Alberta to rewrite controversial K-6 social studies curriculum, pause implementation of several subjects
Alberta Education is moving ahead with implementing its new kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum in three subjects next September, but is rewriting its contentious social studies program and won't send several subjects into classrooms until a later date.
English language arts, math and physical education will all see the new K-6 curriculum implemented in September 2022. Changes to fine arts, science, social studies, French first language and literature and French immersion language arts will continue in 2022 and won't be implemented until a future date that has not yet been established.
"We have listened to the valuable insights provided by parents, education stakeholders, teachers and Albertans and are making significant content and implementation changes to reflect this," said Education Minister Adriana LaGrange.
The most significant changes will be to the K-6 social studies curriculum, which has been called "deeply disappointing" and "a mistake" by educators and parents since a draft of the new program was released earlier this year.
A new 'draft design blueprint' for social studies will be used to come up with the final curriculum for the subject. It will look at age appropriateness, learning concepts and content of the program and feedback will be considered. A new draft curriculum will be released in the spring of 2022.
The province says the social studies blueprint will "ensure students learn historical content, build civic skills, explore First Nations, Métis and Inuit and Francophone perspectives."
The draft curriculum for science has also been updated to include teaching children about dinosaurs, learnings about climate change and greenhouse gases and "the personal actions that can be taken to address climate change."
SCHOOL BOARDS OPT OUT OF PILOTING NEW CURRICULUM
A majority of Alberta's school boards — including both the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District — refused to pilot the draft curriculum due to a number of concerns including age inappropriateness, a lack of Indigenous consultation and the timing of piloting the programs during a pandemic.
The province says about 7,800 students have been piloting the new draft curriculum during the current school year and educators have been providing feedback.
"(The Alberta School Boards Association) has advocated for a delay and a phased approach to curriculum implementation and recognizes that government responded with some changes announced today," said Marilyn Dennis, ASBA president.
Alberta Education also plans to create an advisory group to provide feedback on the revised curriculum and come up with a new implementation timeline for many subjects. The group's work will start in the new year, but the province has not yet established who the members will be and how many people the group will be comprised of.
GOOD FIRST STEP
Education groups say the changes announced Monday are a step in the right direction but they want more work done on including feedback from Indigenous and First Nations groups and voices from teachers themselves.
"There's still things that need to be done. For instance, we still need to look at engaging our indigenous communities to make sure we're getting the content and outcomes that are grade and age appropriate," said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association.
Some advocates are calling for the province to scrap the entire new draft curriculum and go back to the drawing board.
But if the work to implement it is going to continue, Wing Li with the Support Our Students (SOS) says it should include hearing from more voices across the province.
"The diversity component is going to be lacking if they're going to be just moving parts around. It wasn't even the content, it was the lack of critical thinking in the process," Li said.
The opposition NDP said the government should admit they were wrong about the entire curriculum process, and the province should admit that.
“The Minister did not take responsibility for trying to force through this appalling curriculum despite Albertans’ outrage and push-back. Instead, we saw her blame the pandemic, and blame teachers for refusing the workload," said NDP's Education Critic Sarah Hoffman.
Albertans can view more of the changes made to the curriculum and provide feedback online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Golf season a summer tourism driver in Canada
Golf is a sign of spring and summer and a major driver for seasonal tourism, experts say.