Image courtesy: Derek Brade

By Darren Rathwell

New Alberta K-to-6 approach a positive step: local school officials

Dec 13, 2021 | 5:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT — Local school officials are sounding more positive about potential changes to Alberta’s kindergarten to grade six curriculum.

After strong opposition to the changes from schools, teachers, and parents, the province has moved to delay implementing revised curriculum for a number of courses until spring 2022.

Courses that will be taught starting next fall are English language arts, math, and physical education, with some changes.

However, it’s unclear when changes to fine arts, science, social studies, French first language and literature and French immersion language will be implemented as change will continue to be looked at in 2022.

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A modified social studies curriculum was met with the most criticism, but education minister Adriana LaGrange says the province has come up with a new blueprint for the subject aimed at addressing some of the concerns.

“It will help us view draft K-to-six social studies content through the lense of developmental and age appropriateness. It also addresses concerns that have been raised regarding diversity, inclusivity and biased language,” LaGrange said during a news conference.

The province says the blueprint will also form a new draft ensuring students learn history including the exploration of First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture.

Earlier this year, both public and Catholic school boards in Medicine Hat had announced they wouldn’t pilot the curriculum draft, as both had concerns about the content and the amount of change.

“Engagement and feedback on all subjects will continue in early 2022,” said a provincial news release.

The government says it will seek advice from a group of education and curriculum experts early next year.

The public school board says it’s glad teachers will have a say in upcoming talks, as their association didn’t have much involvement in the last draft.

“Today’s announcement is a positive. It signals a move in the right direction in terms of hearing concerns of communities and of teachers and a willingness to work together to resolve the challenges that exist in the (last) draft curriculum,” Mark Davidson, Superintendent of the Medicine Hat Public school division told CHAT News.

The Catholic school board also calls today’s announcement a positive step foreward.

“We understand the effort of the government to expedite the process to have a more up-to-date curriculum. However changing all (of the courses) in the context of the pandemic was concerning for all of us in education. We’re very pleased the minister has decided to slow that process down,” Dwayne Zarichny, Superintendent of the Catholic school division said.

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