US school system report

[SirDuff]

My kids took French Immersion social studies and never had an issue. But then history isn't everyone's cup of tea I guess. To me it was always the easiest subject.

Definitely not my cup of tea - I'm a science/math girl (my PhD is epidemiology) - but not notoriously difficult here. But, each province sets their own standards, so Quebec might well be different (have to check with my Quebec friends - we left Montreal well before I hit high school).

 

[LBIJim]

Most of the 8th graders answered the question correctly, but whether it was due to knowledge or a random lucky guess is hard to tell.

Lots of Americans can't identify the US on a blank world map either.

In about the second grade we saw some dated filmstrip about Eskimos in the Yukon and I thought everyone in Canada lived in igloos. It wasn't until I heard about and saw photos of Expo '67 in Montreal that I learned otherwise. Canada was pretty much overlooked in social studies/history classes when I was in school.

A co-worker thought French was the predominant language in ALL of Canada.

 

[joannamet]

We're actually teaching a really lot. I don't think Canadian politics is part of the 8th grade curriculum.

 

[SirDuff]

To be fair, they apparently know an equal amount about France and Australia. And some Canadians might agree with them about the current Canadian government

 

[mommasita]

My kids took French Immersion social studies and never had an issue. But then history isn't everyone's cup of tea I guess. To me it was always the easiest subject.

I loved history, it was my cup of tea..

Immersion and 100% are very different, in my times, we were never immersed, it was just the beginning of it, so we went from one language to the next, and to try that in Math and History, and a few others, is challenging..

 

[eliza61]

I'm sure it's only kids in America that are so darn stupid, right?

We are very insular. My husband (from Portugal) knew more about American geography than most Americans and don't get me started on our dismal media
attempt at world currently events.

 

[Planogirl]

Countries such as Canada are often called socialist and I wonder if some are getting the wrong idea because of that? I personally think of Canada as freedom loving and often very willing to give sanctuary to those who need it.

 

[low-key]

Every Country likes to take pot shots at the Biggest baddest Dog on the Planet, because your not us

 

[declansdad]

Most of the 8th graders answered the question correctly, but whether it was due to knowledge or a random lucky guess is hard to tell.

Lots of Americans can't identify the US on a blank world map either.

In about the second grade we saw some dated filmstrip about Eskimos in the Yukon and I thought everyone in Canada lived in igloos. It wasn't until I heard about and saw photos of Expo '67 in Montreal that I learned otherwise. Canada was pretty much overlooked in social studies/history classes when I was in school.

A co-worker thought French was the predominant language in ALL of Canada.

We don't have Eskimos in Canada, we have Inuit.

 

[Planogirl]

Every Country likes to take pot shots at the Biggest baddest Dog on the Planet, because your not us

What do you mean? The US is unfortunately notorious for being poorly educated about some things. That doesn't make us bad just uneducated about some things.

 

[declansdad]

Every Country likes to take pot shots at the Biggest baddest Dog on the Planet, because your not us

What does that have to so with 8th graders lack of knowledge about our system of government?

 

[low-key]

 

[SirDuff]

wonder if Canadians are taught if other Countrys didnt defend them, they would be taken over by a 3rd world dictator, cause they dont fight

Why would we be taught that? It does not even make sense. Forget about it being true.

 

[kimblebee]

It might do you good to watch this regarding your first point...

 

[LBIJim]

We don't have Eskimos in Canada, we have Inuit.

48 years ago, they were all Eskimos.

 

[declansdad]

Nice edit.

Apparently you don't know much about history and you still didn't answer my question.

 

[declansdad]

48 years ago, they were all Eskimos.

Many terms used as descriptors change over the years.

 

[maddiel]

Mabye so, but here you don't pass HS if you don't pass Canadian History.. And it is a VERY difficult class..... You can fail Math, English, take those later not, but not Canadian History.

I think you are in Quebec? Graduation requirements vary from province to province. In Nova Scotia, you need to take a Canadian history as one of the requirements, but it can be any one of the following: African Canadian Studies, Canadian History/Histoire du Canada, Études Acadienne, Gaelic Studies 11 or Mi’kmaq Studies - some of those are grade 10 and some are grade 11 level courses. My older daughter was exempted from this requirement becasue she did IB and if you get your IB diploma you get a NS Diploma as well even without meeting the normal requirements. She took History HL - I think it was world history.

Why can't you retake Canadian History in Quebec? That seems unusual.

M.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Awww, don't be rough on yourself, maybe you're just trying to hard?

No, not trying too hard. Just forgot the group I was communicating with.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Countries such as Canada are often called socialist and I wonder if some are getting the wrong idea because of that? I personally think of Canada as freedom loving and often very willing to give sanctuary to those who need it.

Interesting point. some middle graders could be confused about the term socialist.

And for those of you taking offense I posted this article in a light-hearted joking way. I just thought it was funny they thought we had a dictatorship.

Low-Key what you posted (and deleted) was very offensive especially since early this month was the big celebration of the liberation of The Netherlands by Canadian Forces.