The start of the new school year is bringing some interesting developments to local schools.
Some schools are piloting the new draft K-6 social studies curriculum, which Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says will help in preparing it for more widespread use.
“The new social studies curriculum gives students a strong foundation in history and gives them the tools that they’re going to need to be critical thinkers and be responsible and active citizens in out society. Some things that we’ll see in there is some more talk about multiculturalism and indigenous communities and perspectives and histories.”
The province has $34 million available in the budget to support the curriculum piloting and implementation.
The school year is also seeing a province-wide ban on cell phones and electronic devices in the classrooms.
Nicolaides says one of the reasons behind the ban was on limiting distractions.
“One study that I saw showed that just having a cell phone or some personal mobile device on a desk was enough of a distraction to cause a group of learners to recall and remember less information than another classroom that didn’t have any of those devices on the table. They weren’t even allowed to use them, they just had them on the table but that was enough of a distraction.”
Nicolaides says that not having the devices in the classrooms will limit students access to social media which can have some mental health benefits.
You can listen to the full interview with the minister below.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
