Canadian Schools, the League of Nations, and the Teaching of History, 1920-1939

Between the First and Second World Wars, the League of Nations attempted to reshape history teaching in the schools of its member-states. The League saw a suitably reformed teaching of history as the most effective vehicle for teaching students about the work of the League of Nations and for instilling in them a global consciousness and a rejection of war. As a result, Canada's provincial departments of education faced recurring League requests for information and suggestions as to how their schools might best implement the League's educational goals. This article examines how Canadian policy-makers responded (or failed to respond) to the League's attempts to reform the teaching of history. It shows that, while they ensured that history curricula included some factual information about the League and its work, they failed to respond effectively to the League's more fundamental attempts to implant the seeds of the "international mind" in students.