October
2
ELA 30: Oct 2 Canadian diversity: fake or real?
We reviewed our discussion from yesterday for the benefit of Chantal who was absent. We then read an editorial titled “The Myth of Canadian Diversity” and students took turns reading it aloud. Once finished, we discussed some questions. The author’s focus was around a comparison of Canada to other countries. By this comparison, the differences among Canadians seem so small and therefore gives the impression we are not actually as diverse as we would like to believe.- We read another editorial, written by an Australian dentist, concerning what, in his opinion, made a Canadian. We had a fairly good discussion about who a Canadian is and whether an immigrant who had become a Canadian citizen would lose that citizenship if they returned later to their home country.
- We had a mini history lesson, as well! I created a rough version of the East coast of Canada and explained the French establishment in Canada started with the Fur Trade, which eventually brought the attention and population of the British. A war ensued and the British won what was then called British North America. Something of a problem for these British, though, was the strong French population that was already well established in this new territory. At the same time, many British colonists had settled south of this area along the East coast and established for themselves Thirteen Colonies. They eventually began complaining about having to pay taxes to Britian and began thinking they could look after themselves better, they didn’t think they needed Britain for anything, so a new threat existed from these Reformers. Fearful the unsettled and disgruntled French would assist these Reformers in their fight against Britain, the British government realized they needed to please these French to keep them calm and out of the way. Their gift to the French settlers was the Quebec Act which granted them the right to speak their French language, it protected their Catholic religion (which in Britain was against the law at the time) and several other things. The Reformers had their war and won. With that victory, all the colonists who had faught against them and remained loyal to the British crown had to find somewhere else to live, and quickly! These Loyalists either moved back to Britain, up to Acadia (the Maritime region) or to the West of where these French were living in British North America. This annoyed and somewhat angered the French because settlement West of them, up to this point, was forbidden as the British had many things to complete before settling to the West, such as dealing with the Aboriginals and gaining soveriengty over the area all the way to the West coast. Again, to settle the French, another gift was given in the form of a declaration called the Constitution Act which divided the area into Upper and Lower Canada, which later became Ontario and Quebec.
The interesting part of the discussion that happened after this history lesson is that both Canadians and Americans originally came from the same place, Britain. The differences between us and them are so varied yet our history, to a certain point, is the same. How can this be? Canadians have never attacked another country, we have only ever protected ourselves, while the Americans have been aggresive and started wars right from their very conception as a separate nation. Are Canadians different from Americans? That’s another question we will discuss soon. - We had two classes today so students were able to begin working on their next assignment that was handed out and discussed. They will be debating topics surrounding these ideas, in pairs of two. After a bit of slight confusion, it was decided that the six groups would debate three different topics, in order to make it more fair and interesting for everyone. The topics of debate will include:
- Whether Canada is a diverse nation or quite similar.
- Whether Canada should continue to claim soveriegnty over our Artic North, which is slowly melting and exposing new resources and trade routes. Is it important for Canada that we continue to keep control of that area, and why?
- Whether Canadians and Americans are very distinctly different from one another, or whether the influence of American media and products has overcome us and we are simply a ‘light’ version of Americans.
- Students have two classes to work on preparing their arguments and find evidence. We will not have class on Friday and Monday is a holiday so their debates will occur on Tuesday. Would any parents like to come along to be part of the audience and observe the debates? Let me know! You’re certainly welcome!
