For various reasons, “teachers are not ready to deliver the course on Quebec Culture and Citizenship, says a union” (The DutyMay 13). This is understandable, as they claim they are not ready to do so due to a lack of training and educational materials.
However, I believe we need to think about the greater good of our children, who have experienced the pandemic, the problems related to teachers’ work and other disruptions that have not helped them in terms of their education. Let’s go back.
The unveiling of the new curriculum replacing the Ethics and Religious Culture course, in place since 2008, with a program emphasizing Quebec values and critical thinking has indeed sparked controversy within the French-speaking and English-speaking education communities.
Nevertheless, let’s take a closer look at the advantages of the new “Quebec Culture and Citizenship” course.
Students will learn to think about moral dilemmas and evaluate social, religious, cultural and scientific norms. Students will be encouraged to debate and take positions on issues, and teachers will be asked to remain “neutral.” They will learn about the increasingly harmful effects of social media, which could help address the cellphone controversy in schools.
I believe this approach could be particularly useful and important in building self-esteem and confidence in adolescents, who are just beginning to live in today’s disrupted and constantly changing world.
To see in video