Sources imprimées

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1939

xxx. Statement concerning the report of the Quebec protestant education survey presented by the protestant committee of the council of education. S.l., s.n., 1939. 139 p.

"Study of Text Books Alone is not the Goal of Education: The observation just made hardly accords with some of the remarks contained within the body of the Report. In the chapter dealing with the organization and equipment of schools the charge is made: «The leaders of Quebec education seem to have a profound distrust of every form of natural science and of every kind of handwork, except for very young children and a faith, equally profond, in the training which can be given by a study of text-books." Besides revealing its own attitude of years past, as shown above, the Protestant Committee draws attention to the Memoranda for the Guidance of Teachers, prepared by the Department of Education and sponsored by the Protestant Committee. The Memoranda are replete with information concerning its attitude and that of the Departement of Education towards the newer subjects and modern methods of approach to them. That a few inexperienced modest teachers may not have shown themselves at their best before distinguished members of a surveying committee during short unannounced visits occasions little surprise.

Reference to the Memoranda and other Departmental publications, and to those of Protestant School Boards that

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issue their own bulletins, reveals the fact that the suggestions and instructions given to teachers cannot be construed into meaning that the leaders of Protestant education pin their faith to the text books. That the text books have their place and value in schools cannot be doubted. Despite all that can be said against it, a school text book merely presents , in somewhat concise form, material that is thought to be useful for pupils to study. Text books, indeed, are needed in spheres outside of school. But in the Memoranda and elsewhere, efforts are constantly being made by those in charge of Protestant education to show that a study of text books is by no means the sole goal of school life and work. The Memoranda stress the benefits of outside reading, in some cases of a professional character for the teachers and, in others, of interest alike to teacher and pupil. Lists of such books, (in some cases fairly lengthy) are inserted, including historical tales and novels with the period stated to which many of the best English classics refer. Types of magazines and periodicals are named. These all broaden knowledge, add variety to classroom work and induce pupils to form reading and other good habits that will benefit them all their days. The Memoranda also show the aims towards which teachers should bend their efforts in each subject; suggest laboratory work in history, geography, nature study and science; urge teachers to take pupils to museums, art galleries, etc., (thus viewing conditions at first hand); direct the building of correct habits of bodily posture and living, and otherwise assist the pupils in forming good habits of working and thinking. The inspectors of the Protestant School system, both in city and country, are well trained and carefully

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selected and it is their duty to see that the instructions in the Memoranda and other bulletins are carried into effect.

The Protestant Committee is emphatic that it is far from its policy to stress unduly the study of text books. It desires rather that the whole child should be developed in his spiritual, moral, social, mental and physical aspects.

Policy Concerning Specially Prepared Text Books: The Survey Committee suggests that the Protestant Committee abandon, on ground of cost, its policy of preparing special text books or special editions of text books. Quebec has initiated many text books that have afterwards been used elsewhere, and the Frye-Gammelle geography and the text books in French are among those that have filled distinct needs here. The «Hymns and Prayers for Schools» prepared by a committee of Montreal clergy have been most useful. It should be made known also that in no case has a text book that have been prepared or revised and approved for use in Quebec schools since 1930 been authorized at a price above that at which a similar one could have been secured in its unapproved or revised form.

In this revision, the question of cost has assumed a large place. In english, for example, forty-five text books presently authorized for Grades III-XI cost no more than the twenty-seven that they replaced for the corresponding grades and through the policy of having books authorized at prices F.O.B. Montreal, instead of F.O.B. Toronto, the cost to certain School Boards and dealers has been materially reduced. If a text book is sold elsewhere at a price lower than that arranged when adopted in Quebec (except for certain texts authorized in

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Ontario which the government there has subsidized) the price is automatically reduced in Quebec.

Books published in the United States refer to "our" country which in not Canada and to «our» flag, which is the Stars and Stripes. Illustrations and references in books published outside of Canada do not, in many cases, suit our conditions in the actual wording of the texts as well as in the illustrations. Every child in schools is, or should become, a Canadian versed in the the customs and traditions of Canada, trained in loyalty to its institutions, and proud of its history. Training in such features of Canadian well merits the extra time and effort placed upon the revision of text books by officers of the Departrment of Education and others.

