35,000 students will protest the province's repeal of the 2015 sex education curriculum by walking out of class Friday.
The students are upset that topics looking at same-sex marriage, gender identity, and sexting won't be taught this year.
In July, Doug Ford's government announced it would follow through with its campaign promise to scrap the sex-ed curriculum recently implemented by the Ontario Liberals and revert to the previous curriculum developed in 1998.
Students at Chippewa Secondary School in North Bay walked out Friday morning in protest to Doug Ford’s changes to the sex-ed curriculum.
Chants of "forwards not backwards" could be heard from hundreds of students in grades 7-12.
A walkout is planned for Timiskaming District Secondary School in New Liskeard Friday afternoon and is being organized by 17-year-old grade-12 student, Callista Laffrenier.
"I am happy to announce that the walkout was a success! We received over 170 signed letters that will be delivered to Queens Park! The turnout was larger than I ever expected, with over 100 students gathered in front of TDSS at 2:30 today! I saw that this event was being held in schools down south and decided that this would be an opportunity to bring attention to Northern Ontario. Ever since Doug Ford was elected Premier of Ontario I have been sharing my opinions online and with friends in school, I thought that this was an important topic to begin with, in hopes of bringing awareness to the issues in our Province! I would like to thank my family for their support, John Vanthof my MPP for encouraging this event, and the leader of the Ontario NDP, Mrs. Andrea Horwath for writing an inspiring letter that was read aloud at the walkout. The media has also been a big part of this experience by sharing our message. Lastly I’d like to thank all of the students who had the courage to walk out of class and influence change across Ontario. I encourage all youth and adults to be in touch and share their opinions with their local MPPs." said Laffrenier.
In Sudbury, a walkout is planned at St. Charles College Friday afternoon.
(Students that walked out at TDSS in New Liskeard)
