Canadian Culture in the Classroom Essay Example for Free

Canadian Culture in the Classroom Essay There is a real lack of appreciation for Canadian literature across Ontario. In grade 12 classrooms across the province there is a wide variety of material studied, very little of it being of Canadian descent. While good writers exist in all cultures, Ontario students should mainly study Canadian authors as there needs to be focus on Canadian culture, to also promote and establish current authors, and to encourage young Canadian writers. Southern neighbours have already swamped Canada with their various ways of life. There is no reason for American culture to leak into the classroom. Canadian culture has never had the chance to blossom, even with the potential possessed, because of the storied and rich culture that has preceded it. Always under the thumb of foreign culture, Canadian authors were always an afterthought. For years, a student in Ontario would study Shakespeare and other British writers, and today, even American writers such as Fitzgerald. All of them, no doubt writing quality literature, but the big picture is being missed. Many schools limit a student’s exposure to a Canadian novel to ISP reading lists. In this sense, Canada is an attic in which we have stored American and British literature without considering our own (Davies, Letters in Canada 426). No wonder a Canadian student has problems appreciating there culture. It seems as though that any Canadian literature studied is out of date to begin with. This includes works such as Mordecai’s Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz or Lawrence’s, Stone Angel. Fifth Business, which was published in 1970 over 40 years ago is still on many courses of study in Gr. 12 classrooms. Atwood’s Handmade Tale, the most recent of these books was published in 1985; over twenty five years ago. Again, while most teachers allow and may even encourage a student to focus on more modern Canadian books for their ISP, the classroom experience is almost always limited to studying these golden oldies. In order for Canadian literature to become a staple in the Ontario classroom, there needs to be an infusion of modern Canadian novels. Then there is the issue of these out of date authors not reflecting our modern multicultural society. There needs to be a variety of races represented in literature because, it is these very people which make Canada so diverse. As Robertson Davies stated†¦ â€Å"Canada is not going to have a national literature in the mode of those European lands where a long history has bound the people together, and where a homogeneous racial inheritance has given them a language, customs, and even a national dress of their own† (Transactions 35). We need to look at the work of Canadian authors who have come here from different backgrounds as to inspire young authors of all races. There is no doubt a brilliant mind out there, who could turn into a Canadian icon, but simply has no interest in Hamlet or Life of Pi. As Canadians, we are lost in a sea of international influences; we hardly know who we are. No wonder that Margaret Atwood can comment that Canadians have issues with establishing their identity. In discussing Canadian writers, she argues a Canadian state of mind does not really exist†¦ â€Å"Im talking about Canada as a state of mind, as the space you inhabit not just with your body but with your head. Its that kind of space in which we find ourselves lost (Margaret 18). In order for this great nation to continue to produce young writers, to establish the current authors, and to gain Canadian literature the respect it deserves, the focus in the Canadian classroom needs to be on Canadian writers. While some might think that students will be prevented from studying the best literature out there, taking this approach will allow Canadian students to see the value of our authors, especially with the many talented Canadian authors. Although there is no need to completely uproot staples such as Shakespeare, from a curriculum, Canadian culture need to be priority number one. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature. Toronto: McLelland and Stewart, 1972. Print. Davies, Robertson. Letters in Canada. Toronto: Macmillan Press, 1979. Print. Davies, Robertson. Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada. IV. XIII. Ottawa: Royal Society of Canada, 1975. Print.