New Brunswick’s premier and education minister say it is necessary to review the province’s Policy 713 related to sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, despite recommendations from the province’s child advocate to halt the proceedings.
Another concern is the age-appropriateness of what is being taught regarding gender and sexuality. “Any parent will want to understand what their kids are learning,” Higgs said.
He also referred to the requirement that students be able to participate in school sports in a manner “consistent with their gender identity.” These policies affect “all students” he said, and he wants to discuss them further with parents and other stakeholders.
Opposition
Policy 713 was enacted in 2020, and this sudden review of it has taken people off guard, said the Liberal opposition leader, Susan Holt. She said she has heard from parents, students, and teachers who are “deeply concerned. I would say they’re more than concerned; they’re scared.”Complaints About Policy 713
Minister Hogan told reporters on May 10 that he will not express his personal opinions on the matter, but he is undertaking the review because he has received hundreds of emails from people concerned with Policy 713.Lamrock has criticized the ministry for only provided him with three such emails, saying three complaints is not enough to warrant a review. Education ministry spokesperson Morgan Bell clarified, however, that Lamrock did not request to see all the emails.
“On April 25, Mr. Lamrock requested correspondences received up to that date that clarified the rationale for reviewing the policy. He specified this was not a request for all correspondence on the topic. Many other emails, letters and phone calls were received following April 25 as well,” Bell told The Epoch Times via email.
The Epoch Times requested to see some of the other emails, but Bell said a right-to-information request must be made to see them so the appropriate information can be redacted.
Lamrock included in his report the three emails he received.
One email started, “It has come to my attention that a grade 5 class of children at [school name redacted] ... had a Zoom meeting with a transgender person who told the children that they could be whatever they want to be.”
It continued: “I am not homophobic. I just want kids to grow up happy and healthy without being lied to that they need to change their gender to accomplish that.”
Another email was from a Christian parent saying LGBTQ materials are presented and discussed in classrooms, but many other perspectives aren’t, including Christian beliefs.
The third email asked for information about what is being taught in New Brunswick schools regarding gender—particularly whether children are being told they can pick their gender. It also asked about anti-racism teachings in schools.
Policy Requirements for Schools
The policy has some overlap with sex education in that it requires classrooms to have materials and activities positive toward LGBTQ people. Classroom instruction and materials must also “strive to use inclusive and gender-neutral language.”The policy says schools must support the establishment of a Gender Sexuality Alliance, membership to which does not require parental consent.
Some materials might be “going places children are not developmentally ready to be,” Hogan said on May 10. “I want to ensure that the rights are protected and that when we’re teaching our curricula, parents are informed.”
