May 30, 2012
Dear Parent/Guardian:
On September 1, 2010, Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act came into effect. Pursuant to this Act, Parkland School Division is now required to provide parents with notice “where courses of study, educational programs or instructional materials, or instruction or exercises…include subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion, human sexuality or sexual orientation.”
Your child is currently enrolled in the Alberta Education Health and Life Skills Program of Study in grades seven to nine. The program aims to enable students to make well informed, healthy choices and to develop behaviours that contribute to the well being of self and others. Three General Outcomes serve as the foundation for Health skills. They include wellness choices, relationship choices and life-long learning choices.
Human sexuality education is offered in grade seven to grade nine as a mandatory component of the Program of Study.
Grade 7: Examine the human reproductive process, and recognize misunderstandings associated with sexual development, identify the effects of social influences on sexuality and gender roles and equity; examine the influences on personal decision making for responsible sexual behaviour; examine abstinence and decisions to postpone sexual activity as healthy choices
For more specific information about these learning outcomes, parents may wish to go to http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/health/programs.aspx
Instruction involving the subject matter is expected to be provided commencing on: June 5th, 2012.
Pursuant to Section 11.1(2) of the Human Rights Act, you as a parent/guardian may request that your child be excluded from the above-identified instruction, without academic penalty, by having your child either:
a) leave the classroom or place where the instruction is taking place or where the instructional material is being used for the duration of that part of the instruction; or
b) remain in the classroom or place where the instruction is taking place without taking part in the instruction or use of the instructional material.
Sign and return the attached student Exemption Form, or otherwise indicate in writing, to your child’s teacher on or before the Commencement Date of the instruction that you wish to exercise your right to exclude your child by one of the means indicated above. If your child’s teacher does not receive this form prior to the Commencement date, your child will be included in the instruction.
If you would like additional information about the content of this notification, please contact the LC7 team.
LC7 Team
Matt Stelmaschuk, Crystal Doyle, Trish Spink, Catherine Savard
STUDENT EXEMPTION UNDER SECTION 11.1 OF THE ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
In response to the Notice provided to me by the Parkland School Division indicating that the Grade 7 to 9 Health and Life Skills Program of Study in which my child is enrolled, includes subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with human sexuality, I hereby request, in accordance with section 11.1(2) of the Human Rights Act, that my child be excluded from the instruction, the exercise or the use of instructional material identified in the notice.
I request that my child: (check relevant box)
q А) Leave the classroom or place where the instruction is taking place or where the instructional material is being used for the duration of that part of the instruction.
OR
q B) Remain in the classroom or place where the instruction is taking place without taking part in the instruction or use of the instructional material.
I confirm that I am the legal guardian of the student named below and have chosen to exercise my right to have my child excluded from the instruction described in the parent/guardian Notice from the Commencement Date and the following dates indicated in the Notice. I also confirm that it is my obligation to ensure that this form is returned to the teacher on or before the Commencement Date of the instruction indicated in the notice.
Parent/Legal Guardian Signature Date
Print Parent/Legal Guardian Name
Print Student Name
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