Just like an economics lesson could touch on the distinctly Catholic teachings of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII, so could Ontario’s new sex ed curriculum. CNS photos

We’ll find hand of God in sex ed curriculum

By 
  • March 19, 2015

The release last month of the Ontario government’s revised physical education and health curriculum is an opportunity for Catholic schools to again demonstrate an approach that is both distinctive from but supportive of secular goals.  

Catholic education has always approached curriculum from a different starting point than its secular counterpart. That’s not to say the secular approach is deficient. Indeed, the two approaches are often compatible. It would be wrong to suggest that everything we do is so distinctive that other insights have no bearing on our school system. Trying to be different just for the sake of being different is of no value to our students.

But one area Catholic schools proudly identify our distinctiveness is in the belief that curriculum is about more than schooling. Catholic education forms the entire individual for life, and beyond this life. We believe curriculum should be practical and theoretical. Catholic schools discern what is valuable in all manner of curricular materials and incorporate those into schools.  Even St. Augustine encouraged Christian curriculum to take the best from non-Christian sources and leave the rest. 

Digital Columnists

The article you have requested is only available to subscribers of the Catholic Register.


There are two ways to read this article.

1. Subscribe to our digital edition and read the complete newspaper, plus additional features, on your PC, laptop or tablet.  Subscription rates start at just $3.99.

2. Subscribe to our weekly newspaper and have the print edition delivered right to you door each week.

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE