Foreign Influences on Curriculum in Canada

 

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 Foreign Influences on Curriculum and Curriculum Policy Making in Canada

(Comment on Tomkins’s article)

Historical context: 

This article was written by Tomkins in the 80s and describes some of the foreign influences that may have contributed to the Canadian Curriculum for over three centuries.  Tomkins explains that Canadian education has mostly been influenced by the USA, UK and Europe and was stable/conservative until that time. Over 300 years ago, Jesuits brought education to Canada and then became for political purposes highly centralized. E. Ryerson, considered by some the father of Canadian curriculum design it mirroring educational systems in Europe, UK and USA.  Meilleur and Chauveau (French Canadians who had studied Medicine in the USA), afraid of anglicization and secularization, incorporated French influences in the curriculum, such as science and liberal thoughts. While modernization and secularization of the curriculum has occurred several times, Tomkins believes the Canadian Curriculum does not need “more of the same”/reactive response (adapting USA, Europe and UK curriculum), but one that addresses the uniqueness and current Canadian challenges (pluriculturalism).

Innovation:

Tomkins see innovation in education in Canada as reactive to challenges in urbanization and industrialization in the USA and Europe. He points out Canada lagged in technology and industrial education at the end of 1870’s and since the curriculum has been modified, expanding universal education to all population and maintaining good standards. However, I do agree with him that copying other systems is not real innovation, the improvements in the curriculum will come from understanding the population and the needs of Canada and its strengths as a country. I feel for example, that most of the textbooks in University come from the USA and while there are Canadian editions, most examples and theory are American.  

Just recently I read Canada is lagging behind productivity, especially after the pandemic, this is due to many factors, but a way to improve would be to include in the Canadian Curriculum (from primary to high-school) more digital, STEM and finance topics.

Creativity:

This reading does not specifically discuss creativity. However, going back to my definition, if we want students to be creative “think outside the box” the curriculum needs to be more focus on innovation and valuable skills learning such as leadership, teamwork or resilience. In my experience students at any level, are not rewarded for being creative on a constant basis but rather on getting good marks. Both the government and schools need to be investing more in fostering creative, innovative environments and have it as goal for Canada instead of over-relaying on natural resources.

Teaching:

Tomkins explains that a big part of Canadian evaluation methods and curriculum is based on American educational research. While in the 1800s the curriculum tend to be patriotic (imperial) and conservative (Anglo-conformity), after the Second World War there had been more changes influenced by American movements (Cold War, rising Civil Rights, Vietnam War). While the Canadian Studies Movement try to make some progressive reforms, according to the OCDE it was still not distinctive Canadian nor original. The curriculum needs to be original if we want teaching to be effective, as per definition teaching is interactive, and requires educators to know and adapt to the unique needs of their students. I personally, had to educate myself on indigenous topics and being friend of indigenous people has made me more aware on their perspective towards the curriculum.

Questions to the author:

• How could Canada start designing its own original curriculum?
• Based on research, what would be the advantages of doing so?

Reference:

George Tomkins (1981) Foreign Influences on Curriculum and Curriculum Policy Making in Canada: Some Impressions in Historical and Contemporary Perspective, Curriculum Inquiry, 11:2, 157-166, DOI: 10.1080/03626784.1981.11075245