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Climate change not core subject in new high-school curriculum

Sea to Sky educators allowed to use discretion in tackling subject
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climate talk Some B.C. teachers argue that climate change should be a core subject in the new high school curriculum. shutterstock photo

It used to be that the great debate around school curriculum centred on whether teachers should be required to teach the theory of evolution. But in recent years, increased scrutiny has been placed on what students learn about climate change.

Late last year, the province's new school curriculum—which is still being rolled out—came under scrutiny when The Tyee published a story in which four Burnaby school district teachers said it gives short shrift to the topic of climate change.

"I strongly believe there should be very explicit language in the Science 8-10 curriculum which covers this topic in greater depth," said Katharine Lange, a science teacher at Moscrop Secondary, in an interview with The Tyee.

"As local and global citizens, all students in British Columbia should be informed as to the scientific principles, supporting data, and overall ecological impacts of climate change."

But the Burnaby teachers' concerns are not shared by Sea to Sky educators.

"You can't possibly capture—in a curriculum—all of the core topics," said April Lowe, president of the Sea to Sky Teachers Association. "That's why this one was made broad enough, to allow for teachers' and students' passions to come forward. People who live in this area are very cognizant of the issues around climate change, so I can't imagine that many classrooms escape those discussions, just from the very nature of the people that live here."

Chris Nicholson, assistant superintendent for School District 48 (SD48), said he thinks climate change is "reasonably represented" when it comes to mandatory classes. Climate Change, he noted, is listed as a topic of possible discussion for Socials 10 and 11, both of which are mandatory for graduation.

"I don't feel we're giving short shrift to this very important topic," he said, adding that the new approach gives teachers the latitude to pursue important topics. "It really allows students and teachers together to delve further into topics or areas that are meaningful or relevant to them."

Cynthia Higgins, a newly elected school trustee representing Whistler on the SD 48 school board, said teacher autonomy is critical.

"We have to trust that our teachers in the Sea to Sky will cover climate change, along with all the other topics related to the environment and do that in an appropriate fashion," she said. "You're going to see variation from classroom to classroom on that, as we are going to trust each individual teacher to provide the curriculum ... in a fashion that best meets the needs of (their) unique classroom."

Years in the making, the new curriculum was adopted at the Kindergarten to Grade 9 level in the 2016-17 school year, and the Grade 10 level this year. The Grade 12 curriculum is mandated to take effect next year, though some teachers have already adopted it.

The new curriculum is designed to modernize B.C's education system, placing more focus on understanding concepts and developing skills and less on memorizing facts and figures.