Ontario stands at the top of the class for its strong Canadian history curriculum in the latest ratings by this country’s history education watchdog — and we trounced Alberta, whose fuzzy timelines and lack of compulsory high school history credit landed it dead last.
Ontario’s rich Grade 10 history credit course — so jam-packed the report suggests it be spread over two years — plus its mandatory half-course in citizenship helped earn it a mark of 82 per cent on the Canadian History Report Card, to be released Monday by Historica Canada, a group that promotes awareness of Canadian history.
Also strong were British Columbia (81 per cent), Quebec (80) and Manitoba (80). However Alberta scored just 62 per cent, and Saskatchewan 69 per cent, in a report that calls for schools to work harder to help students understand their country.
“We tend to be lacking at either the front end — recent history — or the back end before 1867, but we’re getting better, which is important because understanding history helps you understand why we are the way we are,” said Historica president Anthony Wilson-Smith.
If anything, Ontario’s Grade 10 history course tries to cover too much, he said; “from the early 1900s to now — both world wars, the great influenza epidemic, the injustices done to immigrants like the Chinese who didn’t get the vote till 1947… let’s think of that scope! It would be better spread over two years.”
Canadian schools have pulled up their educational socks since 2009, when Historica’s last report card handed out failing grades to five provinces and territories, with two more squeaking by with only 50s.
This report card looked at history curriculum from Grades 4 to 12 to see how well it balances the teaching of timelines with deeper themes like diversity, gender, aboriginal peoples and national identity — and from a range of perspectives, from global to local, social to national.
It also measures how well each province teaches students to think about history using the six “historical thinking concepts” that have to do with historical significance, considering evidence, examining continuity and change, cause and consequence, looking at broader historical perspectives and the ethical dimension.
Wilson-Smith said Canadian schools are moving beyond the perspective of European settlers to include First Nations, women and non-European immigrants’ perspectives, and consider more than just military and economic milestones by discussing ethics and social responsibility.
Historica also consulted classroom teachers, and some in Ontario expressed their frustration at having little time for a deep look at events such as the FLQ crisis, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Indian Act, residential schools, the Montreal Massacre, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, OPEC crisis, the Oka crisis and the Meech Lake Accord, said Historica’s program manager, Bronwyn Graves.
History teacher James Stewart of Bishop Strachan School, a consultant on the report card project, said, “Students love history when it is taught well. I find students are continually fascinated by the history of the First and Second World Wars, particularly the former. They are completely unaware of the contribution made by Canada and are startled by the horror of the slaughter. It’s a huge awakening for them.”
Stewart also tries to make history relevant. He had his students send tweets two years ago to the new U.S. ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman, about what he should know about the countries’ joint history.
Heyman responded, which Stewart said gave students a thrill.
How the provinces scored:
Ontario A- (82 per cent): Hailed for covering Canadian history in a way that uses respected new “historical thinking concepts” that, more than just memorizing timelines, get students thinking about context. The program covers from the period from New France to the end of the First World War in elementary school, and most of the 20th century in the mandatory high school course. But Ontario could add more lessons about its own regional history, suggests the report.
British Columbia: A- (81 per cent): Gets props for highlighting the views of women and indigenous communities in Social Studies courses from Grades 7 to 9.The mandatory Grade 10 Social Studies curriculum gets students thinking about Canadian identity, culture, government, economics, technology and the environment. The report says a Grade 11 Social Studies course is so strong on Canadian history from the First World War to the present, it also be mandatory.
Quebec A- (80 per cent): Is praised for history and citizenship education in elementary school covering a huge range of history from ancient civilizations to the Christianization of the West, the American revolution, imperialism and civil rights. Quebec does a good job of balancing global, national and provincial views, the report says, but focuses so much on Quebec history in high school that students learn less about the other parts of the country. It could include more about aboriginal history. Still, it provides lots of context and prods students to think deeply.
Manitoba A- (80 per cent): Although its elementary courses are light on Canadian content, they get kudos for including the perspectives of women and various cultural groups. A mandatory Grade 11 History of Canada course explores history from European contact to the present, in a way that gets students thinking about the events in a broader context.
Newfoundland and Labrador B (75 per cent): This is the only province that offers a course specifically on its own history. Grade 8 students learn about the economic, political and social factors that shaped its development through the 19th and 20th centuries. It also requires students to conduct a major research project over the second half of the year. However, it lost marks for having no mandatory Canadian history course in high school, even though students must take two courses in Canadian studies, such as law, economics or geography.
Nova Scotia B- (73 per cent): Elementary history courses carry a strong regional, Atlantic focus, but could benefit from more focus on the perspectives of aboriginal peoples, women and francophones. Students must take at least one Canadian history credit in Grade 11, from Gaelic Studies to Mi’kmaq studies, but the one broad Canadian studies course — which the report believes should be mandatory — needs to be rejigged to give students more time to learn the material.
New Brunswick B- (71 per cent): Loses marks for not having a mandatory Canadian history course, but is praised for a curriculum that builds research skills, teaches students to use primary sources and encourages creative thinking and communication. The curriculum itself lacks enough content on aboriginal history. An optional Grade 12 course called Canadian History should be mandatory.
Prince Edward Island B- (71 per cent): The province offers strong Canadian history courses in high school — including one specifically about the island — but neither is compulsory. Students must take two social studies credits, but they need not be history. Still, the report compliments PEI for doing a good job working Canadian history into the elementary social studies courses.
Saskatchewan C+ (69 per cent): While Saskatchewan’s optional Grade 12 history course covers Canadian history from European contact to the 1990s, it is outdated and should be updated and made compulsory. This would allow students to learn about Canada’s history before and after Confederation.
Alberta C- (62 per cent): With no mandatory Canadian history course, students miss out on learning about national and historical issues in enough detail and instead get narrow tastes of more specific themes. The report suggests Alberta update an optional course called Canadian History 20, which explores Canadian history from European contact to the present, and make it compulsory.
