recceguy said:
ex-Sup,
It's too bad teachers like yourselves don't spend more time on real Canadian history, as you do trying to defend your 'rightful' place in history. Quit trying to explain such an archaic system as the British crown progression.
Arrrgggghhh…just lost my post again!
Recceguy,
I'm not sure how to take your comments. At first, the little vein in my head was popping out (as the kids like to tell me). However, I think there is some misunderstand here.
The course I was mentioning is a Grade 12 modern western history course, which focuses on Europe since the 16th century. See below under CHY4U:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/canworld1112curr.pdf
I, like you, simply follow orders ie. the curriculum. One of the topics we looked at was the English Civil War, and its consequences such as the Glorious Revolution. I came across the article and I thought it would put a modern spin on some of the things we discussed in class. It wasn't a heated, lengthy debate; just a 10-15 min chat. Trust me; while I support the idea of the monarchy, I'm a second generation Italian. There's no connection there whatsoever (I still remember the day I came home in my kilt; my father nearly peed his pants that I was wearing a “dress”).
Get back to teaching our children about Vimy & Dieppe. What THEIR heritage is and what THEY have to be proud of. They don't hear how we fought in all the conflicts and World Wars, yet we expect them to try and understand Afghanistan, from an NDP teacher's point of view (and I'm not saying that's you).
We do spend time on this in the Grade 10 program, CHC2D:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/canworld910curr.pdf
As a former reservist and staunch supporter of the military, my views are quite clear to my students and my colleagues (I proudly wear my camo SOT bracelet everyday). I'm about as far as you can get from Jack’s ideology (I curse every time my taxpayer dollars are wasted when I get mail from him). I've even had to defend what I teach on this very site:
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/53162.60.html
I do my best, but I am only one of 120,000 teachers in this province. Miracles, unfortunately, are not my dept (Catholic teacher joke ;D). But in all seriousness, I do encourage my students to form their own opinions, but based on all the facts.
Our kids today don't even get taught how parliment works, yet we expect them to vote sensibly.
We do have a civics course, but many kids don't care. It has one of the highest failure rates of any course.
The school system is failing us, as far as turning out functional citizens. It starts in the schools and with the TEACHERS!
Canada is losing it's identity and self worth, and the decline is starting in the education system.
Unfortunately, it's not all the system's fault. If you check some of my previous posts on other topics, there are many other issues that need to be addressed. There is a general malaise and apathy among many students today; they simply don't care. This is me on some days. :brickwall:
Some of that stems from what happens at home. I had a very different home experience than many kids today. If I ever got in trouble at school, my old man would have killed me (he would never had a chance though, ‘cause I wouldn't have even gone home). Some parents are very quick to make excuses for their kids and allow them to develop these habits. They let them skip school, call to complain for the slightest thing and so on. It's not the schools, it's society that's the problem.
The teachers are the front line.
Yes we are, but we can only do so much (see above). I teach, I coach and my door is always open. I tell people that teaching is a calling, because it's certainly not an easy job. I changed from a career in the military to one in teaching because I thought I could make more of a contribution to the world around me. Not that I'm some sort of idealist, but if I can make at least a little difference for some kids, it's all worth it. I can write more, but work beckons!
Sorry for the rant, nothing personal.
Well, hopefully this clears a few things up.