The B.C. TeachersB次元官网网址� Federation last week began offering resources to teachers on EnbridgeB次元官网网址檚 proposed Northern Gateway pipeline B次元官网网址� a move that has sparked criticism for its blatant opposition of the project.
Resource posters depict a river scene of a grizzly bear eating a salmon amid orcas, seals, an otter and an eagle, while black oil drips across the lower portion of the image. The words B次元官网网址淲hat we stand to lose with pipelines and supertankersB次元官网网址� are emblazoned across the top section.
Along with the poster, the teachersB次元官网网址� union has made available resources such as lessons on the importance of protecting ocean ecosystems, the B次元官网网址渆ffects of mixing oil, water, and bird feathersB次元官网网址� and a game similar to snakes and ladders, involving pipelines and sunbeams.
While critics, such as Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, have accused the BCTF of presenting propaganda to children, the chairperson of the Greater Victoria Board of Education doesnB次元官网网址檛 see the lessons as cause for alarm.
B次元官网网址淔or years teachers have talked about topical and perhaps controversial topics in history, social studies, law, as a way of teaching critical thinking skills to our students. We believe that our teachers are responsible and facilitate these discussions in an unbiased fashion,B次元官网网址� said Orcherton. B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 new, itB次元官网网址檚 just that Enbridge is topical right now.B次元官网网址�
It remains unclear if any School District No. 61 teachers plan to use the Enbridge lesson plans. Orcherton said any complaints or concerns from parents that come out of the teaching materials will be dealt with immediately.
Jason Price, an education professor in the department of curriculum and instruction at the University of Victoria, said the BCTF and Enbridge are both involved in the B次元官网网址渋ndoctrinationB次元官网网址� of students regarding resources and the environment.
B次元官网网址淚t seems that the BCTF is firing this as a salvo in a sense, but one that in some ways is just as balanced as that of the proponents of the pipeline,B次元官网网址� Price said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not playing with an even playing field.B次元官网网址�
BCTF has taken strong positions on First Nations and same sex marriages issues in the past, he said, noting the presence of literature on the federationB次元官网网址檚 website on how to foster clear thinking on controversial issues.
Students are already exposed to the Enbridge issue via social media, familial influences, or civil disobedience in their communities, and should be welcomed to discuss it within the school environment, Price said.
B次元官网网址淭he idea that somehow we should create schools as a bubble is responsible for the type of mediocre, non-engaged, go-through-the-motions schooling that weB次元官网网址檝e had for so long,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the frustrations that I have personally is the lack of willingness of teachers to use their academic freedom to discuss controversial issues.
B次元官网网址淲hile the federation might be taking a position and highlighting this lesson plan as an approach, IB次元官网网址檇 be surprised to see a radical indoctrination in our classrooms. ItB次元官网网址檚 a bogeyman that Conservatives like to play, but it doesnB次元官网网址檛 really exist.B次元官网网址�
Few elements of the B.C. curriculum afford students the opportunity to think critically and teachers often take controversial positions to inspire a critical discussion around media, Price added.
B次元官网网址淚f (teachers) use these as teaching moments, they have to be very, very clear that they put all of the information in and facilitate in an unbiased fashion,B次元官网网址� Orcherton said.
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