TORONTO

Do you find Mother’s Day discriminatory?

Father’s Day exclusionary?

Time to change the name of such holidays to be more sensitive to reflect today’s family units?

Seems the union representing your child’s teacher does.

In a new education campaign, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which also encourages teachers to look for “teachable moments” to address “homophobia,” is not only raising the question, but raising eyebrows.

Proponents say it’s in keeping with today’s changing family structures.

Critics argue the teachers are “using” the kids in the classroom to “advance” a homosexual agenda.

“Truth and common sense does not matter in this thinly veiled indoctrination program,” said Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College. “Our precious, innocent, little children have become the teacher union’s political play toys.”

At the centre of this is the new “Social Justice Begins With Me” program. Found on the ETFO website, it is described as “a brand new ETFO literature-based resource kit for early years to Grade 8” which “builds on the concepts originally introduced in We’re Erasing Prejudice for Good.”

The ETFO is not only encouraging teachers to look for new ways of describing such family days but also for them to expose children to written works on lesbian, gay and transgender families.

In a section called “celebrations and traditions,” it states “all families should be honoured and recognized in our classroom.”

And it says Family Day is the time to “celebrate all types of families, give students an opportunity to talk about their families and invite LGBT families to share their traditions.”

As for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, it suggests having “a class discussion about important women/men who care for you” and that “alternative names could include Love Day or GAMES Day (Grandmothers, Aunts, Moms, Even Sisters).”

Love Day? GAMES Day?

Really?

“We are proud to launch our new “welcoming and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families” brochure,” said the site. “LGBT families are the fastest growing type of family structure in Canada. As educators, we have the responsibility to ensure our classrooms and schools are welcoming places, and that LGBT families see themselves reflected in the school environment and the curriculum.”

It encourages teachers to “make connections to the curriculum so all students feel validated and engaged,” to “use LGBT books, media, pictures as part of your everyday curriculum, include the terms gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender when describing various families and use teachable moments to address homophobia or transphobia.”

Can the teachers just take up this cause themselves?

No parental input?

There is nothing homophobic about parents, of any background, choosing to deal with family structure issues with their children at home, in their own time or their own way.

Doesn’t the Ministry of Education need to approve changing historical days of celebration before it's put in front of children in the classroom?

Education Minister Liz Sandals has not yet commented but that might be the most vital part of this. What teachers are supposed to teach in the classroom should come down from the ministry — not the other way around.

But ETFO president Sam Hammond said the online pamphlet merely offers “suggestions” for class discussion.

“Many children who come to school, not only children of same-sex parents, have caregivers who may be other than a mother or father. Thinking about, or discussing alternative names for these days, gives students an opportunity to acknowledge and discuss the broader meaning of families that is part of today’s realities.”

McVety agreed the feelings of children from such families need to be considered. However, he said, the same should also happen for the majority.

He called the claim “LGBT families are the fastest growing families in Canada” nothing but “misleading” since “the fact is that Statistics Canada says there are only 6,040 such families out of 3,680,702 families across Canada.”

Changing the name of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to accommodate a few thousand people, he said, is not acceptable.

“Once again, the teachers’ union has placed politics over the concerns of children,” he said. “Suggesting teachers replace Mother’s Day or Father’s Day with Love Day or GAMES Day shows the union has no shame.”

They are your kids, so over to you, mothers and fathers. Or would parental units be more sensitive and accepting?