CURRICULUM AND POLITICS DON’T MIX

It’s bad enough that roads, bridges, schools and hospitals are built in Alberta with the heavy hand of political interference. But when politicians start talking about manipulating school curriculum to suit whatever purposes they have in mind, then we have to draw a line on the blackboard.

The NDP government’s $64-million project of reviewing and rewriting courses taught in Alberta’s schools was generally welcomed when it was announced in June 2016. The chair of the Calgary Board of Education noted that some courses hadn’t been updated in 30 years.

Imagine all the changes in science, historical perspectives and technology that have unfolded since the mid-1980s. Math curriculum, in particular, was becoming an issue, as parents, teachers and falling test scores showed a need for revision. On the social side, the growing awareness of diversity in Alberta was emerging as a complex subject in need of further illumination in our schools.

But fears were soon raised that our socialist masters in Edmonton were going to use the new curriculum to brainwash our students into becoming bike-riding vegans. Or worse, the next NDP voters. This despite the fact the government has enlisted 300 volunteers, mostly teachers, from across the province to modernize curriculum. It’s not in the hands of politicians, whatever the stripe.

As well, the province asked all Albertans for their views on what should be taught in schools, and 25,000 people responded. Sure, some people recommended dropping Shakespeare, but let’s hope all’s well that ends well.

Despite that openness and consultation, the United Conservative Party’s leadership race has revived premature and misinformed debate about the review.

Jason Kenney, the former Harper cabinet minister, fears “social engineering” in a social studies draft outline. He said the proposed curriculum is rife with politically correct themes of colonialism, climate change and oppression. Too late; the curriculum already deals with those themes and many others, and rightfully so.

He also lamented there would be an absence of military history honouring Canada’s war efforts. If Kenney has ever been in any Alberta school around Remembrance Day, he would know that tradition will not end.

More recently, Brian Jean, the former Wildrose leader, has even threatened to cancel the whole thing, after a year of work, as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“We don’t particularly know where they’re going to end up with the curriculum review,” he ominously hinted. “So let’s find out where it is; let’s not waste that money.”

Then he suggests we go back to basics, whatever that is.

For his part, at least Kenney backtracked on his call for halting the project, pending results of the review. But what are the odds that the UCP hopeful will applaud the project under the NDP government?

Let’s let the professionals do their jobs, and stop using the educational system as a political whipping boy.

If Kenney has ever been in any Alberta school around Remembrance Day, he would know that tradition will not end.