Candidates weigh in on draft curriculum and district priorities during trustee election forum

Officials say random generators were used immediately before the forum to determine speaking order for candidates, as well as which questions each candidate would be asked to respond to.

When asked of his position on the government’s new Draft K-6 curriculum currently being piloted with 360 Alberta teachers in elementary classrooms with approximately 7,800 students, candidate Matt Gould said he has yet to hear a single person while out campaigning, give two thumbs up on the proposed new curriculum.

“The ATA is coming out very firmly against it. This board, in fact the current board voted against testing it in Red Deer and I think the point is, to be quite honest, it has to be turfed,” said Gould.

Fellow candidate Jaelene Tweedle said she too has a number of concerns regarding the Draft curriculum for not only its content, but the manner in which it was developed.

“Not only do we see racist content in a social studies curriculum, we see recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee not being implemented. We also see much of the content that is also not developmentally realistic or appropriate, and as much learning will happen through wrote memorization that neglects the needs of our most diverse learners,” added Tweedle.

Candidate Bev Manning, a long-time trustee for Red Deer Public Schools, said the Draft curriculum has significant concerns around pedagogy and highlights the need for differentiated instruction and inquiry-based learning.

“There’s concerns around content of the curriculum and the age appropriateness of some of the concepts that were being taught in math. There’s concern around the process on how this curriculum was developed. However, the reality of the situation is the Minister of Education has been extraordinarily clear, extraordinarily clear, that this is going ahead,” warned Manning.

“It’s not close to the quality that we’ve come to expect for our students here in Alberta,” added candidate Terri Grills. “The way it was created wasn’t typical for how we normally develop a curriculum and the government’s insistence to proceed despite overwhelming opposition is very alarming.”

Candidate Angela Sommers said she doesn’t believe the Draft curriculum has human rights, accurate history, relevant history, or equity written into it.

“I would advocate that a non-partisan council to gather all the work done to create a world-class, new curriculum. Lobbying with other Alberta trustee boards for a stronger voice right now, is imperative,” she exclaimed.

When asked about the most important priorities for the board over the next four years, candidate Matt Chapin suggested mental health is one area not talked about enough in public schools.

“A lot of times, there’s a lot of students who do not know where to get help for these problems,” said Chapin.

“I feel like that’s everyone’s greatest concern right now, not just with COVID recovery, but on a broad scale,” said fellow candidate Meagan Parisian. “Everyone believes that mental health and wellness, along with physical health and wellness are two of the biggest priorities that we have.”

“Experience as a trustee has taught me there is no “I” or “me”, there is an “us” and a “we”,” said fellow candidate and outgoing board chair, Nicole Buchanan. “Over the next four years, priorities should be based off of local autonomy. Advocating for our students, staff and families to ensure the diverse needs of our community are heard, addressed and communicated effectively.”

Candidate Cathy Peacocke said recovery from COVID and its impact on learning should be the first area of focus for the board moving forward.

“And to continue to provide broad-based mental wellness supports across the district. Prioritize supports for literacy and numeracy. Those lessons are foundational to student learning. And the reduced funding that every school board is feeling, now and in the coming years, means that the board will have to have some really tough conversations.”

Meanwhile, when asked how to advocate for Red Deer Public Schools and public education, long-time trustee and current candidate Dianne Macaulay responded by saying you certainly don’t fund private schools with public money.

“That’s one of the things you don’t do,” said Macaulay. “Advocating is about knowledge, relationships and being courageous. Knowledge is about knowing what is needed and how to accomplish it. Relationships, because everyone has a human side and when working with the government, you need to not only have their ear but you actually need to have their heart because you’re dealing with students.”

During closing remarks, candidate Reg Warkentin said education is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a generation and being responsible for guiding the futures of all children.

“We need to focus on the nuts and bolts of education and we need to balance a lot of competing interests within a tight financial framework,” he explained. “We need to balance the interests of our teachers and administrators, our student and our parents. We need to work with our provincial funders in a collaborative manor to make sure our message is heard and our concerns are listened to.”

Candidate Jim Watters said he wants to ensure that students are able to learn the way they need, while also feeling that they are cared for, feel safe, and belong.

“I’ll be proud to support a school district that promotes equity and removal of barriers that interfere with student success. I will continue to build a strong relationship with staff, parents and students. Success will only happen when we all work together.”

“Part of the thing I think we need to bring together is seeing what those community groups are out there that can help us,” shared candidate Paul Peters. “We’re going to be faced with a shrinking budget, so it’s about having the right person that can put it together, make the right decisions and make sure that we still keep the students and the staff at the front of our decision making.”

With the final say Tuesday night, candidate Nathan Davies said he has been listening throughout the campaign and hearing from a number of parents contacting him about their fears, saying they fear their children will not have a normal childhood.

“They will not be able to attend public school unless they receive a treatment for a virus that statistically, has a zero per cent chance of harming them,” said Davies. “They fear that we now live in a world where children will be forced to make sacrifices for their parents and older generations, not the other way around, which is the way it should be. They fear that their children will be told that without this treatment, they will kill others.”

“When did we get to this point in our society, when these fears become a reality?” continued Davies. “I’ve been contacted by teachers and support staff who feel that their jobs are at threat. I don’t believe this is right.”

Advance Voting Stations run from Oct. 4-16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

Baymont by Wyndham Red Deer: Piper Creek Room: 4311 49 Avenue
Parkland Mall: Unit 458: 6359 50 Avenue
Westerner Park: Marquis Room at Harvest Centre: 4847A 19 Street

Election Day Voting Stations, open Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

Baymont by Wyndham Red Deer: Piper Creek Room: 4311 49 Avenue
Cambridge Red Deer Hotel & Conference Centre: Mediterranean Ballroom: 3310 50 Avenue
Collicutt Centre: Field House: 3031 30 Avenue
Northside Community Centre (YMCA): Gymnasium: 6391 76 Street
Parkland Mall: Unit 458: 6359 50 Avenue
Radisson Hotel Red Deer: Winspear Ballroom: 6500 67 Street
St. Joseph High School: Gymnasium: 110, 2700 67 Street
Westerner Park: Exhibition Hall: 4847A 19 Street

Additional voting opportunity:

The Mustard Seed: 6002 54 Avenue
Monday, October 4 from 3 – 7 p.m.

For more information, visit elections.reddeer.ca.

by Sheldon Spackman

Candidates weigh in on draft curriculum and district priorities during trustee election forum

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