K-6 curriculum update scores mixed grade from Lethbridge School Division

“Overall, the changes do not move a curriculum into what is necessary for contemporary learners. Content is clearly still taking precedent over process and critical thinking. Student learning competencies continue to be neglected and overshadowed by what is referred to as essential knowledge.

With the new versions of subjects such as social studies, science, and fine arts being delayed, it will give the Ministry of Education an “opportunity for a higher level of attention to resources, professional learning, and planning for strategic implementation that attends to gaps and change in content and our approach.”

She is concerned, however, that school boards have not been provided a literature list for English Language Arts. This could potentially result in a lack of diversity, interfere with teachers’ autonomy to choose literature that reflects local contexts, and is developmentally appropriate.

Another area receiving partly-positive reviews is financial literacy.

Following a successful pilot project, financial literacy will be taught in schools across the province.

Purcell was happy to see that this course will become standard as it is something that many parents and educators alike have wanted to see for years.

“I think that moving forward and recognizing the importance of financial literacy and recognizing the importance of that financial literacy being at a young age is very important.”

The controversial element to this, however, is that it will be included as part of Physical Education and Wellness.

“At this point, when we’re just coming through this pandemic piece, our students need that physical education, they need look around wellness and if we’re going to look to add more content, then we are concerned about, is that taking away from time when those students need to be active? Is it taking away from wellness time when we need to be covering those very important subject areas as well?”

There are a couple of key topics that were not updated during this week’s announcement.

What was proposed for social studies has proven to be controversial. The Metis Nation of Alberta called for a full rewrite of this subject’s curriculum while the Confederacy of Treaty Six Nations outright rejected the draft curriculum.

The draft social studies course has been referred to by these leaders as having errors, examples of plagiarism, and content that is not age-appropriate nor reflective of Alberta’s diversity.

Purcell says it is very important that they look more into the social studies curriculum, especially in regards to the Indigenous components.

As far as math goes, the board chair notes that changes are expected to come in the future, but currently, it contains content that is not developmentally appropriate to each particular grade level.

Another possible issue with the implementation of the new curriculum is the fact that few school divisions are actually piloting it.

This spring, both the Lethbridge School Division and Holy Spirit Catholic School Division opted out of piloting the draft curriculum, citing significant concerns with its contents.

Because of this, Purcell said it will be crucial to ensure that all resources and materials are made available as soon as possible to school officials across Alberta so teachers would have adequate time to prepare.

She is one of 61 chairs that are part of the Alberta School Boards Association. The group will continue its advocacy work on ensuring that the curriculum gets fully developed in a way that properly supports student learning.

by David Opinko

K-6 curriculum update scores mixed grade from Lethbridge School Division

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