COVID-19 and Education in Ontario – An Imaginative Approach
While it may be seem
late now It seems to me that at some point the Education Ministry
should have realized that too much time has passed to do justice to
the curriculum for this year and the best solution might be to just
start over next fall and use the rest of the school year creatively
for students.
The result would be
Ontario students requiring thirteen tears to complete their
elementary and secondary education instead of twelve. This is
something that millions of Ontario students, including myself did
before 2003 and we turned out just fine.
Instead of trying to
finish the curriculum using what can only be described as rushed into
service experimental online methods, why not do something more
creative with the online teaching and what little in classroom
teaching time may be left in this school year.
Why not let teachers go
“off-curriculum” or perhaps more accurately described as parallel
to curriculum, by putting a local focus on their teaching. Teach
local history, and in particular the history of the indigenous
peoples in their area. Teach about the history of their communities
and local industries and businesses, community groups, etc. Focus
science and geography on the local ecosystem and the scientific
principles behind local industries. Go a bit farther afield and teach
some of the history of the local immigrant communities, particularly
refugees. The opportunities for creative teachers are endless.
Each community and
neighbourhood should have it's own focus which is why letting
individual teachers go “off-curriculum” is the best way to
achieve this.
Use this as an
opportunity for these students to finish elementary and secondary
school with a greater education than otherwise, rather than a lessor
one.
