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Jan 1, 1500
The 1500s: Age of Discovery
The age of discovery begins with European nations exploring different parts of the globe including explorers such as Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain. -
The 1700s: Life in New France
Life of New France included education for the French colonists that were carried out by the Roman Catholic Church. The influence of the church in Quebec continued until the 1960s -
1800s: Pre-Industrial Canada
During the Pre-industrial era as Canada became colonized with English settlers, most instruction/ learning for the English children was conducted by women in their home. -
1840s: The Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada
Responsible government comes to Upper Canada, emergence of an industrial society, era of state controlled schools and curriculum began that would serve moral, intellectual and civic purposes. Egerton Ryerson formalizes education as a way to formally educate future Christians and citizens in Upper Canada; state controlled schools as primary means for assimilating others into being good British citizens -
1850s: Irish Potato Famine
Irish famine brought disposed immigrants to Upper Canada; fears of Americanization/parent and church controlled education system aimed at basic literacy and numeracy. The industrial era begins with factories and urbanization. Education in Lower Canada (Quebec) largely controlled by the Roman Catholic Church, and Education in Upper Canada (Ontario), largely based on the British system. -
1860s: Indian Residential Schools
Indian Residential Schools were created to help assimilate first nations children into becoming more “white”. These remain in place for over 100 years and cause great problems for First Nations people. -
Canadian Confederation
Canada is created as a nation through the passing of the British North America Act including the decision to have provinces responsible for education. Canada begins as a nation with four provinces. -
1890 - 1910: Massive Immigration
The newly created Canadian railroad unites the east and west and begins a period of massive immigration to the Prairies. Concerns for developing distinct Canadian society/ Schools seen as places to “Canadianize”/School curriculum centered on WASP perspectives (White Anglo Saxon Protestant) and British institutions. -
1910s: The Assembly Line
Following World War I, Canadian curriculum took up the call of the Scientific movement first offered up by Charles Darwin (Theory of Evolution in 1859) and followed by John Franklin Bobbitt (The Curriculum) and B.F. Skinner (Behavior Modification). Bobbitt’s work emphasized the importance of work skills during the new age of mass production thanks to the invention of the assembly line. -
1920s: Mass Education
Edward Lee Thorndike provides influence in Canada following his work on human intelligence, mental testing, classroom grouping, and retardation (students who were held back). Use of intelligence tests helps to better understand students. The Carnegie Unit (structured after the factory system) becomes adapted to the school system, as the age of mass education starts to take root (in elementary schools). -
1930s: Progressive Education Arrives
John Dewey’s “Progressivism” ideas (Democracy and Education) start to take root in Canada, but mainly on the prairies in the form of enterprises, projects, and field work. Curriculum was organized around units of study centered on students’ experiences, and “object-based” learning. Other ideas included group work, grade-less promotion, learning contracts, and creative activities that relied heavily on resources. -
1940s: Schools After World War II
In reaction to concerns surrounding WW2, school health research proposes compulsory high school courses on marriage, health and parenthood. Vocational education introduced to provide skills to young people. The era of mass education in secondary schools. -
1950s: The Space Race Begins
Following WW2 and Canada’s independence on the international scene, the stage was set for a renewed emphasis on academic subjects, with greater emphasis on Canadian content. Greater emphasis on the Sciences occured when the Soviets launched Sputnik and started the Space Race. The positivist work of Ralph Tyler (objectives), and Benjamin Bloom take root (Taxonomies of thinking) -
1960s: Civil Rights Movement in Education
Minorities (francophones, feminists, native people, radical students), demanded equal rights and a greater participation in Canadian civil society. This was reflected in the curriculum. Bruner’s ideas of inquiry and discovery start to be seen in schools allowing students to better “construct” their understandings rather than to simply memorize what they were to learn. -
1970s: Prosperous Times
This is a prosperous time as shown by extra funding for the Arts by federal/provincial governments The OPEC Oil Crisis fueled Albeta’s boom & started the Heritage Trust Fund. This led to expanded extra-curricular, music, drama & fine arts programs, and greater resources placed in schools. Ideas like open classrooms are tried at this time. Paulo Friere’s work influences global education & education to transform societies. Piaget’s work on the individual learner/cognitive development gains favor. -
1980s: A Nation at Risk
A Nation at Risk report is published in 1984 stating large concerns with education in U.S.A. This results in a “back to basics” movement focusing on greater accountability. Elliot Eisner criticizes a traditional curriculum that does not emphasize the arts (Cognition & Curriculum). Global Recession results in cutbacks in education. Jim Keegstra fired for not teaching the curriculum in 1982. Reintroduction of diploma exams takes place in Alberta with increased emphasis on standardization. -
1990s: A Decade of Cutbacks
The drive for “excellence” and competition brings choice to education in the form of charter schools and private schools. Funding for schools is limited even further under Ralph Klein. A greater distrust for quality public education continues to undermine the profession of teachers. -
A New Century: No Child Left Behind
Greater standardization and accountability are emphasized with the “No Child Left Behind” initiative in United States that results in increased standardized curriculum and increased testing. Critics of curriculum like Nel Noddings suggest that curriculum be organized around the important issues of the day (Critical Lessons), rather than irrelevant and outdated topics. In Alberta, the Learning Commission provides over 100 recommendations resulting from the large scale provincial strike in 2002. -
Education Today: An Inspiring Vision
The Learning Commission responds to stakeholders in the form of several key documents: Inspiring Education, Setting the Directions, and Inspiring Action which results in the current Alberta Education Action Plans which are to transform education in the province (curriculum re-design, new professional teacher competencies, new school act, inclusion, etc.) -
Education Today
A new K-4 curriculum is created that focuses on “concept-based learning” and “competency-based learning”. Its release is postponed due to a change in government. The TQS is updated to include a strong First Nations, Metis and Inuit component. A new Education Act is created. Public school funding is further limited, while funding for charter schools, private schools, homeschooling and alternative programming is increased. Parental choice in schooling options encouraged.
