Curriculum doesn’t fall from the sky — it’s written, negotiated, and approved by people. Politicians, education ministries, school boards, teachers, parents, and even lobby groups all shape what students learn. The classroom, then, becomes a reflection of competing values, priorities, and power.
Why It Matters
Representation: Whose history, literature, or worldview makes it into the curriculum? Whose is left out?
Politics of education: From climate change to sex ed, curriculum often becomes a political battlefield.
Local vs. national voice: Should a province-wide curriculum dominate, or should communities have more input?
The Canadian Context
Education is provincial jurisdiction, meaning there’s no single Canadian curriculum. Each province and territory sets its own path.
Changes often spark public debate: Alberta’s recent curriculum revisions and Ontario’s updates to sex ed highlight how politics and ideology directly shape what kids are taught.
Indigenous educators continue to press for greater integration of Indigenous histories, languages, and perspectives into mainstream learning.
The Opportunities
Community input: Expanding consultation beyond bureaucrats and politicians can make curricula more inclusive.
Transparency: Clear, public processes can reduce suspicion that agendas are being hidden.
Flexibility: Allowing local adaptation can make learning more relevant while maintaining national or provincial standards.
The Risks
Polarization: Curriculum fights can become culture wars, dividing communities instead of uniting them.
Lobbying influence: Well-funded groups often have louder voices in shaping policy.
Stagnation: Over-politicized debates can stall meaningful reforms for years.
The Bigger Picture
Curriculum is about more than textbooks — it’s about how a society defines knowledge, values, and citizenship. To ask “who decides what gets taught” is to ask: who decides the future?
The Question
If education belongs to everyone, how should decisions about curriculum be shared — and who should have the final say?
Who Decides What Gets Taught?
The Concept
Curriculum doesn’t fall from the sky — it’s written, negotiated, and approved by people. Politicians, education ministries, school boards, teachers, parents, and even lobby groups all shape what students learn. The classroom, then, becomes a reflection of competing values, priorities, and power.
Why It Matters
The Canadian Context
The Opportunities
The Risks
The Bigger Picture
Curriculum is about more than textbooks — it’s about how a society defines knowledge, values, and citizenship. To ask “who decides what gets taught” is to ask: who decides the future?
The Question
If education belongs to everyone, how should decisions about curriculum be shared — and who should have the final say?