British Columbia Government Releases Overview of Controversial Pro-Gay School Curriculum

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | August 1, 2007 | Elizabeth O'Brien

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British Columbia Government Releases Overview of Controversial Pro-Gay School Curriculum

By Elizabeth O'Brien

VANCOUVER, BC, August 1, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A new course that defends homosexuality and teaches students about the evils of discrimination based on sexual orientation is being piloted in BC high schools this fall. The course, a draft overview of which was released today, is part of a comprehensive pro-gay revamp of the entire BC curriculum.

In response to a case filed with the Human Rights Tribunal in 1999 by gay couple Murray and Peter Corren, the BC government decided last year to introduce new curricula from Kindergarten to Grade 12 that would be "inclusive" and homosexual-friendly. The pro-gay courses may become mandatory with provisions for barring parents from opting out or opting for an alternative course (see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06060101.html).

Today, the BC Ministry of Education released the draft overview for the new Grade 12 Social Justice pilot course, which is the first course to come out of the agreement with Murray and Peter Corren. In Prescribed Learning Outcomes, students are required to recognize and analyze injustice in various areas, including, "sex, age, mental ability, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation." Students will also have to analyze specific examples of injustice that have occurred in Canada relating to protected minorities, including those with differing sexual orientations. This will include "discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, oppressions, and/or hate crimes."

The curriculum also states that as a suggested achievement indicator, students should "examine their own attitudes, behaviors, values, and beliefs," by responding to certain questions. Among the list of questions students should ask themselves, is "How do my personal experiences and circumstances (e.g., age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, family, socioeconomic status) affect my perceptions?"

Students should also give examples of how the Criminal Code of Canada has addressed hate crimes. The course draft then gives only two examples of hate-crime - "holocaust deniers" and "gay bashers".

The course is intended to help students develop a "personal definition of social justice" and analyze how the law "reflects (or fails to reflect) societal values." Among the list of terms that a successful student must understand are "hate crime", "hegemony," "prejudice," "sexism," "stereotyping", "heterosexism" and "homophobia."

Similarly, in another proposed Family Studies course for Grades 10 to 12, also part of the gay-friendly curricula, successful students must be able to describe a variety of family structures-including same-sex families. They will also have to analyze the "the legal and financial implications of ending a committed relationship, including heterosexual and same-sex marriage, common-law, sponsored spouse, engagement, and long-term dating."

Ministry of Education representative Adrienne Gnidec told LifeSiteNews.com that the course is only being introduced as an elective into seven classrooms in seven different BC districts this fall. It will not be finalized until next September.

The BC Ministry of Health did not reply with comments prior to press time.

Read the Draft of the Grade 12 Social Justice Course:

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/drafts/sj12_draft.pdf

The Social Justice Course response form deadline is December 10, 2007:

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/drafts/sj12_response_form.pdf

To contact the BC Ministry of Education and respectfully voice concerns about the course:

Dr. Adrienne Gnidec, Content and Achievement Standards Unit Ministry of Education PO Box 9183 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9H9 Fax: (250) 356-2316 Phone: 250-365-2313 Email: adrienne.gnidec@gov.bc.ca or EDUC.Achievement@gov.bc.ca

Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

B.C. Gay Couple Seeks Mandatory Homosexual School Curriculum Without Parental Opt-Out

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05071106.html

Gov't Agrees to Mandatory Homosexual Curriculum with No Opt-Out for Students or Parents

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06060101.html

Related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Documents Reveal Government Signed Over Control of Education to Homosexual Activists

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06061907.html

BC Parents Will Have to Lie to Keep Kids out of Gay Advocacy Curriculum

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/sep/06091307.html

Homosexual Activists Consider Targeting Private Christian Schools for "Homophobia"

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/feb/07022706.html