Ontario parents: we want you to be aware of your rights regarding advance notice of speakers coming into schools to talk to your children. As a parent, we know you would like advance notice so you can decide whether you want your child to listen to presentations coming into the school from third parties.

The lack of parental transparency within schools across Canada has not gone unnoticed by concerned parents. It's no secret that schools have allowed inappropriate third-party speakers to present in schools, while parents were not aware.

Saskatchewan had a particularly gross incident when Planned Parenthood presented at a high school with unapproved literature cards. Flash cards portraying extremely sexually explicit acts wound up in the hands of a 14-year old student. This incident ended with Planned Parenthood being suspended from presenting in Saskatchewan schools. Incidents like this, where third-party presenters show or speak about inappropriate content, happen across Canada, including Ontario.

Here in Ontario, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has issued a Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM 170) and a directive to Ontario schools for the upcoming 2024/2025 school year in regards to third-party speakers. 

The directive states:

"As of the start of the 2024–2025 school year, your school will tell you about events and activities with guest speakers or performances at least 14 calendar days before the activity.

If your school needs to arrange for an event in less than 14 days, they will provide you with details as soon as they are confirmed.

This information must include these details about the activity:

• date, time and location
• title and topic or focus
• connections to the curriculum and/or purpose
• name(s) of the presenter(s), performer(s) and guest speaker(s) and the organization(s) they represent (if any)
• details of any handout materials, giveaways or literature to be provided

If details change, your school will let you know as soon as possible."

This directive is buried in a link in PPM 170 and it would be easy for parents to miss it altogether! That's why we wanted to bring it to your attention.

As of next fall, you have a right to know what is being taught to their children in school! You may want to ask your principal if he/she is aware of it and tell them that you are looking forward to receiving their notices.

This directive certainly gives hope to parents of Ontario students, but there is still so much work to do before children are safe from the dangers of woke ideology.