Early in my senior education career, I remember then Deputy Minister Maria David-Evans, speaking about how Alberta was a world class education system. One of her key points was the importance of a strong centralized curriculum. While not always perfect, no curriculum is, Alberta has always been recognized as having a strong curriculum that jurisdictions around the world have sought to emulate or simply use when possible.
Late last year, the government of NWT made the decision to not continue to use Alberta curriculum. Instead, students in NWT will follow BC curriculum beginning in September 2022. After years of a successful partnership with Alberta curriculum, the question of why the change by the NWT government should be fairly evident. What is coming to students in Alberta beginning this September is simply unacceptable.
One of the reasons that Alberta’s curriculum has been so world renowned was due to the process of development. Broad based, forward thinking, and age appropriate were all pillars in the development of new curriculum. But always, current and practicing teachers were well engaged in the process. While it is essential to have senior administration, curriculum specialists, post-secondary, parent, business and community input, a strong centralized curriculum will never be as good as it should be without teacher input right from the initial stages of development. I cannot imagine any new developments in any other profession being contemplated without those same professionals being involved from the very beginning.
This government has shut out the very professionals who will be implementing this new curriculum from the start. They have made this new curriculum more political than any previous government and have made the arrogant assumption that they know more about curriculum development than the classroom teacher. It takes a massive collaborative team to design robust and relevant curriculum and this government has done so without key members of the team, namely teachers.
Alberta, as a world class education system is in jeopardy if this new curriculum goes forward. It is just that plain and simple!
I am really disappointed with the arrogance and ignorance of this government to assume that they know better than teachers when it comes to developing new curriculum. We have had a process that for years included practicing teachers that has produced high quality learning outcomes and maintained our educational excellence. Without a course correction before September, we will be implementing an ill-advised, non-child friendly curriculum that will take us back 50 years!
The future problems we will face will not be solved by students subjected to this soon to be implemented, outdated and irrelevant curriculum! OUR STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER!
Get teachers back into the process and watch the magic!!!
1 Comment
Well articulated, Chris. So much surrounding the development and implementation of this DRAFT curriculum is archaic and NOT in the best interest of Alberta’s current and future students.