DOES HISTORY MATTER?

Specific Outcomes

By studying the articles related to this question you will be able to:

• understand the nature and importance of cultural capital
• recognise the nature and importance of Canadian and world history in developing informed citizens

Setting the Stage

Before reading the articles look at the introduction to the Question:

• Do you think you know enough about Canada's past? Why or why not?
• What is history good for? Justify your view.
• What is the minimum a Canadian citizen should know in order to have a deep understanding of Canada?
• Based on what you know, how would you answer the questions in the introduction to this Great Canadian Question?
• Are your answers confirmed or refuted by the readings?

Reading for Understanding

Questions for Jack Granatstein's first article:

• Why does history matter?
• What evidence does Granatstein offer to back his assertion that history doesn't matter in Canada's schools?
• Why do Canadians need Canadian history?
• What is "cultural capital" and why does Granatstein think that all Canadians need it?
• What kind of history should Canadians be taught? Why?

Questions for Michael Ignatieff's first article:

• Why does Ignatieff say that the real issue about history in schools is "What history?" and "Whose history?"
• What kind of history should be taught to make it truly national, according to Ignatieff?
• Why is it difficult to imagine a shared historical understanding among Canadians?
• What does Ignatieff consider to be good Canadian history and why?

Questions for Jack Granatstein's second article:

• What should the core of history be in schools, according to Granatstein?
• What has happened to that core? Why?
• What kind of history should schools teach?

Questions for Michael Ignatieff's second article:

• What questions does Ignatieff raise to "clarify" the debate?
• What answers does he provide to his questions?
• What does Ignatieff mean when he says that we "make" history?

Critical Comparisons

• To what parts of Ignatieff's argument in the first essay does Granatstein respond?
• To what parts of Granatstein's argument in the first essay does Ignatieff respond?
• On what points do they agree?
• On what points do they disagree?
• Where do you stand and why on the issue of the importance of history in schools and in Canadian society?
• What evidence is especially important in your conclusions?