Sexually explicit material found on a bulletin board in a Grade 7 and 8 classroom was inappropriate and the teacher who posted it is now under investigation, says the Toronto District School Board of an incident that Ontario’s education minister called “of great concern.”

Education Minister Liz Sandals said she was unhappy to hear the teacher was using such graphic material with public schoolchildren.

“The materials that are being used are totally inappropriate and are in no way connected to the Ontario health and phys ed curriculum,” said Sandals, adding the incident was “of great concern not just to me but obviously of great concern to parents.”

“I’m relieved that the Toronto District School Board has gotten rid of the material and that the teacher is no longer in the classroom,” she said, stressing this was “a one-off” occurrence.

In a letter sent home Tuesday to parents of the 63 students at Delta Senior Alternative School, near Ossington Ave. and Harbord St. in downtown Toronto, principal Marc Mullan says “the material was taken down immediately” after he learned of it last Friday.

“The teacher in question is currently at home pending the outcome of an investigation. In the interim, an occasional teacher will be brought in to ensure students continue with their normal school routine,” he wrote.

The brochures in question, which give detailed and explicit information about oral sex, are targeted at gay men. They are not suitable for students of any age within the board, said spokesperson Ryan Bird.

The material had been posted for some time, and in general “principals do do walk-arounds of their school. In this case, it was not noticed right away,” Bird added.

Progressive Conservative education critic Lisa MacLeod said the fact the teacher even thought to bring such pamphlets into school “speaks to the ethos of this Liberal government.”

“Parents across Ontario want to make sure their kids are well-versed in math and sciences. We haven’t heard an outcry for this type of education in the classroom,” said MacLeod, the MPP for Nepean-Carleton.

“Enough is enough. The Toronto District School Board is clearly out of control when it comes to this.”

Last fall, the board was criticized by a Christian group because its website had links to material that encouraged the use of vegetables in sexual play.

Rev. Charles McVety was also upset by the board’s poster campaign depicting loving relationships that included three stick figures inside a heart, saying it promoted three-way sex. At the time, the board said it shows people can “love both genders.”

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Three years ago, the Liberals attempted to bring in a new sex-ed curriculum given teachers are using materials that are 15 years out of date, but backed down after complaints from religious leaders, Catholic boards and parents because it taught children about homosexuality in Grade 3, masturbation in Grade 6, and oral and anal sex in Grade 7.

The changes were shelved, and Premier Kathleen Wynne has said that while an updated curriculum is needed, parents will be consulted.