Perhaps I Should Have Told Them Stalin Was The Ultimate 'Big Brother.'
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Can't see the 'ShareThis' icon? Reload your page view by pressing Shift and clicking Refresh at the same time.“Stalingrad, what’s that?”
The question stopped me cold for a second. I was in conversation with a couple of twenty-something’s and a reference to Stalingrad had been made, by me.
“You’ve never heard of Stalingrad?” Blank looks.
“The Battle of Stalingrad?” Eyes shift back and forth…shoulders shrug.
“Have you ever heard of Joseph Stalin? Brutal dictator of the U.S.S.R., responsible for the deaths of tens of millions?” More blank looks.
“Did you ever see the movie “Enemy at the Gates” with Jude Law? It was about the Battle of Stalingrad.”
No, but the girl did think Jude Law is cute.
“Did they not teach you anything in high school?” I asked. The question of course was rhetorical. I’ve been told on various occasions by teachers that they don’t teach history anymore. I’m still waiting for a good reason why not.
Is it not important for people to learn about the bloodiest butcher of the 20th century, or the pivotal battle of the most horrific conflict in our history? Yet, I suspect, had I asked about Paris Hilton’s dog, I might have received a quick and detailed answer.
It’s not totally their fault. Our schools don’t teach history, and our society is fascinated by things that don’t matter, but bored by issues of great import. Whether current or historical.
It’s no wonder then, that the Dominion Institute gave Saskatchewan’s history curriculum an ‘F’. I suspect if there were a lower mark, it might have been applied.
To test the Dominion Institute’s findings, reporter Erin Slobodian went out to the streets. She approached at random a group of teenage girls and gave them a quick history pop quiz.
Q: Which province pioneered medicare?
A: Ummm….Alberta? (Actually, Alberta is one of the provinces that has done its best to undercut medicare. The correct answer is of course Saskatchewan.)
Q: Where did the English defeat the French to decide Quebec’s place in Canada?
A: Ontario? (nope) British Columbia? (wrong) Saskatchewan? (well it was the right answer before, so worth a try. The correct answer is The Plains of Abraham, but I think we would have accepted Quebec City. Maybe even Quebec.)
By way of contrast, the girls had no trouble answering a question about the names of the couple from the reality tv show having marital troubles. They all quickly and correctly answered ‘Jon and Kate.’
Why should they know history? History is not compulsory in Saskatchewan schools and it isn’t even taught in many. At some schools, history is rolled into Social Studies and taught as a cultural lesson. Even when I took Grade 12 Canadian history (which at the time was mandatory) we learned a lot about Central Canada, very little about the prairies. The spirit-destroying devestation of the Dirty Thirties, the degree of despair in Saskatchewan particularly, how it gave rise to the birth of new political movements that would change the way Canadians view the role of government got a page and a half. The Riel Rebellion even less.
History is important and so is what we choose to study. It’s difficult if not impossible to understand why we are the way we are if you’re unaware of how we got here. And without that knowledge, how can we expect people to put events into context, or to recognize history repeating itself?
It may be an information age, but a lot of the information being accessed is the equivalent of sugary snacks for the brain. And we’ll all pay the price for a society incapable or disinterested in a debate on issues that matter.
History isn't dusty and boring. Presented properly, it's incredibly compelling. But first, it has to be taught.
Comments
Actually Kursk was the
Actually Kursk was the turning part on the Eastern Front, not Stalingrad. Kursk was the last offensive battle the Germans mounted, and afterwards were pushed into a steady retreat back to Berlin. 900,000 german troops against 1.3 million Soviet. And over 10000 tanks and tank destroyers on both sides. But Stalingrad was a huge defeat as well.
wow anonymous, way to show
wow anonymous, way to show your historic prowness. turns out murray didnt say anything about the eastern front and no one cares how stalingrad compares to kursk. i love how people like you just love proving people wrong on these types of things and then adding in" o but stalingrad was pretty bad too" come on.
kyle, back up a little. Both
kyle, back up a little. Both Murry and Anonymous are correct. Murry just did not tell us where Stalingrad was located. The point both are trying to make is that possibly a society that does not study and learn from history could make the same political errors and end up with the horrors of communism and Stalin.
Murray, it's a shame that
Murray, it's a shame that our kids aren't being taught history in school. I have two kids that are in grades 5 and 9, and they agree that they don't learn much, if any history.
My 14 year old son is very interested in politics and history, and most of what he knows has been learned from reading or via the internet, or from talking with us. I'll have to ask him if he knows what Stalingrad is, and I'd be willing to bet he knows. He does know who Stalin is.
