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Hate to agree with NYCisHome but you stepped into that shithole.

   

yeah, i agree on that.

i don't think that Canadians are taught that Americans are stupid or immoral or any of that crap. Maybe they observe others and formulate viewpoints based off of some people's rantings and ravings, but I think it's generally just our govt they don't like so much...

we are Canada's neighbor and they are a major trading partner....and from what i've heard Canada gets a lot of news/tv, etc from the US...something we don't get here from Canada.

   

Unless anyone here has some academic qualifications in curriculum construction (specialist) I’m not sure as to how history curricula expectations are inherently anti-American (especially considering you’d have to examine EACH province’s – education is a provincial jurisdiction - core delivery suggestions and then produce a detailed textbook analysis – which is based on board and local decisions). This “study” seems rather problematic as its presentation seems disjointed and ambiguous – major scholarly components seem unaccounted for in the original post.

The article that NYCisHome posted (which is undeniably interesting) is somewhat problematic (I’m going on post content only)

1. What textbooks? Names? Dates – one is a 1937 text? Specifics?

2. Curriculum Specifics? Where are the elementary/secondary expectations that specifically outline anti-American sentiments? Textbooks are not the only method of historical information delivery

3. University of Alberta? So what? What about OISE or other institutional analysis? Where are the peer-reviewed critiques of this study? Where are teacher comments? Where are administrators or trustee interviews? What about subject council analysis (see Dominion or other historical bodies)? Seems somewhat weak in broad-based analysis.

4. Generalizations seem to lack objective evidence. Example: “The Canadian grade school set gets their anti-Americanism during the school day.” ALL kids (again, provinces set history curriculum, not federal ministries) and how, specifically, do “Canadian grade school set get” get this anti-American rhetoric/propaganda during the school day? Is it rampant or localized? Is it truly interpretational or subjective or is it objective truths?

How much of the study’s content is actually in the post? Are we (myself included) commenting on von Heyking’s conclusions or someone else’s interpretations of a study they likely haven’t even read? Either way, the presentation leaves it reader with more questions than answers and it suspiciously smacks of incompleteness

   

To all Can-US relationship bashers:

Canada and America get along like squabiling siblings. We fight and argue with each other at the drop of a hat. We are like brothers in that we have have the same parents (origins), America is the rebellious older teenager and Canada is the younger "good son" still tied to mom (england). I grew up in a military family and as such have travelled alot. I spent 4 years in germany in Lahr and interacted with many americans. I backpacked in England and Australia often with Americans. Any bullshit stereotypes and prejudices go right out the window when you meet American backpackers. I met loads who were TOLD to pretend to be Canadians when travelling but none who actually did. I supported that fully. America truly does get a bad rep in the world. Every bad thing they do is magnified and every good thing marginilized. Can-US relations have suffered recently because BUSh is anti-canadian. Long before the iraq war he snubbed us be meeting personally wit mexicos Fox and not bothering to meet with our PM. When 9-11 happened, jean cretien was the first world leader to contact bush to offer support and he rewarded us by not even acknolweging canada as an ally in his speech. this was after the residents of gander, newfoundland opended their hearts and homes to thousands of stranded americans. When american pilots accidentily killed 4 CDN soldiers he didn't even bother to offer condolences till many days later and only when it became politically
imperitive. Then he has the gall to accuse canada of not supporting the US in iraq, a war that is not supported by 50% of his own countrymen. Historically canada has had great relations with democratic prseidents and less then stellar relations with rebublicana because we are more liberal then america as a whole. No Canadian anywhere is taught anti-american sentiment at any point in their education as a cirriculum. Any possible evidence, statement, proof, to that affect is bullshit. I've spent the better part of my life in school (highschool + uni) and not once did I encounter any anti-americanism in the teachings. By that same token, none of the americans I met while travelling held any anti-canadian sentiments. They held certain stereotypical beliefs about us but thats understandable. Canadians are vastly more exposed to US culture through TV then they are to us. Exposure and knowledge of other cultures is what breeds tolerance above else. After all, wee canucks have the same stereotypical view of southern hill-billy types ( as presented by US TV 7 movies) as many US citizens do.

Can't we all just get along?

   

Wait, I was spoonfed anti-americanism?! And here I was, thinking it was all my idea. You win again, public education!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Honestly, though, IMO, it all boils down to three things:

1)There are good, friendly, intelligent people in this world, everywhere, because goodness, friendliness, and intelligence are not defined by geography.
2)The same is true about ignorent and/or stupid people.
3)Most people are a mixture of the two. There are very few people who are always intelligent and all the rest.

Maybe there are teachers in Canada who preach anti-americanism. I don't know. I do know that I was taught more about the negative effects of colonialism than anything the Americans did In fact, I remember a whole book back in grade 9 that talked about how the US was an economic powerhouse. I think said book mentioned environmental damage caused to eco-sensitive areas by factories on both sides of the border, but that's as negative as it got.

