Alberta to test new K-6 social studies curriculum this fall

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Alberta NDP Critic for Education, Amanda Chapman, issued the following statement following the Education Minister’s announcement on the implementation of a new Social Studies Curriculum:

“Danielle Smith wants to control everything, including what is taught in classrooms.

“After being forced to go back to the drawing board when they launched the first draft of a new social studies curriculum, the Minister says they have made changes.

“Given the UCP’s track record of ignoring advice from experts, Albertans are correct to be concerned if the UCP has addressed the serious deficiencies in the first draft of their backwards and inappropriate curriculum.

“For example, the first draft discouraged critical thinking in students in favour of rote memorization of dates and names and ignored thoughtful discussions about our colonial relationship with Indigenous peoples.

“Now, on top of having the lowest per-student funding in the country, Alberta teachers and educators are left with the added pressure of being forced to implement yet another new untested curriculum.”

Meantime, the Alberta Teachers’ Association is calling on the Government of Alberta to pause piloting of the K–6 social studies curriculum, in order to better integrate feedback from teachers.

“We welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback on the social studies curriculum. Unfortunately, teachers’ recommendations are not reflected in this most recent draft. Rather than proceeding to pilot a curriculum that we know is flawed, let’s take the time needed to get it right and ready for the classroom,” says ATA president Jason Schilling.  

Among teachers’ concerns, according to the ATA, are the unrealistic number of concepts to be covered, some of which they say, are developmentally inappropriate and conceptually inaccurate, as well as failing to engage higher-order thinking skills. A full response to government on the draft social studies curriculum is posted on the ATA website.

“What’s the rush? Over the past three years, Alberta elementary schools have piloted and implemented new curriculum across four subject areas in seven grade levels. The problems currently being faced by teachers having to implement a flawed math curriculum demonstrate the risk of proceeding prematurely to implement new curriculum content and design,” adds Schilling. 

At a time when schools are overcrowded and understaffed, Schilling says, the launch of more new curriculum is overloading the system. Successful planning and implementation of new curriculum demands a great deal of time and energy on the part of teachers, says ATA officials. Continuing to add more is preventing teachers from devoting the care and attention needed to ensure that Alberta students are getting the best possible instruction, say ATA officials.

“Alberta students deserve the best, and so we must make the effort and take the time to get this right. Government can do this by involving teachers directly in continuing curriculum revision, by listening meaningfully to their advice and by incorporating those suggestions into a curriculum that is set for success and that Albertans can be proud of,” states Schilling.