Albertans are prepared to gather across the province on Tuesday to voice concerns about the provincial K-6 curriculum draft that was introduced earlier this week.
Events for that day have popped up all across Alberta, with one set for Red Deer, outside the constituency office of Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange – who is also the MLA for Red Deer-North.
Nearly 200 people are interested in attending the rally, according to a Facebook page.
In a release, Terry Price, president of Public Interest Alberta and former president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, noted how damaging the proposed changes would be to the quality of public education in Alberta.
“In my former role, I was pleased to speak with leaders in educational innovation and research around the world. It was apparent that the Alberta Curriculum of Studies had achieved exceptional standing world-wide,” said Price.
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“Yet, with this singular and utterly misguided document, Alberta under this UCP government has completed its rapid transition from an international leader in curriculum for our elementary and secondary schools, to a laughingstock – except that it is no laughing matter.”
The new K-6 draft curriculum was introduced by LaGrange Monday.
The revised curriculum is designed “to refocus learning on essential knowledge and skills in order to give our children the best possible chance at success,” according to LaGrange. The four key themes include literacy, numeracy, citizenship and practical skills.
Some critics have said the curriculum misses on key elements about how children learn.
“Alberta’s proposed new elementary curriculum is remarkable in how thoroughly it gets almost everything wrong – including how children learn, the education they will need in our changing world, the role of facts and ideas, the need for critical thinking, and what is appropriate for younger children and their learning,” added Price.
Price called parents to action, with social distanced rallies expected in Red Deer and at the legislature – both will take place at 11 a.m., Tuesday.
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