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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-1971 The development of Canadianism in the English-language universities of Quebec, 1960-1970. Robert A. Gordon University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Gordon, Robert A., "The development of Canadianism in the English-language universities of Quebec, 1960-1970." (1971). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 2522. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/2522 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. / S hf. ; Aa iL yAv a c^L-3 efj>t*uU/e</ Mj- jru^frj^Ay) c A^o f ^C f(~f-rt /v Ac ^ t <t j^fW^-L^V ey THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANADIANISM IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE UNIVERSITIES OF QUEBEC 1960-1970 A Dissertation By Robert Arthur Gordon Approved as to style and content by: THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANADIAN ISM IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE UNIVERSITIES OF QUEBEC 1960-1970 A Dissertation By Robert Arthur Gordon Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education May 1971 Major Subject EDUCATION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to acknowledge the three professors who comprised the dissertation committee. Each embodies the finest qualities of the academic profession. To Dr. Ray Budde, whose constructive criticisms, organizational suggestion and constant encouragement were most appreciated. To Dr. William Lauroesch, whose expert help regarding style, language and organization were invaluable; whose sense of humour and buoyant personality were uplifting; and whose dedication to his students is exceptional. To Dr. George Urch, my major advisor, a special mention. His astute observations, suggested alterations, prompt reading of draft copies, and global expertise were of immense value. Above all, his constant encouragement of the writer reflect but one aspect of the personal characteristics of a singularly fine human being. Also, to Mr. Louis Fiset, who programmed the questionnaire for data processing, go my sincerest thanks. Finally, to Miss Patricia Philip, who diligently typed the manuscript with efficiency and good humour throughout, goes my deepest gratitude. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM Background Purpose of the Study Research Methodology Definition of Terms Limitation of Study Related Studies Importance of the Study II. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF QUEBEC IN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Search for Identity Quebec at the Cross-Roads Educational Developments Contemporary Implications III. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE UNIVERSITIES Historical Curricula Trends Concern for Canadianism IV. CURRICULA TRENDS AND THE QUIET REVOLUTION Contemporary Aims Influence of The Collegial System Compulsory Courses 1960-1970 Canadianism and a Decade of Change Canadian Studies Programs Evaluation of Canadian Curricula Content CHARACTERISTICS OF FACULTY AND THE QUIET REVOLUTION . Expansion during the 1960’s Ethnic Origins of Faculty French-Canadian Faculty English-Canadian Faculty Supply and Demand Factors TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter VI. CONTEMPORARY FACULTY ATTITUDES TOWARDS CANADIAN ISM . 134 Need for Canadianism Effectiveness in Preparing Students Compulsory Courses and French Competency Curricula Allocation in Canadian Content VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 165 Delimiting Problems Recommendations for the English-language Universities of Quebec Epilogue APPENDIX A. LIST OF INTERVIEWS 189 APPENDIX B. INTERVIEW SCHEDULE 191 APPENDIX C. QUESTIONNAIRE AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS 193 APPENDIX D. METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES RE QUESTIONNAIRE .... 199 APPENDIX E. DATA RE QUESTIONNAIRE 207 APPENDIX F. SOME COMMENTS REGARDING CANADIANISM 209 BIBLIOGRAPHY 213 v CHAPTER I NATURE AND SCOPE OF PROBLEM Background Throughout the decade of the 1960's, the Province of Quebec underwent a severe economic, educational, social and political transformation. This movement, which was commonly referred to as the Quiet Revolution’, essentially and initially involved an attempt by French-Canadians in Quebec to develop the Province as they saw fit. In short, they wished to become 'Maltres chez-eux' , something which had always been denied them since the British Conquest in 1760, in practice, if not in theory. The Quiet Revolution hoped also to gain for French-Canadians the same privileges enjoyed by English-Canadians , as the majority, across Canada. English minority rights had always been well protected in Quebec. French minority rights in Canada had been guaranteed nominally by the 1 British North America Act of Confederation in 1867. Yet because ^J.H. Stewart Reid, Kenneth McNaught, and Harry J. Crowe, A Source Book of Canadian History: Selected Documents and Personal Papers (Toronto, 1959), p. 264. 2 Confederation consisted of a pragmatic grouping of Provinces which left much jurisdiction in their hands, French linguistic and cultural determination has, in fact, been limited to the Province of Quebec. As Canada developed, French-Canadians remained isolated for the most part in Quebec, rooted to their Church and to an economy based on agriculture and light industry. Before 1960 they rarely demonstrated any propensity to adapt to the requisites of a technological society. Although French-Canadians overwhelmingly have comprised the majority of population in Quebec, the rapid increase in the numbers of Canadians who spoke English, and the accompanying economic domination of Quebec by English-Canadian and American interests, has not allowed French-Canadians to exercise a guiding control even in their ’own’ Province. At the same time, the rest of Canada has been developed generally oblivious of the basic needs and rights of the minority French-Canadians. The dynamic French-Canadian thrust during the last decade has altered the situation in Quebec. English-Canadians , especially those living in Quebec itself, have had to re-cast and to adjust their traditional attitudes and actions. The constant threat of secession, by which the radical French-Canadian Separatistes remind English-Canada that the pact of Confederation can be dissolved at any time, has contributed to this English-Canadian adjustment. The Anglophones have adopted positions ranging from extreme annoyance and/or protective defense mechanisms to ones of sympathetic appreciation of the French-Canadian plight. The 3 English, especially Quebec residents, became decidedly concerned about Canada's future. While it is true that few French-Canadians have openly opted for secession, it has also been suggested by knowledgeable commentators that for sound geographical, economic and political reasons there 3 can be no viable Canada without Quebec. As a new decade begins in 1970, feelings on both sides promise to remain on a tense and emotional plane, at least until the whole question of Quebec's role within Confederation is settled definitively. It has been stated that if the Canadian entity is to survive, the language and culture of the French-Canadian 3 must achieve parity throughout the country. Significant numbers of French-Canadians live outside Quebec and, more importantly, the French-speaking Quebecker can no longer continue to be a stranger in large sections of his own country. For bilingualism and biculturalism to work in Canada, French and English-speaking Canadians alike must work harder to functionalize that duality than they have in the past. The Federal Government recently passed an Official Languages Bill so that some political muscle could be given those who believe in 2 For example, see Thomas Sloan, Quebec: The Not-So-Quiet Revolution (Toronto, 1965), pp. 109-121. 3 Report of Royal C ommis sion on Bil ingualism and B iculturalism , Book I, "General Introduction: The Official Languages" (Ottawa, 1967), pp. 145-49. 4 the duality of Canada based on the equality of the two founding peoples, 4 the French and the English. Edward Corbett, an historian of contemporary Canada, has noted that whether or not the French-Canadian becomes truly an equal partner within Confederation depends 5 in the final analysis on the English-Canadian. Canada is close to the large English-speaking American population to the south and possesses an important voice in the Anglophone British Commonwealth. Thus, the English-Canadian has been, and is, more secure than the French-Canadian. Unfortunately, for the most part he has not viewed the French' question even as being of his concern. Yet, if the dualistic concept of Canada is to mature, there will be increasing pressure for the English-Canadian to face the basic issues squarely. The one— fifth of Quebec s population which is English-speaking has a key role to play in this regard. Their unique position creates a situation simultaneously tenuous and ideally suited to nurturing a successful French-English partnership. Ironically, the English-Quebeckers are now beginning to experience a similar isolation, historically felt by the French-Canadian in North America, in the ’new' Quebec itself. More important, they are in a position to demonstrate to the rest of Canada how two different language and cultural groups can co-exist This amendment to Section 93 of the B.N.A.

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