'Our-history-has-us-gasping': History in Canadian schools, past, present, and future ('CHR' Forum)

This essay addresses recent criticisms of the teaching of history in Canadian schools by placing them in their historical context. It surveys history teaching since the early 1900s and argues that the current crisis that some commentators see in the teaching of history is the fifth such crisis to have occurred over the last one hundred years. All five crises made much the same point, shared many common features, and arose from fears for the future of Canada which originated outside the schools. The essay also examines the concepts of national identity and citizenship which traditionally have provided the justification for the teaching of history in schools. It argues that suggestions currently being offered to strengthen school history are unlikely to achieve very much and calls for the creation of national links between teachers and historians.