Canadian History Workshop

Nova Scotia teachers are gathering in Halifax today, May 8, for a workshop on implementing the new Canadian history requirement for high school. The workshop will run until Friday, May 10.

History teachers will have the opportunity to learn about resources for the new course, ways to integrate technology, course instruction and assessment. Participants will also hear from teachers who piloted new Canadian history courses across the province this year.

"The workshop gives teachers valuable insight into this important addition to our high school curriculum," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "All of our students will soon learn about Canadian heritage, who they are and why their society espouses the values it does."

In 2000, the Department of Education announced that Canadian history would become mandatory for graduation. The department developed a new Canadian History 11/Histoire du Canada 11 course to fulfil the graduation requirement. African Canadian Studies 11, Mi'kmaq Studies 10, Etudes acadiennes 11 and Gaelic Studies 11 are also eligible credits for this requirement. All of these courses will be implemented in September 2002.

The new course requirement affected 13,300 students who entered Grade 10 in September 2001. Just 77 Grade 12 students were enrolled in Canadian history courses in Nova Scotia high schools in 2000.

The Canadian History 11 course explores Canada's military roles and contributions to the first and second World Wars. It also examines how war changed society for women, minorities, children and government and how Canada evolved from a colony to a nation.

The Canadian history workshop features a keynote address by Peter Seixas, historian and professor in the Department of Curriculum Studies at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Seixas also directs the Centre for the Study of Historical Consciousness at the university.