Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

School Superintendent Says 'Unbelievable Mistake' To Give Kids Graphic Sex Guide

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jun, 2019 11:43 PM

    CRANBROOK, B.C. — The manager of a public health nurse says she is sorry for mistakenly giving a class of British Columbia students a sex-education guide that contained graphic images, including a picture of bondage between cartoon animals.


    Roger Parsonage, executive director of clinical operations for the East Kootenay region served by the Interior Health Authority, says he's not sure why the adult booklet was distributed to students in Grades 6 and 7 after a session on sexual health.


    Parsonage says the nurse was teaching at Erickson Elementary School in Creston, B.C., with a student nurse when the children were given the explicit booklet containing information about sexually transmitted diseases and drug use during sex.


    He says material used for future classes will be reviewed by Interior Health and the school district before it's provided to students.


    Parsonage says he is not sure why the booklet was brought to the school in the first place but any material that is used in future classes will be reviewed in advance by Interior Health and the school district.


    He says third-party material is used to teach sexual health but it must be appropriate for school-aged children.


    "All of us are sorry that this happened," Parsonage says. "And we've apologized to the parents as well as to the school, the principal and the school district. This was a mistake that shouldn't have occurred and we'll take steps to ensure it won't happen again."


    Christine Perkins, superintendent of the Kootenay Lake School District, says the "unfortunate, unbelievable mistake" last week had parents complaining at a public board meeting.


    She says parents were shocked when children brought home the booklet, produced by a Toronto group called CATIE — the Canadian Aids Treatment Information Exchange.


    "I was shocked when I looked at it," she says, adding the booklet clearly states it's for mature audiences. "I think of myself as fairly open minded and liberal and I was appalled," she says.


    Perkins says a school psychologist phoned all the parents and offered counselling at the school this week or group counselling next week but no one has taken up the offer so far.


    "We have increased and improved our vetting of anything that comes through the schools so we're hyper vigilant now after this happened. It was just way too graphic and way too adult for Grade 6 and 7 students and that's just the bottom line."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canadian General Stephen Lacroix Named Honorary Parade Marshal To Mark 1919 Victory Stampede

    CALGARY — This year's Calgary Stampede parade will be marking the 100th anniversary of what was called the Victory Stampede after the First World War.    

    Canadian General Stephen Lacroix Named Honorary Parade Marshal To Mark 1919 Victory Stampede

    Manitoba Mountie Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter In Shooting Death Of Driver

    Manitoba Mountie Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter In Shooting Death Of Driver
    THOMPSON, Man. — An RCMP officer pleaded not guilty Monday to manslaughter, criminal negligence and other charges stemming from an on-duty shooting following a vehicle chase.

    Manitoba Mountie Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter In Shooting Death Of Driver

    'He Was Being Creepy:' Alleged Victim Testifies At Mountie's Sex Assault Trial

    'He Was Being Creepy:' Alleged Victim Testifies At Mountie's Sex Assault Trial
    A woman has testified that an RCMP officer was "being creepy" when he arrested her in central Alberta three years ago and told her to show him her breasts.  

    'He Was Being Creepy:' Alleged Victim Testifies At Mountie's Sex Assault Trial

    Quebec Mother, Daughter Charged With Drunk Driving Within Hours Of Each Other

    Quebec Mother, Daughter Charged With Drunk Driving Within Hours Of Each Other
    MAGOG, Que. — Police east of Montreal arrested a 50-year-old woman for driving under the influence on Sunday as she came to bail out her daughter who had been arrested on a similar offence just hours earlier.

    Quebec Mother, Daughter Charged With Drunk Driving Within Hours Of Each Other

    'Public Interest' Prompts B.C. Coroner To Release Details In Death Of Ben Kilmer

    'Public Interest' Prompts B.C. Coroner To Release Details In Death Of Ben Kilmer
    Ben Kilmer, a 41-year-old father of two, vanished last May after leaving his work van running on a residential road west of Duncan.

    'Public Interest' Prompts B.C. Coroner To Release Details In Death Of Ben Kilmer

    Former Vancouver Officer Facing Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Exploitation

    A former Vancouver police detective has been accused of kissing and groping two victims in a sex trafficking case while acting as their support worker.

    Former Vancouver Officer Facing Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Exploitation