Opposition grows to UCP’s draft curriculum for grades K-6

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Up to 41 school districts, representing nearly three-quarters of Alberta students, have now confirmed they will not pilot the UCP government’s K-6 draft curriculum, according to the Opposition NDP.

At the same time, 11,723 signatures have been collected from parents across the province in a petition demanding a halt to the controversial draft, criticized for disrespecting Indigenous and Francophone histories while focusing on rote memorization and random facts.

“Albertans have spoken up loud and clear about this curriculum and they are giving it a failing grade,” said NDP Education critic Sarah Hoffman.

“School districts representing more than 70 per cent of Alberta students have decided not to pilot this curriculum. These are urban boards and rural boards, public, separate, Francophone boards. They’re in the north, the south and central regions of Alberta. And more are joining them every day.”

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The Calgary Board of Education announced it would not participate in a pilot April 9, two weeks after the province released the draft in late March.

And the Calgary Catholic School District announced late Wednesday they will not pilot the draft curriculum after a unanimous vote at their board meeting.

In a letter sent to parents, chief superintendent Bryan Szumlas said “we recognize that this is not the right time to renew the curriculum. Thank you to our staff, parents/guardians and community partners for your feedback. We heard your concerns related to the draft (lack of Indigenous content, age appropriateness, inclusivity, inappropriate content, Eurocentric design . . .).”

Szumlas added it is the board’s hope that the province will “go back to the drawing board and better engage teachers in a future curriculum design.”

Hoffman added that both school boards in Red Deer, the home riding of Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, have also confirmed they will not participate in the pilot, including the Red Deer Catholic School District that voted unanimously Tuesday against piloting the draft.

Earlier this week, Edmonton Public Schools also agreed to call for a vote of no-confidence in the curriculum at the upcoming meeting of the Alberta School Boards Association.

The UCP government has defended the document as forward-thinking and without bias, with LaGrange saying it had input from hundreds of stakeholders in a transparent process that included educational leaders, subject experts, academics and teachers.

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Meanwhile, Taylor Schroeter, a parent from Beaumont just south of Edmonton, has helped organize a petition against the curriculum, gathering 11,723 signatures from 95 communities across Alberta, including Calgary.

“We stand united together to demand a curriculum for our children that is inclusive, accurate, forward thinking, relevant and age appropriate,” Schroeter said.

“The 11,723 signatures on these pages represent Albertans across all political backgrounds who are calling on our government to do what’s right for our children. This draft is not it.

“We have heard from parents from all walks of life and across many ethnicities, religions and cultures who do not feel this draft accurately represents them or their children.”

Schroeter added that she is particularly concerned with what she sees as a lack of representation of LGBTQ people in the draft.

While Hoffman is set to table the petition in the legislature next week, the province has insisted the curriculum pilot will go ahead this fall, with full implementation for K-6 scheduled for the 2022-23 school year.

Alberta teachers have also voted overwhelmingly against the curriculum in a survey conducted by the Alberta Teachers’ Association. First Nations groups have also spoken out vehemently against the draft.

Nicole Sparrow, press secretary to LaGrange, said Wednesday that in-class piloting of the curriculum is only one of many ways the education system can provide feedback on the draft.

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“Typically, a maximum of 10 per cent of classrooms around the province will participate in the pilot stage,” Sparrow said.

“Divisions may choose to pilot the entire curriculum, or specific grades or subjects. Alberta Education is working with divisions who have questions or have expressed interest to help them determine how best to be involved in the pilot.”

Sparrow added the province is committed to a transparent review process and encourages Albertans to review and discuss the draft curriculum.

“We appreciate parents’ interest in the draft K-6 curriculum and encourage an open dialogue. We are looking forward to hearing their feedback through the survey at Alberta.ca/curriculum.”

Over the next year, Alberta Education will also host formal engagement sessions with education partners and parents to gather further feedback.

eferguson@postmedia.com