In Toronto, both public and Catholic school boards say students require parental permission to leave class; otherwise they’ll be marked absent. The Toronto District School Board advised high schools not to plan major tests or assignments for Friday so students aren’t penalized academically and says staff will monitor protests on school property to ensure student safety.
At Queen’s Park, Education Minister Lisa Thompson said she hopes students become engaged with the public consultations that the government will begin rolling out next week, on a new sexual education curriculum and other issues.
“I hope on Friday they’re talking about and looking forward to the consultation that we are embarking on, because we want to make sure every student in Ontario has an opportunity to put their best foot forward,” said Thompson. “And I encourage all of them to exercise their voice in the consultation as well.”
Although high school students continue to learn the updated 2015 curriculum — it was never a source of controversy nor questioned for age-appropriateness — Fisher-Quann felt compelled to do something because “everyone should have a stake in this.” Her resolve deepened later that day when a man on the street catcalled her and she remembered how difficult it was for her younger sister when she came out as gay in middle school.