But he's an exception to the rule, and that is sad.
Sorry Kyle.
I was responding to this statement of Murrays. "or the pivotal battle of the most horrific conflict in our history?". What do you term as pivotal?
At anyrate, I think Hollywood and the USA is at fault with education a great deal. Especially in regards to the Eastern Front. I was quite impressed when Enemy at the Gates was released. But Saving Private Ryan is what most people have seen. Or any number of Western Front films.
History lesson for Saskatchewan
1982. Saskatchewan elects a conservative government,which in it's two terms in office brings the province to the brink of bankruptcy. The popular young premier, who is probably nothing more than a face, spouts home spun wisdom, such as "give her snoose", while certain members of his government, (and most certainly the real person in power), rob the public blind. The war was on organized labour, especially the construction unions. And of course the deficit was the fault of the poor.
2007. Saskatchewan flunks it's history lesson, and elects a conservative government. The popular young premier, who is nothing more than a face, spouts home spun wisdom, while riding the wave of a great economy, which actually started back when the NDP were in power. The economy is so good that he is actually able to make the largest tax cut in Saskatchewans history, without actually having to do...anything. He should thank the previous government. He takes all the credit instead.
Nobody, as of yet, including the real people in power, have been dragged before the courts, like the mentors of our new premier were. But there is still a lot of time for that to develop.
But the war is on with organized labour, especially the construction unions. And you know when the economy goes south, it will be the fault of the poor. (Rousting lazy welfare bums. Thats the Conservative way.)
Saskatchewan schools realy need to do a better job teaching history.
Who knew that dinosaur NDP
Who knew that dinosaur NDP rhetoric would be brought out of the dark ages during this history discussion?
As for the real topic at hand... it has a lot to do with the current generation's need to be completely stimulated at all times. Frankly, unless you enjoy history (of which I do, and I am a twenty-something), it doesn't even measure on their stimulation map.
I'd be quite pleased if history became compulsory again, and not blended into the slack credit that most Social Studies classes have become.
One thing that the CBC did do well with our tax dollars is the production of Canada: A People's History. I could kill a large amount of time watching that series over & over again. Just ordered the book set today actually :)
Wow. Me too, I have quite a
Wow. Me too, I have quite a few of those dvds.
I do think the original poster has a point, though. The NDP did set the Sask party up for success in this case. The real test of Brad Wall's government will be if things start to not go so well. Right now, they can basically do no wrong, because they don't have to worry.. the money's there.
way to spin a pro NDP rant
way to spin a pro NDP rant into a story about stalingrad. you pretty much accused the SaskParty of stealing and somehow thought it was warranted because it coincided with history? hope you didnt waste to much of your day thinking about how WWII relates to the current Sask Party and how they relate to the conservatives of the 80's. in my opinion there really is no connection between the three at all. But good try, hope the investigation into false memberships for Ling goes well for you!
Hahaha! That NDP fan should
Hahaha! That NDP fan should do another history lesson - one not tainted with his political bias. My history lesson would include how the NDP in this province ripped hospitals and schools out of rural areas, collected gas taxes to pay for roads but then put the money into general revenue and let the roads crumble, and SPUDCO.
History is important but, when teachers teach it in schools, parts tend to be omitted and personal bias pours in. It does not seem to matter how much we learn about past mistakes, human beings seem to be absolutely intent on making the same stupid mistakes over and over again. History tells us that when governments start taking away our rights and freedoms, it is a very slippery slope that usually ends in some type of painful revolutionary action - yet politicians continuously con the public into thinking that giving up this right or that right is a good idea for our own good. Yeah, not in my history lesson it's not.
Ok. children, what have we learned.
There is no doubt the NDP did some unpleasent, and stupid, things while they were in power. All governments do. No excuse, but it happens. What you have to ask is, why? Why did they close hospitals? Why did they close schools? Answer.....Because Grant Devine and the Tories brought the province to the brink of bankruptcy. Choices had to be made. Unfortunately the choices impacted rural Saskatchewan? (I live out here. It's not like I didn't notice. It's not like the closings didn't p**s me off.)
The second question. Devine JR. has been in power for almost 2 years. Is he giving you your hospitals and schools back? Answer.....Don't hold your breath.
