Central Okanagan Board of Education Chair Moyra Baxter is one of five trustees fighting back against Action4Canada.Moira Baxter.
Image Credit: Submitted/School District 23
October 04, 2022 - 8:25 AM
Five of seven Central Okanagan school trustees have reacted strongly to a news release from Action4Canada accusing the school district of criminal activity for “sexually grooming children.”
The Sept. 28 Action4Canada release attacks school superintendent Kevin Kaardal for “deceiving the public” about the provincewide Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity resources.
“We will not tolerate this abusive behaviour and reaffirm in the strongest possible terms our support for our teachers and our superintendent Kevin Kaardal,” the five trustees said in a news release issued yesterday, Oct. 3.
It's signed by retiring board chair Moyra Baxter and trustees Norah Bowman, Wayne Broughton, Julia Fraser and Chantelle Desrosiers.
"The sexual orientation education process was brought into school systems at the end of 2016 after the addition of “gender identity and expression as a prohibited ground of discrimination under the B.C. Human Rights Code,” a Ministry of Education website says.
All schools are required to “include specific references to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in their anti-bullying policies,” the ministry says.
Action4Canada describes itself as a “grassroots movement” that is “dedicated to protecting our children, families, businesses, churches and citizens from the pressures of government, health administrators and schools.”
It was front and centre in anti-COVID vaccination rallies during the pandemic.
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It says, among other things, that the sexual orientation material in schools contain “pornographic images, vulgar language and promote rape and incest.”
The school trustees countered by saying: "These baseless and harmful allegations undermine the hard work of our staff and negatively impact our students, many of whom already face serious challenges.”
“Sexual orientation, gender identity and expression are protected under the B.C. Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter," the trustees wrote. "It is the responsibility of boards, district staff, administrators, teachers and support staff to provide inclusive environments where all students can thrive. Inclusive, equitable and non-discriminatory practices and policies are integral to supporting students.”
The trustees goes on to say the sexual orientation material is not a course but provides resources to ensure schools align with the B.C. Human Rights Code and “create inclusive environments.”
“We teach our students about the rights and responsibilities of free speech, including protecting human rights,” the trustees wrote. “The harmful lies and deception by Action4Canada and those affiliated with them underscore the importance of this work.”
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