--- evian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > we've never even
> here, we didn't
> even learn anything
> about most of Canada, apart from the "all important"
> Ontario and Quebec
> (is there any wonder why the west has resentment for
> the East?).
Yeah, yeah, let the eastern bastards freeze in the
dark and all that. Technically we're the middle -
don't forget the maritimes - that's the *real* east!
I'm sure people here really do believe Toronto is the
centre of the universe. (I hope we DON'T get the
Olympics, or we'll never hear the end of it!)
> I went
> to school in B.C. until Grade 6, and Saskatchewan
> from 7-12, and it
> wasn't until Grade 12 history (Which was an
> elective), that I learned
> ANYTHING about the west, or about the maritimes, or
> the north. However,
> I *DID* learn all about textiles in Georgia, and
> what the major exports
> were in all these states that meant nothing to me.
This explains why I was turned off both history and
geography at an early age and, once I had a choice, I
dropped them like hot patooties. Once past Grade 10
history was history to me.
My daughter, now in Grade 8, has, in the past few
years, studied the usual dead white guys discovering/
conquering/ exploring/sailing up the whutzit river and
yawn and yawn. On the other hand, they also learn
about aboriginal peoples (something we were taught
little of) and every now and then something female is
thrown in (wherever they can find it buried by or
among the dead white guys.) We had a good chance to
talk about the shitty deal the Spaniards gave the
Incas (including murdering their emperor, genocide,
the usual stuff) and I'm pleased to say that Sarah has
a keen sense of the injustices done throughout the
ages. I knew it was time to deal with the Santa thing
when she was about 7 and said that if Santa gave
presents only to rich kids, then he was mean and it
wasn't fair.
Like you, i have no idea why studying what is produced
where is so important, but let's face it, we're a
business and product-oriented society, esp. here in
Ontario (centre of the universe) with the gov't we
have (let the private sector handle everything because
they did it so well). I'm sure I could probably still
get 40/50 on a test of what the capitals of all the US
states are, although what use this might be to me
outside of a trivia contest (with big stakes, else I'm
not playing!) I have no idea. But it's there, in my
brain, in case I ever need it.
Enjoy your baby!
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