GUEST
Anne Marie Goodfellow
Law Courts Education Society of B.C. Assesses Social Studies Curriculum in B.C.
T
he Law Courts and connect school with students’ Education Society of lives.” (p. 3) B.C. is conducting a However: project called B.C. “Many students find social Law and Citizenship Curriculum studies boring and do not see the Assessment in order to examine relevance of course content to their strategies to ensure that all students own lives. This perception may Left to right: Lisa Nakamura, graduate from secondary school negatively affect their attitudes Ministry of Attorney General; with the skills and knowledge nectoward historical inquiry, governRaquel Chin, B.C. Social Studies essary to be active citizens. ment processes and involvement as Teachers’ Association; Gene The project is being guided by engaged citizens in society.” (p. 3) Jamieson, Provincial Court of an Advisory Committee that incl“Fewer than a quarter (22 per B.C.; Allison Habkirk, Local udes Caroline Nevin, Executive cent) of educators feel that stuGovernment Leadership Academy Director of CBABC. Also on the dents have ample opportunity in committee are people from the Ministry of Education, required social studies courses to practise active citiMinistry of Attorney General, Ministry of Communzenship, and many feel that the curriculum does not ity Services, BCTF, B.C. Social Studies Teachers’ adequately help students feel connected to Canadian Association, B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ politics or develop the attitudes and abilities to be Association, Provincial Court of B.C., B.C. Civil Libactive participants in a democratic society.” (p. 4) erties Association, Local Government Leadership Why are B.C. students not graduating with the Academy and the District of West Vancouver. With requisite knowledge to be informed citizens? all this expertise, the Law Courts Education Society In the current system students are required to take of B.C. is in the process of developing some important Social Studies K through 10. In order to graduate, each recommendations for improving the existing social student must take one of Social Studies 11, Civic Studies studies curriculum in the areas of law and citizenship. 11, or B.C. First Nations Studies 12. These courses as What are we teaching our students about they exist do contain some elements of law and citizenlaw and citizenship? ship, but in themselves do not cover enough to enable Last year’s Ministry of Education Social Studies students to become informed citizens. Through this Curriculum Needs Assessment (Grades 8 to 12) discussproject the Law Courts Education Society of B.C. will es issues that need to be addressed concerning law be inserting content to ensure that all students, regardand especially citizenship in the current curriculum less of which of the three courses they take, will gain (see Executive Summary at http://www.bced.gov. the knowledge required to be active citizens. bc.ca/irp/reports/). On the upside: Revised curriculum materials will be ready for “The focus on citizenship education…as the feedback from interested parties by fall 2008 through the central goal of the social studies curriculum is approproject website (www.bccitizenship.ca). Also, the B.C. priate and should continue.” (p.2) Social Studies Teachers’ Association fall conference “There is a growing trend toward the use of com(October 24, 2008) will include a workshop on the project. munity engagement and active citizenship projects to For additional information, please contact the project take social studies learning beyond the classroom manager at annemarie.goodfellow@lawcourtsed.ca. BT 16
BARTALK August 2008