Calgarians join province-wide 'Ditch the Draft' protests against UCP curriculum plans
Yet another curriculum protest was held in Calgary Saturday to speak out about one of the province's most contentious issues.
Even after alterations, thousands of Albertans believe the provincial government and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange have gotten the new education material all wrong.
So, calls to "ditch the draft" piped up once again this weekend, with gatherings in seven Alberta municipalities.
"We literally have a cut-and-paste Frankenstein draft with no rhyme or reason that is set to go forward across all grades this fall," organizer Angela Grace said. "It is not fit for human consumption."
Implementation of the new curriculum has been rocky.
Intense public pushback has followed the UCP government's education ideas since they were first unveiled.
In September, new K-3 math and english language arts will be brought to classrooms in a slimmed-down version of the government's original plan.
New K-6 physical education and wellness will also be implemented.
Those subjects are left after heavily-criticized social studies, fine arts and science drafts were postponed.
Many are still upset.
Calgary's protest – the fourth gathering since the original curriculum announcement – drew in hundreds of parents, teachers and students.
I'm not too confident that (the government) will listen to this," parent Heather Boychuk said, "but we've got to give it a try."
Grade 12 student Hayley Bryant said she attended for the next wave of students.
"I'm really here to set that example for future generations to join us in the activism," she told CTV News Calgary.
And educators – backed by the Alberta Teachers' Association – also attended in droves.
Many are worried they won't have the new material long enough to prepare for the upcoming school year.
"We cannot expect all teachers in Alberta to have sufficient training to put this curriculum forward," Grace said.
PROVINCIAL PROCESS
The education ministry insists the process is still an open and transparent one.
A statement from press secretary Katherine Stavropoulos says "over the past year, we have been listening to feedback from Albertans, education partners and piloting school authorities on the draft K-6 curriculum. The feedback from all engagement opportunities and classroom piloting is being used to further revise draft K-6 content."
Last month, the provincial government said it is investing $191 million over three years for teacher professional development and learning, and teaching resources. It believes the money will ensure educators and students are equipped for the full curriculum when it reaches classrooms.
HISTORY LESSON
Curriculum renewal in Alberta began in 2010 under a Progressive Conservative government. It started with the "Inspiring Education" initiative that set high-level ideas for how to improve classroom learning in the province.
"So this process has been going on for a long time," said Carla Peck, a professor of social studies education at the University of Alberta.
"Unfortunately, when the UCP picked up the baton, they didn't bother considering all the excellent work that had been done previously," she added. "They decided that they knew best and that they were going to try and do it themselves."
In her eyes, the curriculum represents a step back, emphasizing memorization of concepts instead of promoting critical and creative thinking.
"The curriculum itself looks like something from the 1950s with long lists of information, disconnected from big ideas and concepts," she told CTV News Edmonton. "It's really going to look like a curriculum that maybe grandparents in the province will remember where they had to memorize all kinds of information and regurgitate it on a test."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Adam Lachacz
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.