In writing upon this very topic, the Survey Committee states. «The pupil is always the centre of his own world ... To endeavour to place him at the centre of a world other than his own is false psychology and educationally disastrous.»

While the Protestant Committee does not wish to be narrow or provincial in any way, it feels that it is surely not too much to expect that, when opportunities present themselves to authorize specially constructed or adapted text books at no greater cost than that are unadapted the children shloud be given the benefit.

It is interesting to note that, though the Survey Committee makes the recommendation that the Protestant Committee should not prepare special text books, it urges, in other parts of the Report, that certain books, booklets and a map prepared in Quebec for French, Geography and History, for hymns and prayers for opening exercises and for Bible readings.

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Who shall Authorize Text Books? The Report suggests that the text books should be selected (1) by the proposed Board of Education of Greater Montreal (2) for the high schools by the nine proposed district Boards (3) experienced principals may make the choice from an approved list.

The Protestant Committee would like to co-operate with all of the bodies and individuals rather than witness a dissipation of energy the results of which may be of doubtful benefit.

To sum up at this point, concerning text books and course of study the Protestant Committee remarks that:

1. The study of text books alone is not the goal of education and is not so considered by the Protestant Committee.

2. The Protestant Committee considers that the whole child should be educated in its spiritual, moral, social, mental and physical aspects.

3. The books should always be adapted to children’s needs. They may be prepared in Quebec, by Quebec teachers and other competent persons, and Quebec publishers and workmen should obtain the benefits thereof provided always that needless increased cost is not incurred.

4. The cost of text books should always be kept as low as possible and should always be in proportion to the value received.

5. At present the Protestant Committee alone has the right to authorize text books. To alter this procedure, a change in the law would be required.

6. If all the people referred to were to prefer different books in each of the subjects of the various grades, the producing of text books especially suited to Quebec

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would be impossible owing to the probable small number for whom they could be prepared and the possible short period of time for which they would be used.

7. Changes of text books would probably be unduly frequent owing to the constant change of teachers and the not infrequent migration of pupils. The handicaps to the last named would be enormous especially if the parents moved during the month of May near the end of the session. If the public has felt aggrieved at changes of text books in the past, they would doubtless have much more reason to complain if this recommendation were to become effective.

8. Such a procedure would undoubtedly increase the cost of text books greatly.

9. The Protestant Committee greatly prefers to work in co-operation with the various units of the systerm and do its part to hold together our comparatively small and greatly scattered elements. Hitherto a compination of our resources in text book making and selection has been possible. Then Protestant Committee, therefore, concludes that the present policy should be continued.

10. Curriculim building is the work of experts. So important is it that many courses are given elsewhere in this apect of teacher training. But in the short time spent in our teacher training institutions, this phase of learning cannot be dealt with sufficiently. However, the teachers’ representative is always a member of the sub-committee on course of Study and Text Books and brings forward recommendations from the Teachers’ Association when text books are being revised. Special committees of teachers are set up from time to time to assist the Protestant Committee with its labours. Such[75] special committees have assisted and are assisting with the courses of Study and Text Books in Music, Art, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French and Mathematics.

11. Joint action by the Protestant Committee, the Montreal Boards and the Teachers’ Associations, should be continued in the future as in the past and should be much more effective than spasmodic efforts that can be made by Boards or teachers individually, which may result in much haphazard choice and involve hardship upon parents and children.

In terminating its review of the section of the Report dealing with the course of study and text books, the Protestant Committee recommends that:

1. School Boards should increasingly give attention to providing more options in the schools.

2. The policies already established in Science, Art, Music, Household Science and Handwork as suggested in the Report should be extended and introduced in as many schools as possible.

3. Text books should always be adapted to children’s needs. They may be preprared in Quebec, by Quebec teachers and other competent persons whenever possible that Quebec publishers and workment may obtain the benefits thereof. It is provided, however, that needless increased cost be in no case incurred.

4. The price of text books should always be kept as low as possible as recommended in the Report.

5. The present system of co-operation with all competent school officials and teachers in the choosing of text books for use in Protestant Schools should be continued.

6. Every effort should be made to keep the course of study up to date." [76]

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