Former teachers turned MLAs look at Sask.’s math curriculum

Two former teachers-turned-MLA's will be talking to other teachers across Saskatchewan about whether students are being taught math in the best way.

The Saskatchewan government is currently consulting with educators about parents' concerns. Past teachers Russ Marchuk and Gene Makowsky were chosen to lead the meetings.

“There’s been some concerns raised by parents and some by media as to the math curriculum, so our (education) minister has asked (us) to arrange some meetings with frontline stakeholders, namely our teachers primarily,” said Marchuk.

“There’s been a number of concerns in terms of the degree of difficulty, the amount, are resources adequate … discovery approach to instruction as opposed to rote kind of instruction,” Marchuk said.

“We’re really out there to try and find information to support what’s happening in classrooms as best we can.”

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In addition to the parents' concerns, there is also a petition from the Western Initiative for Strengthening Education in Math (WISE Math).

WISE Math is a coalition of parents, citizens, teachers, employers, scientists, mathematicians, and post-secondary instructors who have come together to improve mathematics education.

Marchuk said he and Makowsky visited the La Ronge and Prince Albert area last week to hear the input of several teachers.

“I have to say our visits to both La Ronge and P.A., we'd just done two, were very fruitful in that regard.”

Saskatchewan Rivers School Division sent three teachers to participate in these discussions.

Robert Bratvold, education director for Sask Rivers said the meetings are a good first step but leave a lot of questions.

“The tone was good in terms of lots of discussion and information shared but … what will they do with the information? Where will it go? Just some questions around those kinds of items,” Bratvold said.

He said he believes the latest curriculum is effective but has to be implemented with the old curriculum.

In addition to that, he said there needs to be a plan to communicate with parents better on how they can help their child.

“I don’t think it’s an either-or, I think it’s some of both and the part we have to do better is help our parents understand why and how they can help their kids with the math,” Bratvold explained.

Where things go from here concerning the curriculum or even if any change will be made are still in the air.

“It’s really early … the discussions have been open and sincere. We have some great educators – not some — we have great educators, period, in our province and everyone has student’s success at the forefront,” Marchuk said.

The two MLA's will continue to conduct sessions from jurisdictions across the Saskatchewan until the third week in February.

At that point all the information they collect will be handed over to the education minister, Donna Harpauer for review.

“Decisions will be made to go after that,” he said.

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