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By Connor Gunn

91% of Alberta teachers are unhappy with new proposed K-6 curriculum

Apr 8, 2021 | 11:48 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– The Alberta Teacher’s Association (ATA) has released the results of a preliminary survey asking what teachers in the province think of the proposed K-6 curriculum.

91 per cent of teachers say they are unhappy with the draft, including 3 out of 4 teachers stating they are “very unhappy.”

“90 per cent of elementary school teachers are uncomfortable teaching the new K–6 curriculum, and 95 per cent of principals are uncomfortable supporting the curriculum in their school and community,” the release reads.

“We wanted to give teachers time to review the documents and provide their feedback to us since the government failed to engage teachers in the curriculum process. But the preliminary data is overwhelming: this draft curriculum is fatally flawed,” says Jason Schilling, ATA President.

“Teachers are the experts. Teachers know what will work in a classroom and what will not, and they are overwhelmingly telling us that this curriculum won’t work for Alberta’s elementary students,” adds Schilling.

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Over 3,500 teachers and school and central office leaders completed the survey between March 29 and April 7, 2021.

The Lethbridge School Division announced Thursday that they will be opting out of the draft curriculum pilot.

READ MORE: Lethbridge School Division: New curriculum “does not support quality learning”

“It is clear that the problem with this curriculum is that teachers were not sufficiently engaged in its development and their concerns were not addressed. The feedback shows that the government has failed its own mission. If the government is serious about producing a strong curriculum, it needs to listen to what teachers are telling them,” Schilling says.

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Schilling added that the ATA will provide updates and a final report to the government and the public throughout this process.

For more information on the survey and its findings, go to Teachers.ab.ca.