A group that opposes Ontario’s sex education curriculum is calling for parents to pull their children out of school Thursday.

The Canadian Families Alliance announced details of its “Empty Schools Campaign” this morning.

It wants parents who disagree with the curriculum to keep their children out of school on Oct. 1.

Among the concerns it cites are what it calls “sexually explicit” and “age inappropriate” teaching.

“On Oct. 1, thousands of parents will be pulling their kids out of school to show their dissatisfaction with the premier’s bad curriculum, which is an open invitation for early pregnancies and STIS including HIV,” said Khalid Mahmood, a representative of the Thorncliffe Parents Association.

The news conference was held in the basement gymnasium of the Jenner Jean-Marie Community Recreation Centre, where parents who have already removed their children from nearby Thorncliffe Park Public School have been holding informal classes for the past two weeks.

CAF is hoping that parents who oppose the curriculum, but have yet to take a stand will use the campaign as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissent.

“Thursday is about showing our concerns about the curriculum,” said Razwan Issani, who pulled his four children out of school. “The government says it’s just a minority who think it’s bad but we’ll show it’s all of Ontario.”