Sex Ed and Judging Judges
SEX ED
If you are in Canada, pick up a copy of The National Post today if you are interested in sex and the law.
In this case, not together.
First, Ontario is expected to bring in new guidelines re sex education for children in grade school.
The specifics are controversial and getting a lot of attention. 
Many people say the things they want to introduce to kids are too much, too soon. Also many feel this kind of responsibility should rest (mostly) with the parents.
Others think they are just fine and will help with bullying and sex- related incidents among children (who then become teens) .
For my money, columnist Barbara Kay nails it in her column “A theory-based agenda” in The National Post, which explains her three main oppositional points that it:
- “introduces advanced material too early, before children are psychologically ready to absorb it”
- “teaches details of intimate behaviour to children in a group that is best conveyed one-on-one (…)”
- ” teaches sex as behaviour detached from and moral component (apart from the responsibility not to spread disease or get pregnant).”
Her piece is thoughtful and well-argued.
JUDGING JUDGES
Also in The National Post, Christie Blatchford weighs in on developing story about a circulating transcript that may be being used to discredit a potential appointment to become Chief Justice of Ontario. Apparently two qualified candidates are in the running for the position, one of whom is Ontario Court Judge Harry Brownstone.
The transcript is of a case involving a 23- year old bank robber, his parents, and the disposition of his case before judge Brownstone.
The apparent objections are to the judge`s remarks in the transcript regarding the case wherein he scolds the parents (“Trust me, neither of`you are going to be nominated for parent of the year. .. you better take a good look at what you have done to your son.”)
Judge Brownstone then took a swipe at the 23-year-old who has been in Canada 11 years and required a translator in court. (“Has he not learned how to speak and understand English for 11 years?”)
Justice Harvey Brownstone, seen here at a seminar in 2010, is victim of a whisper campaign over his frank lecture to a convicted bank robber.
The father made restitution to the bank ($2,000) a thing the judge said he had never heard of before and that was the reason he had not sentenced the man to three years in prison.
And he was fairly graphic about what would happen to the youth if he was put in jail (a fate that would surely befall him should be reappear in court).
“Let me tell you something about the penitentiary, said the judge. “You would be very popular. You would make a lot of friends, or let me make it even more clear, they’d like you a lot. You might not like them so much.
“Do you get what I’m trying to say or do you want a demonstration?”
And so on.
Apparently some people might think the judge overstepped his bounds and that might disqualify him from bine Chief Justice.
Ms. Blatchford clearly doesn’t think so.
Neither do I.
Make him a Supreme Court Judge.
Article links:
A theory-based agenda