The most telling legacy that the NDP left us with was a repaired provincial treasury, and an economy that was humming along, and still is. (Please tell me what Brad Devine has done, legislated, passed, to make the economy tick. Don't tell me tax cut. The tax cut happened because the economy was in great shape when he inherted the books. Have you ever heared Wallee say "we can't do that", or "we have to cut because the previous government left the books in such bad shape." That is the mantra of most new governments, but Jr. can't. The books, the province, were left in great shape. And for god sake don't tell me his wonderful smile, and debating abilities, are driving the economy. I don't need to puke this late in the day.)
The other telling legacy of the NDP is that there has been no parade of ex cabinet ministers parading before the courts. We can't say the same thing for the goverment before the NDP. (You remember, the people who Junior learned his political chops from.) After they lost power, their escapades in court kept us entertained for years. (It' all history. Don't try to revise it.)
Of course, my one student mentioned Link, and the membership scandle. Answer......If you think Link will be paraded before the courts, that he even had anything to do with that mess, well I need to tell you something....He wont. And didn't. (And STAR TREK is not real, and the girls at 1-800-555-CHAT only want your money stud!)
To my student who called me a dinosaur, at least you were paying attention to that point. (Dino, dinosaur, it works.) Thing is, if I tried to call you a person who's neck is the coulor of a beet, the moderator would not let me do so. So I will be good.
And to the student who chided me for inserting politics into a nice discussion on Stalingrad, all I can say is, HUH????? If you read Murrays blog, you will see that the story was not about Stalingrad, but about Saskatchewan students failing grade in history.....And apparently reading comprehension.
So in closing, only one student deserves to pass. (The student who correctly observed that Devine Jr. has only had to coast so far.) The rest of you should fail, but of course nobody fails any more. So you are promoted to the next grade. Have a good summer, and good luck. (And good riddance. You are all somebody else' problem next year.....Damn,I need a drink!)
Canada's first Prime Minister
In the study four out of ten Canadians did not know who Canada's first Prime Minister was. Ridiculous. Every one knows Canada's first Prime Minister was
Sir John A Gormley
I am grateful that we have
I am grateful that we have had the opportunity to homeschool in my family. We've made history a priority, because I believe that in order to understand who we and where we are going, we must first understand where we have been. Now, even my 15-year-old begs to go to the library, and asks for books like the biography and childhood of Hitler (and just to clarify... not because she thinks he is great, but because she's trying to understand why he did what he did, and how he rose to power.)
Just so everyone knows, I
Just so everyone knows, I graduated high school in 2006, and History 30 WAS compulsory in order to graduate.
History 20 in grade 11 was optional, but that's because there are so many classes... law, psychology.. economics.. you name it.
I am a history nut, but I didn't take history 20, because the teacher was very bad. I'd had him for other classes. He was all about building models, complete with toy soldiers. That was not my cup of tea.
Even my university history classes were pathetic. The 1867-present class didn't even name all of the Prime Ministers.. just the first few. We didn't learn a thing about Diefenbaker, or Trudeau.. no Joe Clark, nothing.
I've had to rely on Will Ferguson's "Bastards and Boneheads" book to teach myself about past PMs.
But you know what you guys? This is a much bigger problem than we realize. In school, kids take Math 9, Math 10, Math 20, Math A30, Math B30, Math c30, then maybe Calculus or AB Calculus..
How many classes talk about voting? or the way our parliament is set up?
0
How many times since graduating have I needed to use the quadratic formula?
0
Now that, is a problem. We wonder why our voter turnout numbers are about 50 percent? Imagine what they'll be like when my generation, generation Y, is all grown up.. Voter turnout of 20 percent. Now THAT is democracy at work!
(Rolls eyes.)
Speaking of Stalingrad,
Speaking of Stalingrad, those of you interested in WWII history should check out Generals at War on the National Geographic Channel.
Teaching History
Since the Dominion Institute Report was published, I have heard repeatedly that our schools don't teach History. If this was true, I would not have a job as I am a Full time High School History teacher. The fact is that History IS being taught in our education system, however, it is not a compulsory subject, a point that along with Murray Wood I could spend a lot more time arguing for. I feel compelled to add that there are several high school students who DO know History. My students know places like Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Normandy etc. and more importantly they know why they are so significant to Us as Canadians. They would also be able to talk to Mr. Wood about Stalingrad and why it was an important battle of WWII. In 2007, several of my students went to Europe on a Canadian Battlefields Tour and to take part in the 90th anniversary of Vimy, a learning experience that will last a lifetime. Trust me, History IS being taught in our schools it just needs to be on par with other compulory subjects to expose all citizens to it.
History is compulsory in
History is compulsory in grade 12 though. So what more do we want the school system to do? As far as they're concerned, kids are learning canadian history in grade 12 in History 30.