Appendix C

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As you may be aware, HIV/AIDS education is now a required part of the elementary level Health Education program.

There are various reasons why this topic should be approached at an early age. Today's children are affected by HIV/AIDS in various ways:

• They hear about it in the media, at school and at home. However, the information they possess is often inaccurate and is the source of unfounded fears that they or their parents might catch AIDS. It is important to dispel such fears by making sure they have factual, up-to-date information on how HIV is not spread.
• As the epidemic takes its course, there will undoubtedly be more children who are HIV infected or who will personally know someone who is. HIV/AIDS education should help children respond to people with AIDS in the same compassionate and caring way they would respond to people affected by any other disease.
• The risks of HIV/AIDS infection among young children are very few, but they are real. HIV/AIDS instruction should help young students acquire factual, up-to-date information on the few situations they might face which do present a risk of HIV infection (direct contact with the blood of an infected person through a wound; accidental poking with the needle of an infected syringe). Elementary level students should then learn what to do and what not to do if they are ever in those situations.

Age-appropriate HIV/AIDS instruction at the elementary level covers the following content:

• HIV is not spread through the air; casual contact, such as coughing, sneezing, playing, hugging or sharing utensils does not present a risk of HIV infection. HIV is not spread through insect bites either. AIDS is very hard to get when you are a child, because there are very few situations and behaviours that present a risk of infection when you are a child.
• AIDS is a very severe disease. Scientists have found ways to help people who have AIDS, but they have not yet discovered a cure or a vaccine. They are working very hard to find one. Until then, the best way to fight AIDS is to learn about how the HI virus is spread and to avoid risky behaviours.
• People who have AIDS are like people who have other diseases: they need support and compassion. There are a lot of things we can do to show compassion and to help people who are sick.

In grades 1 to 4, sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS is not considered to be age-appropriate content and will not be addressed at all. At the grade 5 level, minimal information on this issue may be included as students research myths and facts about HIV/AIDS. Following is an outline of what HIV/AIDS instruction entails in the health education curriculum guide at the grade 1 to 5 levels.

Grade 1:

The concept of infectious diseases is introduced with examples like colds, chicken pox, measles. The immune system is discussed and likened to guards fighting germs and viruses that try to attack our body. Activities focus on adopting practices to prevent infections and infectious diseases, and to keep our immune system strong. HIV is explicitly cited as an enemy stronger than our "guards" and AIDS as an infectious disease caused by this virus. However, it is made clear that, unlike colds and chicken pox, AIDS cannot be transmitted by playing with or touching someone who has it.

Grade 2:

A sample unit focuses on emotional support for people who are ill. A story book in which a child who has AIDS is rejected because of his illness serves as the basis for discussing how the HI virus is not spread. The reading of this story leads into the broader topic of compassion for people who are sick.

Grade 3:

An activity focuses on what the students should do if they found a used hypodermic needle. The transmission of the HI virus is discussed within this context. The focus of other activities in that unit is controlling diseases.

Grade 4:

A sample unit looks at the evolution of treatments for various illnesses thanks to technology and medical research. The activities explore both the advantages and the limitations of technology in medical research. Progress made in treating HIV/AIDS is addressed.

Grade 5:

More specific information about how AIDS is transmitted will be introduced. In their search for information on facts and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS — which is the topic of the model unit — students are informed that the most common routes of infection are by sharing needles or engaging in sexual activities with an infected person.

Parents and guardians have the option of requesting that their child be exempted from HIV/AIDS education. A form is attached for this purpose. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,