With Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange saying she is committed to listening to feedback gathered during upcoming kindergarten - Grade 6 curriculum engagement sessions, parents and students are counting on her to keep her word.
Whether the input gathered through the process will be to the liking of the minister and her fellow UCP cabinet ministers remains to be seen.
What is known is that asking for further public input into the controversial proposed curriculum must be more than a public relations exercise if it is to be worthwhile.
The new kindergarten - Grade 6 curriculum represents a major overhaul of the system used to teach children at a critical point in their respective educations. Getting the consultation and engagement process right is therefore of utmost importance to the future of generations of Albertans.
For her part, LaGrange says she will listen to the feedback compiled during the virtual sessions being conducted between Jan. 31 and Feb. 28 across five regions of the province.
“These new sessions will enable Albertans to have focused conversations and share specific, constructive feedback on the draft blueprint and subjects they are interested in,” said LaGrange.
“The steps we are taking now to listen to additional input will help ensure our elementary students are learning from the best curriculum possible.”
Ever since being introduced early in the current UCP government mandate the proposed new kindergarten - Grade 6 curriculum has been met with considerable opposition, including from some educators.
“Ninety per cent of elementary school teachers are uncomfortable teaching the new K-6 curriculum, and 95 per cent of principals are uncomfortable supporting the curriculum in their school and community,” the Alberta Teachers' Association has said.
One of the UCP’s cornerstone initiatives, the proposed new kindergarten - Grade 6 curriculum represents the party’s long-term vision for education in Alberta.
It will be very interesting to see what the government’s reaction will be should feedback coming out of this latest round of engagement end up being less than positive or even down-right hostile.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
