Dear Editor,
Recent public debate has been transpiring across the province around Alberta Education’s curriculum redesign. From news articles, to Facebook posts, to petitions, we are seeing interest and concern from many Albertans regarding the changes underway. As a Board, we would like to share our perspective of what this movement will mean for our students.
In a recent editorial letter, Alberta School Board Association President Helen Clease writes, “We live in a world where a student can hold the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in the palm of his or her hand. In this context, we must revisit what we are teaching students; how we are teaching students and how we can determine if students are learning the skills they will need in this new world. We want our students to know how to learn, think critically, identify and solve problems, manage information, be innovative, create opportunities, process and interpret information, communicate well and cooperate with others, demonstrate global and cultural understanding, and apply career and life skills.” Through the Inspiring Education Public Consultations in 2009, Albertans created a joint vision to transform education to ensure every student experiences relevant, personalized and engaging learning opportunities.
We, at Pembina Hills Regional Division are proud to be a partner in the development of new curriculum for K-12 students. PHRD has partnered with the Calgary Board of Education and the Edmonton Catholic School District – along with curriculum specialists from Alberta Education – and will work with teachers, principals, parents, students, business leaders, post-secondary institutions and the communities from across the province to develop curriculum that supports students as engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit. The process underway is thoughtful and harnesses the shared wisdom and input of all stakeholders. This is not a case of throwing out the old, but rather, will address areas of concern and build upon strengths in the existing curriculum.
As the Minister of Education shared, “Despite recent criticism, parents should know and take comfort in the fact that according to the most recent international tests our K-12 students remain at the top of international rankings. Alberta’s overall results are tremendously positive. Out of the 74 jurisdictions from around the world that took part in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey, Alberta ranked 11th in math, 5th in reading, and 4th in science. Notably, Alberta’s 15 year olds are actually outperforming Alberta’s adults in these OECD rankings. The fundamentals of mathematics are in our current program. Students are expected to know and understand how to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and they must understand their number facts and commit them to memory. We continue to have high standards for Alberta students – not only for what students know, but how they can apply their knowledge in the real world.”
We understand that there is the traditional method of teaching fundamentals, requiring students to commit everything to memory. Then there is a more engaged, inquiry-based method of education. We believe the new curriculum does not have to be only one or the other, and in fact it will apply the best of both methods. Literacy and numeracy are not being minimized in the curriculum redesign. Rather, they will be planted as the foundation to every subject, at every grade level. There will be greater emphasis on learning the basics across all subject areas which makes them relevant to real-life situations.
Our modern economy demands creativity and problem solving, critical thinking and an ability to collaborate and communicate. The heart of Alberta’s curriculum redesign process involves cultivating these skills. As a result, students will have the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to be successful in their learning, work, and other aspects of their lives. At the end of the day we must ask ourselves, are we preparing our children for their future or for our past?
Kim Webster, Board Chair, Pembina Hills Regional Division No. 7
