Quebec shelves controversial new history course

Education MinisterSbastienProulx's decision to shelvea proposed reform of Quebec'shigh school history curriculum is being welcomed by critics who worried it shut out minorities.

• New Quebec high school history course called out for lack of diversity
• Why teach history? The battle over Quebec's high school history curriculum

A spokesperson forProulxtold CBC Newsthat Quebec'sEducation Department will delay the implementation of the new curriculum, pending the results of a pilot project.

"Many consultations have taken place, and improvements are constantly being made,"Marie-veDionsaid in anemail.

"The goal of the new program is to be as representative and inclusive as possible."

The curriculum had initially been scheduled to be rolled out inthe new school year, but that timeline will now likely be pushed back.

An early draft of the proposed curriculum proved controversial to many observers, who pointed out it made little room for the experiences of Aboriginal people, anglophonesand immigrants.

Critics of that early draft hope the delay is a sign the government is takingthe time toaddress their concerns.

It wasadeeply conservative, nationalist take on Quebec'spast.- EMSB history teacher John Commins

"It's good news for all students in Quebec," saidJohnCommins, a longtime history teacher in the English Montreal School Board who had reviewed the proposednew curriculum.

"This course didn't speak to every component of Quebec society."

When drafts of the new history curriculum were circulated by the CBC earlier this year, Aboriginal activists pointed out there was little mention of residential schools. That's despite a key recommendation from Canada's Truth and Reconciliation commission that the experience of generations of Aboriginal Canadians be integrated into every province's curriculum.

There was also scant mention of the Irish, Italians, Greeksor any of the otherimmigrant groups who make up Quebec society.

"It was deeply conservative, nationalist take on Quebec'spast," saidCommins. "I'm hoping there can be other influences brought to bear on the program."

'Step in right direction'

The Quebec Community Groups' Networkan umbrella organization for English-language minority groups across the province had expressed concernsthat English-speaking Quebecerswere only mentioned twice in the curriculum.

They, too,welcomedProulx's decision to ice the proposed reforms, calling it "astep in the right direction."

The new curriculum was the initiativeof the previousPartiQubcoisgovernment. It was meant to replace the 2006 edition of the provincial curriculum which wascriticizedfor attempting to cram too much history into a single yearof instruction.

The new curriculum proposes to break up the required history course over Secondary III and IV.