wittygecko Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 I passed my Canadian citizenship test, and I am sure most high school students would fail it. Shouldn't we ask of our students to get the same knowledge of Canada than immigrants applying for their citizenship? If we don’t expect students to have some knowledge of Canada’s heritage and system of government, how can we ask of them to engage in civic activities? So maybe the solution is to have them pass that same test a part of their high school credentials. Just a thought. Quote
Keepitsimple Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 A good thought..... Quote Back to Basics
dre Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 I think its redundant, because the entire school system is already designed around producing productive and well behaved citizens. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
cybercoma Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Absolutely true. Most high school students, who should score 100% of the citizenship test, would probably fail it. Anyone with a GED ought to be able to pass the test. Quote
olpfan1 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 When I was taking history class in grade 10 we could take a citizenship test for extra marks, I took it and got 86 % i doubt anybody will get 99-100% Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 ... Anyone with a GED ought to be able to pass the test. Maybe yes...maybe no... Are the Canadian and American GED tests similar? I decided that I'm going to try to write my GED, so I went to the library and took out a guide with information on the type material I should expect, and some practice tests. It's about a 700 page book, and I got about half way through it before realizing it's all based on the American GED test. Does anyone know how similar the Canadian and American tests would be? Thanks! Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
msj Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Does anyone have an opinion that is based on actual data rather than the usual curmudgeon "kids these days don't know anything?" I don't have kids so I admit I don't know what is being taught in school. Quote If a believer demands that I, as a non-believer, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a secular democracy. Flemming Rose (Dutch journalist) My biggest takeaway from economics is that the past wasn't as good as you remember, the present isn't as bad as you think, and the future will be better than you anticipate. Morgan Housel http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/14/things-im-pretty-sure-about.aspx
dre Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Absolutely true. Most high school students, who should score 100% of the citizenship test, would probably fail it. Anyone with a GED ought to be able to pass the test. Most of the stuff in the test is already part of the curriculum. I dont see what the point of this would be, nor do I see any reason why government should force this test on people that are already legally canadian citizens. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
dre Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Does anyone have an opinion that is based on actual data rather than the usual curmudgeon "kids these days don't know anything?" I don't have kids so I admit I don't know what is being taught in school. Heres the kind of questions that youll find on the citizenship test... What are the Prairie provinces? A. Saskatchewan and Alberta. B. Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia. C. Saskatchewan and Manitoba. D. Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Which province is the only officially bilingual province? A. New Brunswick. B. Ontario. C. Quebec. D. Nova Scotia. Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada? A. Sir John A. Macdonald. B. Simon Fraser. C. Queen Victoria. D. Lester Bowles Pearson. Which document first defined the responsibilities of federal and provincial governments? A. The Constitution Act, 1982. B. The British North America Act. C. The Federal Act. D. The Confederation Act. In which type of industry did most early European settlers work? A. Mining. B. Farming. C. Fur trading. D. Forestry. All of this stuff is already part of the curriculum, and students are already tested on it. That doesnt mean they would get 100% if they took the test... theres good students and bad students out there. What we REALLY need is to get a good introduction to economics/banking/monetary theory into K12, because your average Canadians knows absolutely nothing about these things. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
olpfan1 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Canada consistantly ranks in the top 10 for education among its people in the world I think the older generation on this forum are out of touch with that fact they think younger Canadians are stupid I'm not worried about the youth Quote
eyeball Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 (edited) Canada needs mandatory Canadian citizenship test for high school students What about drop outs? Wouldn't they be like a tax cheat who's evading something that everyone else has to submit to? Edited February 20, 2012 by eyeball Quote I said now watch what you say they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal, oh fanatical criminal
MiddleClassCentrist Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 I think its redundant, because the entire school system is already designed around producing productive and well behaved citizens. That's dream world talk. Quote Ideology does not make good policy. Good policy comes from an analysis of options, comparison of options and selection of one option that works best in the current situation. This option is often a compromise between ideologies.