Sure, I'm not a fan of US policy on a lot of issues, but that doesn't make me anti-American. It just makes me human. We're all allowed our own opinions, right? Besides, isn't diversity the spice of life?

What I'm trying to say is, American or Canadian, it doesn't matter. In the end all we really are is a diverse group of people, with differing opinions.

I think I confused myself. Damn you, insomnia!

   

I had a teacher last year who had strong oppinions about the Bush admin, and the US in general. The thing was that it didn't fit into the curriculum too well and teachers can get into alot of trouble for "preaching". (I know I had a grade eight science teacher who knocked the creation theory, he said that anyone who actually believed in it was stupid. Lucky for him in our class was the daughter of a minister... I'll leave the rest up to imagination, but let's just say that shortly after he re-located to Montreal.) Well, last year I got a little bit of anti-Bush propaganda, but nothing I didn't get and know already. I think I got more anti-Alberta and Klein's government, actually. But in the textbooks? If the US was mentioned at all it was to say that they fought in a war, whether they won or lost. This year the US was mentioned a little bit more because of the industrial revolution that was studied, and even then it didn't focus on the country, just made mention that it happened in the US and the living and working conditions for factory workers.

So, unless there's subliminal messaging in the movies we watch in class, then I don't know what to say.

   

Someone had the audacity to “knock” the mystical, historical nonsense of “creationism” and got fired (“relocated” how? Provinces control education unless this was some “religious” indoctrination school)? Nice education system you have there! What happens to the “Flat-earth” supporters? Do they get a congratulatory party for being completely out of step with modern intellectualism? Damn – quick, call someone and ask for your money back, and a lawyer because you just got screwed out of some competent education.

   

I’m not a proponent of intellectual relativism, so my answer is that people who believe in an immature mystical antiquated belief are stupid. They don’t like it? Who cares – they need to grow up and enter the 21st century and stop peddling their infantile belief system (Come on, Adam and Eve? Please.)

Do we have freedom of religion? Yes. Do we have freedom of expression? Hmm…since when does labelling a “creationist” an intellectual cretin constitute a violation of religion? I eagerly await your answer.

   

The key thing in education is to give the students the tools to decide for themselves.





.

   

Ohhh…ok.

Calling kids “stupid”? Let me guess, you’re a proponent of the “child-centred” learning approach? How’d that work again?

And yet, you steered clear of addressing the, “since when does labelling a “creationist” an intellectual cretin constitute a violation of religion?” Interesting.

   

In that context, no, but then why post, “We do have freedon of religion in this country, Mustang.” If it wasn’t the point, why introduce it? You went there and I followed.



You don’t know (child-centred learning)? That’s telling. Besides, the original poster suggested that the teacher made a general (not specific) condemnation of anyone (again, not an individual in particular) that subscribed to an intellectually stunted mystical belief.

   

Then you accept that there might be a 'non-intellectually stunted mystical belief'?

How kind of you to be so generous.





.

   

If a teacher called people (in general) “stupid” for subscribing to an intellectually stunted concept like “creationism”, you’d complain? Well, good luck with that! I certainly wouldn’t brag about that, but it’s your prerogative. Your kids will get a great education (intellectual relativism?).

   

Piss off, dullard. I thought you ignored people like me? Didn’t you write, “I've learned that the best way to deal with unpleasant people on this or any other site is to ignore them.” At least try to maintain some semblance of belief continuity. Sad.

Besides, you ran away like a little wuss after I dismantled your moronic notions – crap like,


I responded with, “It NEVER happened?!?!?!? SAY WHAT?!?!?!? There was no Plains of Abraham?!?!? The Seven Years War was a figment of some collective imagination?!?!?!? There was no Conquest?!?!?!? Is this some misguided attempt at intellectual relativism? Are you trying to honestly and seriously suggest that it never occurred? Holy fucking shit, that is one of the dumbest things I have ever had the misfortune of reading. It’s the intellectual equivalent of a Grand mal seizure and you just pissed yourself.

According to your attempt at pseudo-intellectualism, countless historians have erred in concluding that a battle occurred on September 13, 1759 on the Plains of Abraham. Renowned historians from Stacey (Quebec, 1759: The Siege and the Battle – look it up, dullard) to Chartard, Parker and Colton have all erred in their conclusion about the existence of the battle, the war, the individuals and the aftermath? You are right and orthodox history is wrong? Prove it. The onus is on you to demonstrate you erroneous supposition that Wolfe and Montaclm’s engagement was a fictional event. You demonstrate the major flaws in the standard historical narrative. I’ll wait while you fumble with that – you’ll likely dodge and in the process appear as a disingenuous piece of trash.”

And you ran. And now you are baiting me on a separate thread. Interesting. Still smarting after I obliterated your infantile attempts to discuss history (you dodged my salient points like a little coward)? Keep crying little suck.

Now get lost – go play X-box- because the adults are talking here.

   

Good one. No seriously, that was unbelievably witty – are you channelling Voltaire? Sorry, I guess I’m only as good as my opponent, but I do try.

   

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