Letter: Why revise curriculum if Albertans are satisfied with it?

By Letter to the Editor on February 24, 2021.

Dear editor,

From October to November 2016, Albertans were invited by the NDP government to participate in a provincial Kindergarten to Grade 12 Curriculum Survey. Results from a closed-ended survey of Albertans in 2016 indicated strong support for much of the content in the then-current curriculum across all subjects.

However, recently the UCP decided to review the curriculum once more.

A leaked document outlining proposed changes to the Alberta K-12 curriculum came to my attention. The proposed changes are regressive, racist, not backed up by research and vastly out of step with education in most of North America. Since it is apparent that most Albertans were happy with the current school curriculum, why is our government revising it?

One reason seems to be the government wants religion back in schools – not just any religion but the particular narrow school of thought known as Dominion Theology that many UCP ministers and supporters believe they have been “called” to champion and spread. However, Alberta is a liberal democracy that accepts and protects freedom of religion (and freedom from religion), supported by a political divide between the spiritual and temporal.

Since the UCP is being paid by the citizens of Alberta, why are they implementing policies which clearly do not represent the views of most Albertans? Why are we paying for a curriculum review that is not needed and that we don’t want? Why are non-Albertans being paid to review our curriculum when Alberta Education already has an excellent program of studies which is respected around the world and is the program of choice for international schools?

Albertans deserve a government that respects democracy, public education and freedom of religion, a government that represents Albertans. They need to focus on the very critical issues facing our province. I urge you to challenge your premier and your MLAs to preserve our excellent curriculum and our strong public education system.

Carolyn Schoepp

Drayton Valley