Education starts with the basics

Re: Reinventing city starts with new ways of learning, Opinion, June 11

I had to respond to this opinion column. At first, I thought with all the long-winded “teacher-eze” that it was written by teachers. Phrases such as “defining competency” or “lifelong learning” or my very favourite, “stakeholders.” Then I realized only one was an actual educator. Have any of them actually taught in a classroom?

The article spoke in such prattle as “unified community competency model” and “universal experiential learning system incorporating a minimum level of experiential learning” or “purpose-based learning ... that prioritizes empowerment and autonomy.”

No offence to all four of you, but that is just bafflegab and sound bites. I am so glad you are forming a committee (another one?) called the Learning Task Force. I certainly hope that you might consider putting a few teachers on this committee.

P. Gail Whiteford, Calgary