Issues

The Prussian model has greatly influenced our mentality around school systems. It required that all children between the ages of 5 and 13 years attend schools where they were taught a national curriculum consisting of reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as ethics, discipline and obedience. The education system in Canada was originally based on Christian beliefs and British patriotism and started in the 1630s. In the 1840s, Egerton Ryerson saw state-controlled schooling as the primary means of assimilating "alien" elements (referring to immigrants) and led School Acts, shaping the school system. The curriculum was created with the intention of having all children taught to believe, act and think in a similar way. After the confederation in 1867, the control of this system was assigned to the provincial government however the curriculum continued to be based on Christian values. Before this, schools had been controlled by parents and the church. Around 1965, due to demands of minority groups, curriculum developers moved to establish bilingual, multicultural and Aboriginal studies programs, while also seeking to counter racism and sexism through more balanced and accurate treatment of minorities and women in textbooks. A large-scale school reform was embarked on in the 1990s to prepare children for the demands of the ever-changing economy as well as to focus on a more inclusive curriculum to match the diverse needs of students. (Tomkins and Case).

Each province or territory in Canada is responsible for its own schools and curriculums. While overall, they maintain a similar system, there are some differences between them. Each province is responsible for maintaining a ministry-established curriculum for its schools (Canada: Learning Systems).

The provinces and territories are separated into different sections, each with its own school board. The school boards are responsible for the schools within their areas, specifically in regards to buildings, staff, administration, and student enrolment. Members of the school board are elected by the public. (Education in Canada)

Ideally, the curriculum instructs teachers on what skills and knowledge they should teach their students. In reality, the curriculum is complex and cannot be simply defined, so it is important to analyze different areas of the curriculum.

Recommended - the recommended curriculum comes from experts in the field and regulates the standards for education.

Written - the written curriculum is the official documents guiding what is to be taught.

Supported - the supported curriculum comes from the resources and materials used, ex. Textbooks.

Tested - the tested curriculum is what the students are tested on.

Learned - the learned curriculum is what the students learn.

While these are the main components of the curriculum as shown through classrooms and school documents, there are two other types of curriculum that are very important to consider.

Excluded - the excluded curriculum is what has been left out, whether it was intentional or unintentional, it is what was not taught in the classroom, perspectives that were never shown.

Hidden - the hidden curriculum embodies what the students learn from the school's culture or climate that was not a part of the curriculum. This includes the use of time, allocation of resources, and disciplinary practices that reinforce certain ideas in a student's mind.

While public schools in Canada are free, income inequality still has a strong impact on education. For example, children who come from wealthier backgrounds are presented with more opportunities such as high end tutors, private schools, extracurricular activities as well as not having to worry about the cost of post secondary education. Children who come from lower income families are less likely to have access to these things which can set them back. (Rogova et al.)

Schools are underfunded and under-resourced, with teachers being devalued and poorly compensated (Maynard).

For many BIPOC students, schools are places where they experience degradation, harm, and psychological violence. They are also sometimes faced with stereotyping by the school based on their race (Maynard).

“The education system as a whole is failing Aboriginal students.” (Laboucane). Read more about specific issues at: https://www.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/canada%E2%80%99s-aboriginal-education-crisis-column.

Works Cited

“Canada: Learning Systems.” NCEE, 15 Mar. 2018, https://ncee.org/center-on-international-education-benchmarking/top-performing-countries/canada-overview/canada-instructional-systems/#:~:text=Canada%20does%20not%20have%20a,%2C%20ministry%2Destablished%20common%20curriculum.&text=The%20curriculum%20is%20currently%20being,to%20be%20released%20in%202020

“Education in Canada.” Government of Canada, 24 June 2020, www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/new-life-canada/enrol-school.html

Glatthorn, Allan A., et al. “Curriculum Handbook.” ASCD.org, www.ascd.org/publications/curriculum-handbook/398/chapters/Thinking-About-Curriculum.aspx.

Laboucane, Robert. “Canada's Aboriginal Education Crisis [ Column].” Ammsa.com, www.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/canada%E2%80%99s-aboriginal-education-crisis-column.

Maynard, Robyn. “Canadian Education Is Steeped in Anti-Black Racism.” The Walrus, 10 June 2020, https://thewalrus.ca/canadian-education-is-steeped-in-anti-black-racism/.

Peters, Frank and Peter M. Leslie. "Education Policy". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 04 March 2015, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/education-policy.

Rogova, Anastasia, et al. “Inequality Explained: The Hidden Gaps in Canada's Education System.” Open Canada, 22 Sept. 2020, https://opencanada.org/inequality-explained-hidden-gaps-canadas-education-system/.

Tomkins, G.s. and Roland Case. "Curriculum Development". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 04 March 2015, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/curriculum-development.