Module 3 - Part 2: Historical Foundations in Teaching and Learning 2

The fourth article I read was “Foreign Influences on Curriculum and Curriculum Policy Making in Canada” by George Tomkins. Tomkins examines how Canadian curriculum has been shaped over time by ideas originating outside the country. He emphasizes that tracking educational influence is difficult, but Canadian curriculum has never been developed in isolation. Instead, it has been shaped by French, British, and American educational traditions.

Historically, early Canadian schooling was conservative and heavily influenced by church authority and British academic traditions (Tomkins, 1981). During this period, teachers acted as the authoritative source of knowledge. This began to shift in the mid 1800’s as industrialization, immigration, and social change emerged. Over time, foreign ideas also helped drive innovation, leading to the introduction of “New Education” initiatives such as manual training, science education, and kindergarten. These additions reshaped Canadian schooling between 1880 and 1920 and demonstrate how international influences generated significant change. Teaching and learning were therefore shaped by these global forces, and the curriculum evolved as a reflection of Canada’s broader cultural and political context.

Once again, this article helped me refine my understanding of innovation, creativity, teaching, and learning. International events clearly influenced curriculum in the past, and today we live in a hyper‑connected world where global ideas continue to shape how we teach and how students learn. My previous definitions did not account for how external factors such as global movements, foreign models, or international trends can spark innovation or creativity in education. This article broadened my perspective by showing how deeply Canadian education has been shaped by ideas from elsewhere. After reading the article, I wonder: How has Canada, influenced other education systems around the world?

References:

Tomkins, G. (1981). Foreign influences on curriculum and curriculum policy making in Canada: Some impressions in historical and contemporary perspective. Curriculum Inquiry, 11(2), 157–166. https://doi.org/10.1080/03626784.1981.11075245

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