Sex-Ed Suspension: A Comedy of Errors in Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan government has suspended a program aimed at preventing sexual abuse, leaving educators and parents in a whirlwind of confusion. The program, "I'm the Boss of Me," used a puppet show to teach Grade 4 students about abuse, but it's now on hold, along with other critical sexual health education initiatives.

The reason? It's all part of the government's "parental inclusion and consent" policy, a policy so baffling it rivals a puppet show in absurdity. This policy not only forces teachers to inform parents if a child under 16 wants to change their pronouns at school but also halts all third-party educators from presenting on sexual health.

Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

So, while students may be eager to learn about healthy relationships, consent, and sexual health, they're now left to their own devices, or rather, the limited resources of time-strapped teachers. This decision couldn't come at a worse time, with Saskatchewan grappling with high rates of adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and sexual assault.

Perhaps the most bewildering aspect is that these programs don't undermine parents' wishes; they inform and empower students to make safe choices. The government seems to be stuck in a maze of misguided fear, leaving educators, parents, and students bewildered by this questionable direction. In the end, we all want what's best for our children, and right now, it's starting to feel like the kids are the real bosses in this absurd comedy of errors.