Canadians losing touch with military history
ridenrain @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:55 am
Maybe this is why the lefties believe that we are a "nation of peacekeepers".
$1:
Canadians losing touch with military history
Updated Fri. Nov. 10 2006 12:32 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Just one day before Canadians pause to remember those who fought for freedom, a new survey suggests our collective knowledge of Canadian military history is eroding.
The survey by the Dominion Institute found that only 42 per cent of Canadians received a passing grade on a simple test of First World War knowledge.
In a multiple choice quiz, only 33 per cent of those quizzed identified First World War commander Sir Arthur Currie and legendary flying ace Billy Bishop as Canadian military heroes from a list of only four. The other two names on the list belonged to U.S. Civil War leader Ulysses S. Grant and American Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
And one quarter of those surveyed picked MacArthur as a Canadian war hero.
Among young Canadians, the grades were even worse, with only three out of every 10 young Canadians passing a four-question quiz. The lowest grades came from Quebec's young people.
Along with those dismal results, the survey, which was conducted during the last week of October, revealed that Canadians are having a harder and harder time remembering the names of Canadian war heroes.
Rudyard Griffiths, executive director of the Dominion Institute said the results were upsetting.
"If you compare them with similar polls in the past, there is a decline in knowledge and a decline in Remembrance Day commitment," Griffiths told The Globe and Mail.
"This is a dangerous moment [for Remembrance Day], as we move from a society that still has living links to the experience of war to generations who no longer have that direct, living link."
The results underline the need to "redouble" efforts to ensure Canadians maintain a sense of history and the events that helped shape Canada, Griffiths said.
The results, which came one day before Remembrance Day which will be celebrated across Canada on Saturday, suggest numbers will be down at this year's ceremonies.
Only 41 per cent of those surveyed said they planned to attend a Remembrance Day service on Friday, a significant drop from 58 per cent in 2001 and 50 per cent last year.
But anecdotal evidence seems to suggest Canadians still respect Remembrance Day, despite the dwindling numbers of First and Second World War veterans.
Last year, more than 25,000 people attended the national ceremony in Ottawa, a steep increase from the roughly 7,000 people who typically attended during the 1990s.
More than 1,000 Canadians were surveyed. The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
The survey was carried out by the Dominion Institute's Innovative Research Group.
With files from The Canadian Press
Updated Fri. Nov. 10 2006 12:32 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Just one day before Canadians pause to remember those who fought for freedom, a new survey suggests our collective knowledge of Canadian military history is eroding.
The survey by the Dominion Institute found that only 42 per cent of Canadians received a passing grade on a simple test of First World War knowledge.
In a multiple choice quiz, only 33 per cent of those quizzed identified First World War commander Sir Arthur Currie and legendary flying ace Billy Bishop as Canadian military heroes from a list of only four. The other two names on the list belonged to U.S. Civil War leader Ulysses S. Grant and American Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
And one quarter of those surveyed picked MacArthur as a Canadian war hero.
Among young Canadians, the grades were even worse, with only three out of every 10 young Canadians passing a four-question quiz. The lowest grades came from Quebec's young people.
Along with those dismal results, the survey, which was conducted during the last week of October, revealed that Canadians are having a harder and harder time remembering the names of Canadian war heroes.
Rudyard Griffiths, executive director of the Dominion Institute said the results were upsetting.
"If you compare them with similar polls in the past, there is a decline in knowledge and a decline in Remembrance Day commitment," Griffiths told The Globe and Mail.
"This is a dangerous moment [for Remembrance Day], as we move from a society that still has living links to the experience of war to generations who no longer have that direct, living link."
The results underline the need to "redouble" efforts to ensure Canadians maintain a sense of history and the events that helped shape Canada, Griffiths said.
The results, which came one day before Remembrance Day which will be celebrated across Canada on Saturday, suggest numbers will be down at this year's ceremonies.
Only 41 per cent of those surveyed said they planned to attend a Remembrance Day service on Friday, a significant drop from 58 per cent in 2001 and 50 per cent last year.
But anecdotal evidence seems to suggest Canadians still respect Remembrance Day, despite the dwindling numbers of First and Second World War veterans.
Last year, more than 25,000 people attended the national ceremony in Ottawa, a steep increase from the roughly 7,000 people who typically attended during the 1990s.
