OSHAWA, Ontario, October 12, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A grandfather was dismayed last May when he was told by a school board trustee that “it’s the law” after he complained about his 4-year-old granddaughter returning home from Junior Kindergarden (JK) with a book in her backpack titled ‘Mom and Mum are getting married!’
“My granddaughter is into the princesses—including the dresses—and pretends to marry her prince. Teaching her this topic at her age would confuse her needlessly,” said concerned grandfather Chris Topple to LifeSiteNews (LSN).
Topple raised his concern with Durham District School Board (DDSB) trustee Larry Jacula and a board bureaucrat who both told him “it’s the law,” and referred him to Dalton McGuinty’s curriculum.
He was told that gay matters were “needed” in the curriculum to “avoid discrimination against ‘gay’ people.”
As part of McGuinty’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy (EIES), schools are expected to give students and staff “authentic and relevant opportunities to learn about diverse histories, cultures, and perspectives.” Related resources such as library books are to “allow students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum (e.g. […] using texts written by gay/lesbian authors).”
As part of the strategy, the ministry, school boards, and schools are expected to play a “critical role” in “eliminating discrimination through the identification and removal of bias and barriers.” The first bias and barrier that is mentioned in the “Quick Facts” document outlining the strategy is “homophobia.”
Following Topple’s lead, LSN asked DDSB’s Equity Department Education Officer Barry Bedford if their schools are actually required by “law” to teach homosexual matters to young students, including junior kindergarten students.
“[T]he DDSB works to provide an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff. Schools are required to follow the Ontario curriculum,” responded a spokesperson. The spokesperson directed LSN to the Ministry of education’s website for more details.
The children’s book normalizing sodomy “Mom and Mum are getting married!” by Ken Setterington, published by Second Story Press, 2004, describes the ‘marriage’ of two lesbians as seen through the eyes of the young daughter of one of the women.
“When Rosie comes home to find her mom dancing alone in the living room—on a school day—she knows something wonderful is about to happen. So when one of her two mothers announces, ‘Your Mum and I are getting married!’ they can’t wait to start planning the big day. At this party, family, friends and fun come together for a joyous celebration of love in a changing world,” reads a description of the book from the jacket.
Jacula told LifeSiteNews that the book was approved by the ministry of education.
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Michael Coren from Sun News devoted some of his October 5th Prime Time show presenting the grandfather’s concerns.
“Today, saying anything critical about any aspect of the ‘gay’ agenda is … assumed to be a moral, political, and intellectual crime,” said Coren, adding that the homosexual movement ceased being about “equality and respect” a long time ago and that it is now about a “fawning affirmation.”
“We are told that both parents must work, kids should be raised communally, and to question the wisdom of that communal education makes us ‘fearful and foolish people.’”
“Look,” said Coren, “the parent is the primary educator, but there is a war on the family.”
Topple said he was glad the book was not read to his granddaughter because “it would thoroughly confuse her.”
“I do not want to see my granddaughter confused about her own sexuality.”