Black Gold public school board has voted not to pilot the draft K-6 curriculum in classrooms. #abed #ableg The division's review team also released this six-page report: https://www.blackgold.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Black-Gold-Draft-Curriculum-Review-Summary-Report.pdf

Looks like the division appointed 52 teachers and administrators to review the draft K-6 curriculum. Some of what they found:
- K-3 English language arts improved a focus on literacy from the current curriculum, but Gr. 4-6 required skills "at a low depth of knowledge." #abed

Also about English language arts, they said: "teachers
identified a lack of First Nations, Métis and Inuit connections in this Curriculum and felt that when it was
included it was generally not an authentic connection." #abed #ableg

Black Gold review team on math (summarized): some abstract concepts are introduced too soon. Not enough flexibility to meet unique learners. Lack of number sense. Not enough playing with tangible math toys ("manipulatives"). #ableg #abed

Review team on science: the material in the early grades is too complex and in upper grades, too shallow.
"The Science Curriculum is too content heavy in all Grades and the Review Teams feel that there is not sufficient time" to learn it all #abed #ableg

Review team has a fair amount to say on social studies: that it should start with a young child's understanding of their family, community, and onto their city, province, and outward - not chronologically.
#ableg #abed

Reviewers: "There is so much potential in Social Studies to be engaged, connected, celebrate diversity, and build an understanding of community. All of these are not part of this Curriculum." Focus should be on culture, not religion, they say. #ableg

Knowledge about Christianity is framed as fact, not belief, the reviewers say. #ableg #abed

There is a quote from a disenchanted teacher who identifies as Christian:
"If the hope of the writer is that this will positively influence people’s perception of Christians in Alberta, I will sadly inform you, that this curriculum will do the opposite.” #ableg #abed

Black Gold reviewers: "There is no aspect of the Social Studies Curriculum that is supported by any of our Review Teams and teachers unanimously agree that it needs a complete rewrite."
Finan. literacy asking kids to disclose how much money their families spend inappropriate.

Reviewers on health and wellness: they're concerned it will lead to fitness tests in class, which are inappropriate.
"The section on Healthy Eating, seems designed to create stigma around eating at a very young age." #ableg #abed

They say elementary music would need to be taught by a music specialist, which not all schools have. All kids will need access to musical instruments. Many kinds of Canadian music excluded. #ableg (Acadian, Metis, Maritime, more) #abed

Reviewers on fine arts: uh, you forgot to teach kids how to use scissors. You forgot kids are supposed to enjoy art. "There is an obvious lack of BIPOC examples
of artworks." #ableg #abed

Oh they liked drama: "The Drama Curriculum is a ray of sunshine." But don't like its connections to history. "Drama, and indeed all the Fine Arts do not
only support students in ‘recognizing beauty, goodness, and truth’ but also to see pain, struggle, and
untruths." #ableg #abed

Overall, the reviewers said:
- What Indigenous content there is seems a tokenistic afterthought
- There is way too much content in each subject
- A lot of this needs reworking before it can be tested in classrooms #ableg #abed

Reviewers also: "using the current version of Social Studies Draft Curriculum in classrooms poses a risk to our students. The content is not developmentally or age appropriate and will cause young children to disengage from the learning process..." #abed

The reviewers also express fear that because some parents are opposed to the new curriculum, if they were to pilot it, it would strain relationships between school staff and parents. #ableg