More than 1,000 Canadians were surveyed. The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
The survey was carried out by the Dominion Institute's Innovative Research Group.
With files from The Canadian Press
stratos @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:18 am
ouch not knowing whom billy bishop was, heck even I know he is credited with shooting down the red barron. Though new evidence suggest it was a gunner on the ground who killed him.
Though I would be very curious to see a simular test given here in the states about WWI. I wonder how many would put down that we fought Japan in WWI
HyperionTheEvil @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:26 am
ridenrain ridenrain:
Maybe this is why the lefties believe that we are a "nation of peacekeepers".
$1:
Canadians losing touch with military history
Updated Fri. Nov. 10 2006 12:32 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Just one day before Canadians pause to remember those who fought for freedom, a new survey suggests our collective knowledge of Canadian military history is eroding.
The survey by the Dominion Institute found that only 42 per cent of Canadians received a passing grade on a simple test of First World War knowledge.
In a multiple choice quiz, only 33 per cent of those quizzed identified First World War commander Sir Arthur Currie and legendary flying ace Billy Bishop as Canadian military heroes from a list of only four. The other two names on the list belonged to U.S. Civil War leader Ulysses S. Grant and American Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
And one quarter of those surveyed picked MacArthur as a Canadian war hero.
Among young Canadians, the grades were even worse, with only three out of every 10 young Canadians passing a four-question quiz. The lowest grades came from Quebec's young people.
Along with those dismal results, the survey, which was conducted during the last week of October, revealed that Canadians are having a harder and harder time remembering the names of Canadian war heroes.
Rudyard Griffiths, executive director of the Dominion Institute said the results were upsetting.
"If you compare them with similar polls in the past, there is a decline in knowledge and a decline in Remembrance Day commitment," Griffiths told The Globe and Mail.
"This is a dangerous moment [for Remembrance Day], as we move from a society that still has living links to the experience of war to generations who no longer have that direct, living link."
The results underline the need to "redouble" efforts to ensure Canadians maintain a sense of history and the events that helped shape Canada, Griffiths said.
The results, which came one day before Remembrance Day which will be celebrated across Canada on Saturday, suggest numbers will be down at this year's ceremonies.
Only 41 per cent of those surveyed said they planned to attend a Remembrance Day service on Friday, a significant drop from 58 per cent in 2001 and 50 per cent last year.
But anecdotal evidence seems to suggest Canadians still respect Remembrance Day, despite the dwindling numbers of First and Second World War veterans.
Last year, more than 25,000 people attended the national ceremony in Ottawa, a steep increase from the roughly 7,000 people who typically attended during the 1990s.
More than 1,000 Canadians were surveyed. The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
The survey was carried out by the Dominion Institute's Innovative Research Group.
With files from The Canadian Press
Updated Fri. Nov. 10 2006 12:32 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Just one day before Canadians pause to remember those who fought for freedom, a new survey suggests our collective knowledge of Canadian military history is eroding.
The survey by the Dominion Institute found that only 42 per cent of Canadians received a passing grade on a simple test of First World War knowledge.
In a multiple choice quiz, only 33 per cent of those quizzed identified First World War commander Sir Arthur Currie and legendary flying ace Billy Bishop as Canadian military heroes from a list of only four. The other two names on the list belonged to U.S. Civil War leader Ulysses S. Grant and American Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
And one quarter of those surveyed picked MacArthur as a Canadian war hero.
Among young Canadians, the grades were even worse, with only three out of every 10 young Canadians passing a four-question quiz. The lowest grades came from Quebec's young people.
Along with those dismal results, the survey, which was conducted during the last week of October, revealed that Canadians are having a harder and harder time remembering the names of Canadian war heroes.
Rudyard Griffiths, executive director of the Dominion Institute said the results were upsetting.
"If you compare them with similar polls in the past, there is a decline in knowledge and a decline in Remembrance Day commitment," Griffiths told The Globe and Mail.
"This is a dangerous moment [for Remembrance Day], as we move from a society that still has living links to the experience of war to generations who no longer have that direct, living link."
The results underline the need to "redouble" efforts to ensure Canadians maintain a sense of history and the events that helped shape Canada, Griffiths said.
