Albertans protest public education curriculum

Parents, educators, and students gathered across Alberta on Saturday to urge the government to ditch its new K to 6 draft curriculum.

Demonstrators turned out in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and many other cities wearing “red for ed” to support public education.

ATA President Jason Schilling is now addressing the #DitchTheDraft rally at the #ableg. pic.twitter.com/a1oxPTid2O

— Alberta Teachers' Association (@albertateachers) April 2, 2022

After continued calls to ditch the draft, the province delayed implementing portions of the new curriculum.

The curriculum has been scrutinized for its content, timeline, and alleged racial insensitivities.

Ditch the Draft, Ditch the Draft, Ditch the Draft! #DitchTheDraft #ableg #abed pic.twitter.com/YHbV3QNmKz

— Alberta Teachers' Association (@albertateachers) April 2, 2022

Dr. Angela Grace with Alberta Curriculum Analysis says the whole curriculum needs to be thrown out.

“Parents are concerned, teachers are concerned. We have a 99 per cent non-confidence vote against the Minister of Education (and) 95 per cent of teachers don’t want this draft,” said Grace.

She’s calling on the UCP government to implement the 2018 draft curriculum instead of what’s currently being proposed. She says she will keep showing up to support teachers and students until something is done.

“There is nothing in this draft that is salvageable,” she said.

“The public is speaking loud and clear and the government is not listening,” said Grace.

“Now they say they are listening, but they’re not listening in a transparent manner that we know we’re being heard. So yes, we’re tired but we’re not stopping until this draft is ditched.”

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Read More:

• Alberta curriculum implementation coming Fall 2022, some updates coming later

• Albertans rally in support of Alberta’s public education

• Northwest Territories to use B.C. school curriculum instead of Alberta’s

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Kindergarten to Grade 3 students across Alberta will be taught the new curriculum — which many critics have raised issues with — in Math and English beginning this fall.

However, the Alberta government will be making adjustments for the new English and Math curriculum for students in Grades 4 to 6, which won’t be implemented until fall 2023. 

–With files from Jasmine Vickaryous