Tilter Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 I passed my Canadian citizenship test, and I am sure most high school students would fail it. Shouldn't we ask of our students to get the same knowledge of Canada than immigrants applying for their citizenship? If we don’t expect students to have some knowledge of Canada’s heritage and system of government, how can we ask of them to engage in civic activities? So maybe the solution is to have them pass that same test a part of their high school credentials. Just a thought. How absurd--- next you'll be suggesting that they learn Canadian history & getting out to vote. These kids are far too busy scattering litter and spraying graffiti for blocks around their schools. Quote
Argus Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 The Citizenship test is merely designed to ensure that new Canadians have done their best to familiarize themselves with what Canada is and what it stands for. People who grow up in Canada, unless they're growing up entirely within one of the ethnic enclaves, already know what Canada is and what it stands for. Knowing who the first PM was or what job settlers had is really not that important compared to the common cultural touchstones Canadian-born people would naturally share. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Guest Manny Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Quite often tests are given in a subject, as a merely symbolic thing. Administrators and record keepers like to see that there was a test. For this reason, those who develop the questions for such tests know they need to make them relatively easy to pass. There is no point in asking a "trick question" on such a test, or a question whose answer is irrelevant to the overall spirit of the training course. And that raises a bigger question, what is most important here? Is it that people can answer some specific question that on the surface is mere trivial knowledge about Canada? So what? How does that serve our country. Isn't it far more important that we teach about Canadian culture, or more specifically the values that allow people to live together in Canada under our law. THAT's what matters, not whether or not our high school students know exactly where the prairies begin and end. And it should be a mandatory course for everyone. Quote
Tilter Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 Quite often tests are given in a subject, as a merely symbolic thing. Administrators and record keepers like to see that there was a test. For this reason, those who develop the questions for such tests know they need to make them relatively easy to pass. There is no point in asking a "trick question" on such a test, or a question whose answer is irrelevant to the overall spirit of the training course. And that raises a bigger question, what is most important here? Is it that people can answer some specific question that on the surface is mere trivial knowledge about Canada? So what? How does that serve our country. Isn't it far more important that we teach about Canadian culture, or more specifically the values that allow people to live together in Canada under our law. THAT's what matters, not whether or not our high school students know exactly where the prairies begin and end. And it should be a mandatory course for everyone. One interesting thing about this--- if there were questions about western Canada on this test--- no one would get the answers right---- there is NO documentation or history associated with the development of the Canadian west except in smatterings from various books. This causes remarks that I heard from the mouth of a 30ish yuppy --- There is nothing west of Barrie worth mentioning, typical Ontarian thinking. Quote
olpfan1 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 One interesting thing about this--- if there were questions about western Canada on this test--- no one would get the answers right---- there is NO documentation or history associated with the development of the Canadian west except in smatterings from various books. This causes remarks that I heard from the mouth of a 30ish yuppy --- There is nothing west of Barrie worth mentioning, typical Ontarian thinking. bullcrap, we all do not think like that, that is an unfair generalization and a wrong one at that Quote
dre Posted February 20, 2012 Report Posted February 20, 2012 One interesting thing about this--- if there were questions about western Canada on this test--- no one would get the answers right---- there is NO documentation or history associated with the development of the Canadian west except in smatterings from various books. This causes remarks that I heard from the mouth of a 30ish yuppy --- There is nothing west of Barrie worth mentioning, typical Ontarian thinking. Thats just typical regionalism nothing too sinister. I live on Vancouver Island, and I basically consider everything east of Horseshoe Bay to be France/Europe. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
Sa'adoni Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 Thats just typical regionalism nothing too sinister. I live on Vancouver Island, and I basically consider everything east of Horseshoe Bay to be France/Europe. Ontario has civics as a mandatory course I believe http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/canworld10ex/civics.pdf Quote
Guest Manny Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 Thats just typical regionalism nothing too sinister. I live on Vancouver Island, and I basically consider everything east of Horseshoe Bay to be France/Europe. Really? We judge you by your limp wristed hockey team, the embarrasing fans, and an affinity for dope addiction. Seems Swedish to me... Quote
Evening Star Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 Yes, as dre mentioned, these are all things that are covered in mandatory history and civics courses. Quote
dre Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 Really? We judge you by your limp wristed hockey team, the embarrasing fans, and an affinity for dope addiction. Seems Swedish to me... Vancouver Island doesnt have a hockey team. The team you refer to is on the other side of Georgia Straits... In france. And I dunno what team you follow, but if theyre over there on the east coast, chances are the only reasons theyre wrists are so strong, is because they get a FULL SUMMER OF GOLF IN!... Every... single... year... Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
Guest Manny Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 Vancouver Island doesnt have a hockey team. Say no more... please Quote
msj Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 Vancouver Island doesnt have a hockey team. The team you refer to is on the other side of Georgia Straits... In france. And I dunno what team you follow, but if theyre over there on the east coast, chances are the only reasons theyre wrists are so strong, is because they get a FULL SUMMER OF GOLF IN!... Every... single... year... Yes, I live on VI too and feel the same way as you. Quote If a believer demands that I, as a non-believer, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a secular democracy. Flemming Rose (Dutch journalist) My biggest takeaway from economics is that the past wasn't as good as you remember, the present isn't as bad as you think, and the future will be better than you anticipate. Morgan Housel http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/14/things-im-pretty-sure-about.aspx
Tilter Posted February 21, 2012 Report Posted February 21, 2012 bullcrap, we all do not think like that, that is an unfair generalization and a wrong one at that Would you care to enlighten us on the name of a textbook outlining western Canadian History? Quote
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