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Nationalism in the Classroom?- Part 2

© Valerie Ringrose

Welcome back! In this second section I am discussing why nationalism should not be taught in the classroom.

Nationalism is synonymous with patriotism. Patriotism is a very touchy subject that the government supports but that may not be possible in Canada. Because living in Canada means so many things to so many people, it is very difficult to define just what Canadians should be patriotic about.

I suggest that there is a fundamental difference between patriotism and citizenship. Patriotism involves lying and deception. It involves changing history in ways that suit the needs of the country. A country cannot be patriotic to a war "hero" who lost a war. In subtle ways, the government can change the loss and make people believe that it was actually a victory. This gives reason for patriotism. For example, the CBC made the defeat of the French by the English on the Plains of Abraham into a victory for both sides. It did this by focusing on the common burial site for both sides. But should Canadians really believe that it was a double victory?

This is where citizenship enters the scene. Citizenship is simply taking part in the affairs of the country in which you live. Most Canadians are clueless about the details of important Canadian issues. This is because they don’t understand Canadian events. If students do not understand that the French see the Battle of the Plains of Abraham as the place where they lost their country, how can they understand issues of separation?

Citizenship, I think, allows for intellectual growth. Patriotism, on the other hand, tends to make a person more ignorant and less able to handle the truth. Patriotism encourages competition while citizenship encourages cooperation. In encouraging citizenship, teachers need not rely on lies, exaggerations, or other such things. Citizenship is also much more inclusive. Anyone can learn facts about Canada so as to be able to intelligently participate in national affairs. Patriotism, however, is very difficult if the citizens do not feel attached to a capital city. I am sure that in places like Britain people feel much more attached to London than Canadians do to Ottawa. This is very understandable- I would not expect a person from BC or Newfoundland to feel particularly close to a city days away.

So, although students do need to have some sort of idea of who they are as Canadians, perhaps teachers should focus more on citizenship rather than on patriotism. It may seem boring in the long run, but many students who have taken citizenship courses emerge enlightened and ready to participate in the very debates that make Canadian nationalism so difficult to create.