I don't even know where to begin here...
1. I DON'T expect that a minister will necessarily have a background in their portfolio, and I know that the experience of a trustee is removed from the classroom.
2. I DO expect...
1/
1. I DON'T expect that a minister will necessarily have a background in their portfolio, and I know that the experience of a trustee is removed from the classroom.
2. I DO expect...
1/
...2. I DO expect that a minister will work to understand their portfolio, by doing things such as meeting with front-line workers, stakeholders, and reading important framework documents (like curricula)....
2/
2/
For example, the program philosophy of the 2005 social curriculum:
Students are provided opportunities to: appreciate and respect how multiple perspectives, including Aboriginal and
Francophone, shape Canada’s political, socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural realities
3/
Students are provided opportunities to: appreciate and respect how multiple perspectives, including Aboriginal and
Francophone, shape Canada’s political, socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural realities
3/
...I get that we are seeing ridiculous political theatre right now, but I had assumed that deep down we all want students to have respect for people who are different than them.
3. I DO expect a minister to not use test questions, clearly taken out of the overall context...
4/
3. I DO expect a minister to not use test questions, clearly taken out of the overall context...
4/
...of the classroom and the assessment, to score political points. I cannot believe that the education minister is either
a) willingly misleading to the public about what happens in a social classroom
or
b) so obtuse that she doesn't understand it...
5/
a) willingly misleading to the public about what happens in a social classroom
or
b) so obtuse that she doesn't understand it...
5/
... and I honestly don't know which option is worse.
I would bet my left foot that if we look above or below those cited questions we would see pro-oil perspectives being assessed as well. And the class discussion before this test was all about multiple perspectives.
6/
I would bet my left foot that if we look above or below those cited questions we would see pro-oil perspectives being assessed as well. And the class discussion before this test was all about multiple perspectives.
6/
4. I DO expect that a minister would have enough basic respect for the front-line workers she oversees to not single out one teacher, distort their practice, and rake them over the coals on social media.
7/
7/
5. I DO think that we should graduate students who understand how to think critically and examine an issue from multiple sides. I have always defended Alberta against naysayers. I have always been a proud Albertan...
8/
8/
...but if this is what's happening to our profession, in our province. If the goal of our ministry is to shame teachers into teaching a particular agenda...I just can't do it. I can't defend it...
9/
9/
@AdrianaLaGrange I would invite you into my classroom any day of the week. See how we have nuanced discussions about difficult issues. See how students challenge each other to think about issues in new ways. See how I ask questions to open up discussion and...
10/
10/
...sit back while magic happens in front of me. The students of Alberta impress me every day with their critical thinking, sober questioning, and respect for one another.
Right now our politicians need to wake up and take a lesson from our kids.
11/11
Right now our politicians need to wake up and take a lesson from our kids.
11/11
