Will the CURRENT Curriculum be the Curriculum FOREVER?
If you are unaware or have limited knowledge on the term of curriculum. Here are a couple definitions for you: One, curriculum is the ‘bible of the education system.’ Or in simpler terms curriculum can be defined as the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the education system. Lastly in many educators’ minds it is the ‘backbone’ of any classroom.
Now to answer ‘according to Benjamin Levin’s opinion and knowledge, how is school curricula developed and implemented?’ Benjamin Levin is an educational advisor and scholar. He is the man behind the curriculum. He has had a huge effect on what is included and not in curriculum. Amidst his input on the curriculum; he is a believer that curriculum is a policy. A policy that is meant to be followed to a T and nothing else. Levin although has a strong say in the curricula; amidst all this he is a huge believer in curriculum is a political policy.
A new perspective on curriculum is the idea that ‘teachers have little to do with planning and organizing of curriculum for grade levels in the education system.’ Much rather the curriculum for all grade levels lies in the hands of the political world. People such as our board members, mayors, prime ministers. Even textbook and other big companies have a bigger say in the curriculum in our schools, when compared to teachers and educators. Teachers’ lack of say in the curricula is knowledge that is just coming to the public’s eyes within the last few years.
Treaty Education in the Saskatchewan Curriculum is little to none. Within past curriculum and current curricula, treaties are mentioned very few times. As well, history on the treaties and Indigenous people in general is not a priority that reads ‘essential’ enough to be included within the pages of many grade levels of curriculum. Large chunks of our history are not acknowledged in the curricula because it showcases Canada in a negative light. There are people in our education system who believe leaving out these big chunks of history is not an issue, but there are countless others who see major issues with it. The battle for a renewed curriculum in subject areas where treaty knowledge would be mentioned is an ongoing mess.
As a future teacher I choose to believe that I will be a part of an education system and teach curricula that includes all big chunks of history (especially the dark ones.) Even though it will be a messy past for Canada, there is an essential need for all history, including dark included, to be taught in the classroom. Teaching the dark stuff showcases that we as a nation are willing to acknowledge and understand the damage we did to others. Saddest statement of all, is I, a future teacher, can’t see the curriculum changing before I have a classroom of my own. For future context this could be as soon as two years from now..