The results, which came one day before Remembrance Day which will be celebrated across Canada on Saturday, suggest numbers will be down at this year's ceremonies.
Only 41 per cent of those surveyed said they planned to attend a Remembrance Day service on Friday, a significant drop from 58 per cent in 2001 and 50 per cent last year.
But anecdotal evidence seems to suggest Canadians still respect Remembrance Day, despite the dwindling numbers of First and Second World War veterans.
Last year, more than 25,000 people attended the national ceremony in Ottawa, a steep increase from the roughly 7,000 people who typically attended during the 1990s.
More than 1,000 Canadians were surveyed. The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
The survey was carried out by the Dominion Institute's Innovative Research Group.
With files from The Canadian Press
I believe it. Or rather the information is freely out there, its just that the Left doesnt care
kaetz @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:47 am
unfortunately, this is very typical all over the world... we don't remember who we owe... too sad!
ridenrain @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:54 am
MacArthur... WTF were they thinking!
I find it telling that the biggest failures were in Quebec and the biggest opposition to Afstan, or any conflict has been Quebec.
I guess they expect us to pay for their freedom too.
Clogeroo @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:55 am
Well the school system hardly teaches much about Canada anymore or does not even spend much time on a topic so people can even grasp it. I think we spent what 4 days talking about the Great War? Well more like 4 hours classes are only an hour long. Sure you can pick up some basics but in no one is ever going to have a total clear understanding about the conflict. We learned more about ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China than we learned about Canada. Or what we do learn is starting to be distorted or changed to fit a more socialist learning.
$1:
I wonder how many would put down that we fought Japan in WWI
Well Japan was Britain's ally in the Great War.
kaetz @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:03 pm
class hours are limited anyway, and we can't find enough time for everything at school. i suggest that it's more important to stimulate interest in students then just pour out all the information. But this takes much more from a teacher!
Streaker @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:04 pm
stratos stratos:
ouch not knowing whom billy bishop was, heck even I know he is credited with shooting down the red barron.
It wasn't Billy Bishop. It was Roy Brown.
kaetz @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:14 pm
poor strat! you're pinned! 
kaetz @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:17 pm
Streaker Streaker:
stratos stratos:
ouch not knowing whom billy bishop was, heck even I know he is credited with shooting down the red barron.
It wasn't Billy Bishop. It was Roy Brown.
yet was it really him? i heard of some evidence against it...
Streaker @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:23 pm
kaetz kaetz:
Streaker Streaker:
stratos stratos:
ouch not knowing whom billy bishop was, heck even I know he is credited with shooting down the red barron.
It wasn't Billy Bishop. It was Roy Brown.
yet was it really him? i heard of some evidence against it...
Yeah, there's some controversy about it. A plausible case has been made that Australians shot him down from the ground.
Clogeroo @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:36 pm
School is not even about learning anyway it is more about getting high marks to please the corporations who will hire you. It is just a way to measure everyone’s intelligence and categorise them into groups. It is like a class system the people in the A category will probably go on to more advanced university or college studies. The B’s will probably be about the same or slightly less advanced studies. The C - C+ range will maybe take average college courses or programmes and some maybe not at all. F-C- students will be left most likely with no education and will probably just end up doing basic retail or labour jobs.
But is the A worker better than the C- worker? Or is the A more intelligent? They may be but I know people at the bottom of this system seem to have more knowledge or understanding with things than those who even did well in school. Some even work harder too or even are more honest and a better person, something marks really don’t take a whole lot into account.
If school were based more on learning then maybe the individual would have more choice in what to learn. For not everyone is a mathematician or is a master of the English language. Everyone is different and has different strengths and I think school would be better used focusing on people’s strengths and their interests rather than trying to cover every topic out there in a bundle of information. People work better learning something they like rather than learning something they will not even will consider for a career choice or leisure activity outside of school.
Clogeroo @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:41 pm
$1:
yet was it really him? i heard of some evidence against it...
Does it really matter? He shot down 71 other Germans then. Canada had a few air aces. Raymond Collishaw killed 61. Donald R. MacLaren got 54. William George Barker 50.
xerxes @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:47 pm
Good point Clogeroo. And yet, the Americans go on and on about their 'ace' Eddie Rickenbacker who only shot down 26.
Streaker @ Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:51 pm