Dear Mr Eggen,
In a recent Globe and Mail article you discussed new curriculum in Alberta and teaching the concept of consent in schools. The article says:
He said consent is already being taught in some schools but not in others, and a consistent approach is needed.
“The safety of our children is paramount. It’s very important to have boundaries that students know about, (and) being able to say no,” said Eggen.
At the younger levels, he said, it’s more about basic respect around personal space, “saying that you have to ask permission to touch and hug somebody (so that) even little kids understand that that is their right as well.”
I find that the issue of respect for one's own body is being framed in a very strange way, here. Kids do not so much need to learn about consent as they do respect, self-control, and honoring another's word. Consent implies going ahead with something. Kids don't need to go ahead with sexual behavior. They need the right foundation to explain themselves when they refuse sexual advances or need to simply say, "no". The concept of teaching about consent in the curriculum at all grade levels sounds bizarre. Please ensure the teaching focuses on respect, listening and being able to articulate the word NO in a way that is understood.
Sincerely,
Catherine van Kampen
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