not how we want them to be able to meet the needs of their local students," he said.

The government also plans on setting up a platform where parents can report any concerns anonymously to the College of Teachers.

The relationship between the province and the teachers is also coming into questionas contracts are set to expire in a year.

"We really need to get on the right footing and we need an environment where we are supporting each other and we're on the same page, and the hostility that's coming here is something that could become really nasty," said Reid.