The lead B.C. School District co-ordinator on SOGI education, Matt Carruthers, is now part of a panel of experts ready to answer questions and discuss what the SOGI 123 curriculum looks like in classrooms.
91原创 Parents for Inclusivity will host the information evening on Thursday, Oct. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Township of 91原创 Civic Facility in the Fraser River Presentation Theatre.
鈥淲e are not debating SOGI, it is mandated and will be happening. This is a safe space to receive information you may be seeking to fully understand this piece of the new curriculum,鈥� said organizer Stacey Wakelin who is the founder of 91原创 Parents for Inclusivity.
SOGI stands for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
鈥淭his meeting is not affiliated with the 91原创 school board.We are parents supporting parents to bring experienced professionals together for an information session.鈥�
Other featured speakers on the panel include Saleema Noon, who is a sexual health educator, Joel Harnest, who is involved in education and training, with QMunity, Jill Newman, a registered therapist and Reverend David Taylor of St. Dustan鈥檚 Church in Aldergrove.
There are many questions caregivers, parents and grandparents have about what will be taught to students about sexual orientation and gender identity.
At the last school board meeting, Renge Bailie, school district principal for safe schools, said they recognize they need a good way to communicate what the curriculum will look like for each age group. They are considering holding an information evening, too.
The 91原创 PFI group hopes the meeting will remain on topic and isn鈥檛 refocused by people opposing the SOGI curriculum.
91原创 parents have reported to the district that they have been handed flyers and brochures at their children鈥檚 school, with information opposing SOGI education.
In at least one of the cases, the person handing out the anti-SOGI flyers, did not have a child attending that school and was asked by the principal to leave the school grounds.
91原创 School District said it has had 鈥渞eports of a couple of parents attempting to distribute material on school grounds,鈥� said district communications director Ken Hoff.
鈥淭he district does not allow the distribution of any material of any nature on school grounds and so the people involved were asked to leave the property. It is my understanding that they were co-operative with requests to not distribute material on school grounds and moved to the sidewalk, off school property,鈥� said Hoff.
On Tuesday evening, Kari Simpson, of Culture Guard, who vocally opposes SOGI curriculum, equating it to 鈥榗hild abuse鈥� and wants to see it abolished from schools, held a meeting in Abbotsford.
Wakelin hopes that the Oct. 12 meeting will be a positive and safe place to discuss the new curriculum. All are welcome. People are encouraged to submit questions to the panel to better understand what SOGI is all about and address any misconceptions that may still be out there, said Wakelin.
Questions can also be submitted before the meeting to lpfigroup@gmail.com. Those questions will help represent the many voices and concerns people have, she said.
