Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education. (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Changes In Three Subjects

Province provides update on changes to draft K-6 curriculum

Dec 13, 2021 | 1:44 PM

The province is implementing some changes to the draft K-6 curriculum.

Following consultation with parents and school authorities, the Alberta Government will implement new curriculum in September 2022 in three subjects – English Language Arts and Literature, Mathematics, and Physical Education and Wellness.

Alberta Education will ask for advice from an advisory group of education and curriculum implementation experts early next year. The group will also offer advice for any changes for the remaining K-6 subjects.

Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange said, “our government committed to a transparent and open review process for curriculum and we are keeping that promise.”

“We have listened to the valuable insights provided by parents, education stakeholders, teachers and Albertans and are making significant content and implementation changes to reflect this. The steps we are taking now will ensure our students are learning from an updated curriculum that prepares them for the future.”

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SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

The province also noted that a new draft design blueprint will address feedback received related to the age and developmental appropriateness of the Social Studies curriculum and lays out a plan to make content changes.

Further engagement and the blueprint will inform a new draft, which the province says will “continue to ensure students learn historical content, build civic skills, explore First Nations, Métis and Inuit and Francophone perspectives and learn about different cultures and communities.”

Additionally, changes have been made to English Language Arts and Literature, Physical Education and Wellness, Fine Arts (Music) and Science curriculums to add clarity, strengthen content and expand on topics “such as positive body image, climate change and learning about dinosaurs.”

While Alberta Education has made some content changes to these subjects, there are areas still not addressed, such as changes related to First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Francophone perspectives in subject areas outside of Social Studies.

As well, based on feedback, the draft Mathematics curriculum will also be updated in the spring, prior to final implementation in September 2022. All other subjects, including the draft French language curriculum, will also be updated.

MORE ENGAGEMENT

In January and February, there will be further opportunities for Albertans to share their feedback on updated draft content, as well as the draft design blueprint for Social Studies. Residents are being invited to attend virtual information sessions on the updated curriculum and implementation plans, starting December 16.

Albertans can register for those sessions via the Government of Alberta website. The province noted that next spring, it will “carefully consider the feedback from all engagement opportunities and classroom piloting.”

Input will be used to finalize the Social Studies design blueprint, develop the corresponding draft Social Studies curriculum and further revise all subjects in the draft K-6 curriculum.

We know, based on feedback from teachers, parents, students, educational experts, and community leaders, that the curriculum was not appropriate to move into classrooms next year,” said Sarah Hoffman, NDP Critic for Education. “Yet, the Minister today is digging in her heels and plans to continue with English Language Arts and Literature, Mathematics, and Physical Education and Wellness.

“The Minister did not take responsibility for trying to force through this appalling curriculum despite Albertans’ outrage and push-back. Instead, we saw her blame the pandemic, and blame teachers for refusing the workload.

“Alarm bells have been ringing across the province since this draft curriculum was introduced to Albertans beginning with the shocking revelation that Jason Kenney and LaGrange put Chris Champion in charge of our kids curriculum. This is a man who has published and held racist views for decades and should never have been trusted with this task.

“It should not have taken this long for the government to admit its mistake and they should shelve this ill-conceived draft,” Hoffman said.

“School Boards have refused to pilot the draft curriculum, teachers and principals are opposed to it and even the UCP MLA for Grande Prairie is opposed to it,” Hoffman said.

“Teachers don’t have confidence in Minister LaGrange. Trustees that oppose the curriculum were overwhelmingly elected in the recent Municipal Election. Albertans do not trust the UCP to bring forward a curriculum that sets kids up for success,” added Hoffman.

“I’m not sure how much clearer and how much louder Albertans need to be for the UCP to hear them. This entire curriculum must be shelved. It has been dogged by suggestions of plagiarism, horrible inaccuracies and grievous shortcomings in how it deals with Indigenous people, colonialism and racialization,” concluded Hoffman.