By Sheldon Spackman

Closer Look Needed

ATA reserving judgement on government’s new curriculum

Aug 7, 2020 | 7:28 AM

The president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association (ATA) is taking a wait-and-see approach to the government’s announcement today about new curriculum plans for the province’s students.

On Thursday, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced the repealing of the 2013 ministerial order on student learning and replacing it with one that is said to give students a foundation of literacy and numeracy, as well as a knowledge of the rich and diverse history of Alberta and Canada.

In a Facebook post, ATA President Jason Schilling says literacy and numeracy have always been the cornerstone of curriculum, adding that the Ministerial Order on Student Learning should not get in the way of how curriculum is taught, noting that should be left to the experts, the teachers who teach kids.

“Curriculum is what we teach, how it is taught should not be prescribed, trust teachers to do this work,” wrote Schilling. “The real test will be what the draft curriculum looks like. I expect teachers to be fully engaged in the process, from development, field testing, assessment, and implementation.”

The new ministerial order is described as emphasizing civic virtues, core knowledge, and outcomes students need to succeed in school and throughout life.

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“This new ministerial order on student learning is a return to proven teaching methods that will set up Alberta’s students for rich personal and work lives,” said LaGrange. “Moving forward, education will promote skills development and knowledge pursuit, equipping students to explore opportunities that will help them develop their talents and unleash their potential.”

However, Schilling warns that the Ministerial Order on Student Learning has some signals they need to watch carefully.

“I do wonder about the repeated references to subject matter experts,” explained Schilling. “I’d like more detail on that; teachers are experts in the classroom.”

According to provincial officials, the new ministerial order was developed after the government broadened consultations to hear a wider range of perspectives from parents, teachers, and subject matter experts. It is said to place an emphasis on essential core knowledge, evidence and fact-based materials, and focus on literacy and numeracy as foundational elements woven throughout the entire curriculum.

Now that the new ministerial order is in place, officials say the 2018 draft K-4 curriculum will be reviewed and future curricula drafted for the next grades. All draft curricula will be aligned with the new vision.

However, due to delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, timelines for piloting the new draft curriculum are being adjusted. Validation will be expanded from K-4 to include Grades 5 and 6.

Participating schools will start piloting the curriculum in classrooms in September 2021. At a minimum, a draft curriculum for Grades 7-10 will be ready for classroom validation in September 2022.

It is anticipated that all students attending school in Alberta will be learning from the new K-6 curriculum by the 2022-23 school year.

Schilling admits, he knows teachers are eager to have new curriculum and he’s grateful for the delay in implementation.

“However, let’s get back to some other pressing concerns, like class size, social distancing and properly funding a safe return to school this fall.”