Not picking on Canadians here, because I think this is true anywhere you go in the world. To my mind, it also points out the fundamental flaw in democratic societies, namely how are the people to make wise decisions about their own future is they can't be arsed to care about either the history of their nation or even the current events affecting their lives. Until a means can be found to get people to give a dman and actually start thinking for themselves, I don't see how things can get better
Too true Cthippo What's the alternative though? - Military service (a la Starship Troopers) / Specific levels of education (paid for by?) / ????
I honestly don't know. National service would be a start, especially since it need not be just military. Making government more responsive and relevant to the people would be another. Over here there is some truth to the old saw about it not mattering who you vote for because it won't make a difference in the outcome of the election. Establishing systems that reward involvement and education. These would be a start.
The failure rate is due to the astronomical number of immigrants in Canada, rather than those who have lived here since birth. That aside, we are simply not compelled to be educated in politics and history instead of the staple science and technology. I think the interpretation of the outcome is a bit misleading--being unknowlegeable of your own nation's history shouldn't be, by any means, a measure of your competence in the socioeconomic ecosystem. Canadian History is for those who specialize in Canadian History. Likewise, I wouldn't expect an ecologist to be knowledgeable of Canada's equally-historical milestone aerospace contribution with the Canadarm, correct?
I dunno guys. I mean, chatting with someone who's recently taken a similar UK knowledge test, the thing really doesn't cover stuff that anyone but people who've specifically a fair length of British history and current demographics etc. would know. I'm someone who reads history on a regular basis (although not focussed on any one subject) and there were questions in the test that when I heard, I was cluesless about. History is extremely important, and I guess with canada theres less of an excuse for not knowing your own history because Canada hardly has any (being a newbie country) - but it's still really not very important, or indeed reflective of how good a citizen you'll be, whether you know when Quebec became part of Canada or why the country is called what it is. What this boils down to is this: The average person is stupid and ignorant. We've got the world set up so that that is ok, and we're still able to have functioning societies etc. You can try and teach people about cultural history of first nations people, but perhaps teaching them parenting skills and personal responsability would be more helpful first? Let's not worry about peoples ignorance until we've got the average suited monkey behaving a little better and with a lot more common sense.
I am not surprised by these results. The last history class I had was 5 years ago and it was mostly about the canada in the rest of the world and for the majority of the year, we talked about WWII. The history class before was in my 2nd year of high school, which means I was 13-14. I was excellent in history having an increble capacity to remember all the details. However, now, 7 years later, I bet I would not be able to answer half of the questions you throw at me. I can only imagine how impossible it is to remember all the names, dates and numbers when it has been 25 or 30 years since a teacher told them to you. History is absolutely pointless for the regular person who does a regular job that requires no special knowledge whatsoever. I'll take my parents for example. They are very intelligent and civilized people who know how to live in a society, respect people and have a good life. They are successful, had 3 kids and now have a 3rd grand-child coming soon. They don't know anything about quebec's history and even less about canada's, but it never bothered them because, wether you like it or not, it is useless in everyday life.
You know, when you think about it, when America knows hardly enough about Canada to even recognize it, I'm confused as to why overseas immigrants are expected to pass the same test.
I'm afraid people who write of History as pointless tend to..well..need some educating. I agree specific history about Quebec might not be useful for peoples day to day lives - but a good grasp of history in life makes you understand the world so much better. Just like how on the Internet every question you can think of has generaly already been asked, in history almost every mistake and great idea has already been done/thought. Make no mistake, history is important. It's just not neccesary to understand the specifics of whatever accord happened 217 years ago to reform corn laws in order to be a good citizen.
"those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them" Every one should know some history, my biggest regret from school was dropping history for geography. [spec said it better quicker!]
I am sorry but I certainly don't need to be educated. I have more knowledge, or at least common sens, than most of the people I know I understand your point and you are absolutely right. Everyone should learn what happened in the past and why it happened. Therefore, if a kid is to become a very important person, let's say.. a politician, he has to know what errors not to repeat again. But for the others, those who have no effect whatsoever on their country or town or whatever, how does it matter on an everyday basis to know their history ? It will not make it hard to live if they lack this . This is what I was trying to say (and I am not even sure if I was clear enough that time either) Now don't me wrong. I speak on behalf on the ordinary folk who doesn't care about history (like my parents) but I, for myself, always loved to know historical facts and also geographic because I believe it is important to know and why you are who you are, and where you are (awkward sentence , sorry)
I didn't say that knowing ones local history was neccesarily important. I just said that history in general, encompasing everything that has happened before this very second, is an extremely valuable thing to study. Those who write of history as being in the past and therefore irrelevent are being stupid, imo. History isn't just important because it has a direct relevence to your profession, but is worthwhile studying because it gives you a more rounded view of the world, and a better understanding of how things have come to be the way they are. While, as I said, specific local historical knowledge isn't neccesary to be a good citizen, that doesn't mean people should ignore all history as worthless.
History is useful in 'growing up' our outlook of the world, but it is certainly no substitute for being well-weathered by time and experience. You're right that history shouldn't be intently ignored. I think you and Ghys are on the same page with just a language barrier, in a sense.
well yes, pretty much. I try to make great effort but there are things I just can't express the way I would want to because of the language barrier you just talked about There is one thing I don't agree with though. And it's saying that those who don't care about history are stupid. Most americans don't learn any other country's history or geography but their own and when they grow up, I doubt they're interested in getting to know it just for run. Are they all stupid ? No, they're not.
Ah, apoligies if there is a real language barrier here. I was always under the impression that French Canadian schools taught both languages to a pretty much flawless level. Anyway, I was saying that considering history useles is stupid, but not that only stupid people would consider it so. Everyone does stupid stuff, even the brightest people.
nah, as much as I hate to admit it, too many english teachers are there just by default because this was the only job that was available in this school and they took it... Over the years i've had teachers who could barely speak english (mostly when i was a kid, before high school). Anyway.See the way I express myself ? I am well above average to anyone who learned english at school like I did. I had to keep working everyday to get to the level I am right now(thank you internet). The rest of my friends can understand well because of the TV, but they could certainly not express themselves as well as I do. I think it's sad because they are missing a lot by not opening themselves to the rest of the world. stupid education in quebec is pathetic...so is the health care one That was kinda out of topic, sorry
LOL, I took one year of French in Alberta and the teacher had such a strong Irish accent that I never went back.
Not sure who first said that but its true. However, how much do we really need to know and how much of it is relevant to our daily lives? I know a little about Hitler and the Third Reich, the holocaust etc. What good can it do me in my daily life? I can't think of anything unless I was to try to start my own political party and had an unreasonable hatred for Jews. However, history isn't just WW2 facts etc. If you stick your fingers in an electrical socket and get a shock you probably won't do it again. So in fact you've learned from history. I think its impossible to say that people should know x amount of historical facts. Some facts are just not as relevant to some people as they are to others. And some you can't really measure since learning from your own mistakes, no matter how small, is also learning from history. I do think however that people are getting 'dumber'. With the internet being accessable from almost anywhere, there's less and less need to retain facts in your head. Bad news if the tubes ever get permanently blocked...
I was in the French Immersion program for four years and came out semi-conversational in the French language. Not bad, except it really hampered my learning experience in the sense that I could not explain my fascination for science at that time, specifically astronomy and computers, in a way that would make sense to my classmates. Afterwards, I ended up not learning much more than did before entering the program. I dropped the program to make room for, you guessed it, astronomy and computer programs to make up for lost time.
