Consent education is letting students down, so we’re taking the lead
This op-ed appeared in the Globe and Mail’s Opinion Section on July 22, 2025.
As Canadians await the verdict in the Hockey Canada trial, many are wondering: how could something like this happen? But as recent high school graduates, we know too well how these issues begin. They start in schools.
High school is where we discover who we are and how to advocate for ourselves. Ontario’s education model is failing to prepare students for the real world, perpetuating a culture in which people never learn what consent and healthy
relationships look like. We all joined High School Too, a student-led movement working toward real change within the education system, because we’re not asking for permission to be safe – we’re demanding it.
What to know about the Hockey Canada trial ahead of the verdict
We have all seen many of our teachers avoid discussing the topic of consent, which sent us all the message that consent is too awkward to address. It was apparent to us that even the standard Grade 6 curriculum lessons on puberty were uncomfortable
for our teachers, which made the topic difficult to focus on or even absorb as children. The silence and discomfort leaves students vulnerable, contributing to the fact that, according to Statistics Canada, 43 per cent of all incidents of dating violence in Canada involve young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Our experiences with consent education have been one-off lessons on binary “yes-versus-no” conversations, which fail to address nuances like power imbalances and peer pressure, and how those forces might factor into someone’s ability to consent freely.
This issue is further exacerbated for queer students. Egale Canada reports that one in five LGBTQ students has faced sexual harassment at school, yet consent education still relies on heteronormative frameworks. The lack of inclusive education is only
one part of the larger picture. Many students are navigating unsafe environments in underfunded schools where even basic needs like adequate staffing and air conditioning aren’t being met. But we should never have to choose between functioning classrooms and a safe learning environment, and teaching consent is not a bonus – it is the bare minimum.
Timeline: Key moments in the Hockey Canada trial
Consent exists outside of sexual contexts as well. It shows up everywhere: in workplaces, mentorship relationships, and even friendships. This is why we are calling for it to be taught outside of health class. English classes should explore the themes of power imbalances in literature, and history classes should discuss the violation of consent in systems like residential schools. We need consent woven into the fabric of school culture.
True change goes beyond posters and assemblies – it means equipping staff with the necessary training to teach about consent and sexual education effectively. Students who experience violence and harassment need safe spaces where they are unafraid to speak up and can rely on their peers, teachers and trusted adults for support. Both survivors and those who cause harm need policies and systems that help with healing – we need a culture of care and accountability, not just punishment.
The High School Too Project is trying to address the consent-education gap across Ontario by creating peer-support toolkits for fostering discussions on consent. It’s also advocating for student-led policy recommendations to make systemic changes happen at the school board and provincial levels. One step at a time, students are advocating for a future where safe spaces are guaranteed.
Hockey Canada sexual-assault trial is nearly over. We’re answering your questions after the verdict.
If you’re a policymaker, you should be focused on funding and mandating comprehensive, student-informed and culturally responsive consent education. Ontario needs to provide schools with the necessary resources to ensure safe classrooms for our students. If you’re a school board trustee, we are asking you to promote a culture of care and consent within your schools. Do this in practice, not
simply in policy. If you’re an educator, we ask you to reflect on how your classroom exhibits everyday consent. What are your students learning right now about consent, power and safety in relationships? If you’re a student, hold your peers accountable when boundaries are crossed. Join or support youth-led initiatives against gender- based violence like High School Too.
Anyone can join the movement by learning about how to respond when someone discloses a harmful experience they’ve had. Consider the BRAVE model (Believe them; Respect confidentiality; Ask them what support looks like for them; Value their boundaries; Empathize), and practice a trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach, rooted in trust.
What happened with Hockey Canada did not come out of nowhere. It reflects a culture shaped by silence and missed opportunities to teach consent before harm occurs. How many more young people must be harmed before this stops? We know the answer: not one more. That’s why we won’t wait. It starts with each of us and it starts now. Join us.
Audrey Akharoh, Grace Ding, Murado Murado and Mirari Ubani are recent high school graduates and former school-board student trustees contributing to the High School Too Movement.
