Hilary Blahey-Hasay Blog 3

            The reading this week focused on the history of education throughout Canada. Although the history of Canada and its settlement is nothing new for myself, the history of the education system in Canada is a topic I had not previously studied. I do recall learning about the Manitoba Schools Question, which was centered around two dominant cultural traits: language and religion (p. 67), possibly because it occurred in the province in which I have been educated. Although upon reading the chapter, individual issues related to each of the other provinces and territories was news to me. I was most taken back by the segments on Black segregation, Chinese segregation, and Japanese segregation, because these are issues I have certainly learned about, but always within an American context, never within a Canadian setting. Unfortunately throughout much of Canadian history, education has taken on the standpoint of assimilation, which was an attitude that many educators adopted since the time of early colonial settlements (p. 75). Mass schooling has certainly benefited Canadians and can be linked to much of Canada’s well-being today, although it has certainly brought about numerous political and cultural struggles (p. 82). After reading this chapter, I was absolutely shocked that there are so many historical issues surrounding education that I had never once learned about throughout all my years of education so far. I guess this goes to show just how much we take our current education system for granted.

Discussion Question: How could you incorporate some of these very complex historical issues surrounding the education system in Canada with an early years classroom? How will you ensure your students do not take their current education system for granted?