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The expertise of 46,000 Alberta teachers has been ignored, yet again. Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling expressed concern over today’s announcement of the membership of the curriculum implementation advisory group by Education Minister Adriana LaGrange.
Although Schilling notes there is some teacher representation in the new advisory group, this level of engagement is woefully inadequate. The limited involvement of teachers that does exist consists of teachers hand-picked by the minister without consulting the profession.
“At the end of the day, school boards don’t implement curriculum. Superintendents don’t implement curriculum. Teachers implement curriculum and need to be meaningfully involved in its development.”
—Jason Schilling, ATA President
Schilling reiterated the call for a moratorium on curriculum implementation until the content of the curriculum is vastly improved. He notes that the government continues to change the curriculum on the fly, has not responded to teachers concerns, and is moving too quickly to implementation without an appropriate phase of piloting.
“We do not even have a final draft of the curriculum and what has been put forward does not enjoy the broad support of teachers or the public. What has been drafted has only been piloted in a small number of classrooms for just a few months—and we don’t know what the feedback from that pilot is. There are no student or teacher resources developed.
“I’m very concerned that the needs of teachers are being ignored when this government is moving so fast to implementation.”
—Jason Schilling, ATA President
ATA specialist councils, which have hundreds of teacher volunteers from around the province and who are subject specialists, have been instrumental in providing support for curriculum development in the past and have been completely excluded from this process to date. Schilling says this is a completely missed opportunity.
“As we’ve seen, this government is quick to say that they have consulted with teachers, but that engagement has lacked authenticity and the advice is routinely ignored. They’re not looking for meaningful critique, they’re looking for kudos.”
—Jason Schilling, ATA President
Schilling says funding to support implementation is also a significant concern, noting that the government is not asking anyone about what is needed for funding, not even this new implementation advisory group.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members.
For more information, or to arrange an interview with President Schilling, contact Mark Milne at 780-447-9462.
