Three weeks ago, the Florida Senate passed a law that prohibits elementary school teachers from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in their classes. It made me think: in Quebec, how do we talk about these issues to students under 10?
Posted yesterday at 9:00 a.m.
The law – dubbed by its critics “Don’t say gay” – would allow spontaneous discussions between teachers and students, but would ban the teaching of subjects relating to LGBTQ+ issues in public elementary schools. An approach contrary to that advocated in Quebec, I learned.
If we have talked a lot about sex education courses since their return in 2018, I must admit that I did not know the exact terms and conditions… Sexologist Julie Lemay, file holder in sex education in a center of services on the South Shore, kindly explained everything to me.
First clarification: learning is determined by a team of sexologists and health experts, then its evolution is established by the Ministry of Education in such a way as to respect the development of children.
For example, from preschool, we address in particular the expression of feelings. In 1D year, we talk about gender roles and stereotypes; in 2and year, we explore interpersonal relationships; in 3and, the influence of stereotypes; in 4andrepresentations of love and friendship, etc.
(We’re a long way from the lessons I got; I’m still traumatized by the teacher who told me that giving birth was like pulling an orange out of a nostril.)
For each topic addressed, those responsible for sex education receive a document called an “educational framework” with suggested activities, readings and videos for their students.
Among the proposed content, for example, a magnificent poster created by Élise Gravel which illustrates the different families that can be encountered.
This benevolent approach embodies a change in culture in Quebec.
Julie Descheneaux teaches the course Sexuality Education in Schools and Social Settings: Requirements and Issues, at UQAM. According to her, the program implemented since 2018 tends to move us from a reactive strategy to a proactive strategy. Rather than waiting for a student to ask a question or express their discomfort, we set the table for nice discussions…
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Julie Descheneaux
The frameworks lead us to talk about homophobia and transphobia before these issues are crystallized among the students. And we don’t precisely name these words in 2and year ! We are talking more about sexual stereotypes; young people are reminded that anyone can play with any toys or that a friend’s parents may be different from ours.
Julie Descheneaux, professor at UQAM
Educational canvases are also practical in everyday life. Julie Lemay gives me the example of a teacher who recited syllables to her students. The children laughed when they heard the syllable “ford”. The teacher took the opportunity to take out her canvas on sexual diversity and dive into the subject…
A reflex that is part of a necessary social project, according to the sexologist.
“By offering sex education, we ensure that all young people in Quebec have access to basic information that will serve them throughout their lives. Because they don’t necessarily have the right to it at home…”
Second clarification: if the contents are compulsory, each school administration determines the way in which they are transmitted. Every establishment has a file holder in sexuality education. Then, the different contents can be delivered by teachers, psychosocial experts or community organizations.
Only people who are comfortable doing so provide the material.
In this regard, Julie Descheneaux – whose doctoral thesis focuses on the implementation of sex education courses – has noticed two important issues.
“The first thing that stands out is the safety net. Whether or not they want to do sex education, teachers want there to be people trained in psychosocial intervention to accompany the students. They are grappling with the lived experience of their students, but they do not feel able to be specialists in everything: sexual and gender diversity, family violence, body image, sexual violence, etc. »
We understand them, of course.
Then, teachers believe they do not have the necessary knowledge to get involved in sex education. However, you don’t have to know that much, according to Julie Descheneaux… Especially in elementary school!
“When I train teachers, I remind them that parents don’t have any training to help their children with their sexuality or their coming out! What teachers need to develop are more skills than knowledge. And if we dissect the content theme by theme, we often realize that deep down, we are comfortable talking about all that…”
More fear than harm, then.
And the children, are they comfortable?
“They love sex education content,” replies Julie Lemay. They are interested; normal, we are talking about their reality! What we name, they have already observed it… we simply give them space to talk about it. »
Which brings us back to the outrageous Florida law…
Some people wonder if the students are not too young to hear about trans identity. On the contrary, they are building their landmarks! So much the better if we give them a whole range of possibilities. They won’t have to deconstruct false beliefs as adults.
Julie Lemay, sexologist
We have come a long way since 2018. However, the rest remains to be determined.
The Coalition avenir Québec intends to set up a Québec Culture course at the start of the 2023 school year. This should include sexuality education content, but the themes and methods of learning are to be defined.
In the meantime, I would pay a little trip to Florida to Julie Lemay and Julie Descheneaux. It seems to me that they would have a lot to teach the local senators…