Canadian Education and the National Identity

Recent discussions of nationalism and education in Canada have over-looked the fact that Canadian schools have never addressed themselves to the task of bolstering Canadian nationalism. The f ollowing factors have contributed to this situation : political aims of nineteenth century public school advocates; the British North America Act; continued dependence on British ideals; presence of the United States; and the French English division within the country. The future role of Canadian schools in the development of a national identity raises both practical and moral problems.