A new study by University of Alberta Professor of Education Amy von Heyking reveals that anti-Americanism is a prominent theme of Canadian school textbooks. Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Heyking’s study found that Americans are presented to students as young as grade school aged as dishonorable bullies, compared to "orderly, harmonious and gentlemanly" Canadians. Heyking - a specialist in the history of curricula and teaching materials - reviewed 75 different classroom textbooks in the subjects of Canadian history, geography, civics and social studies in secondary and elementary schools. Heyking says, "After the Second World War the United States emerged as a champion of democracy around the world. This allowed Canada to trumpet its status as middle-power broker to negotiate and compromise in a way that the United States couldn’t." Canada Free Press reports that textbooks have consistently painted American society as "revolutionary and lawless," and dismiss America’s role in World War I, claiming the "tide had already turned" by the time American forces entered the fray.
Canada’s last two liberal prime ministers, Paul Martin and John Chretien -- products of Canadian classrooms -- are enthusiastic lovers of the U.N. and call U.N. adviser to Secretary General Kofi Annan a friend and mentor. Canada also refused to assist in the efforts to create democracy in Iraq and has criticized the U.S. and its allies. One of Canada’s candidates for re-election on June 28, liberal MP Carolyn Parrish, proclaimed, "I hate those American bastards," and MP Colleen Beumier is known as "Baghdad Beumier" because of her sympathies for Iraq. Entire chapters in Canadian textbooks are devoted to "bad housing as the American way," and a significant factor in America’s crime rate. But the anti-American sentiment is not new in our northern socialist neighbor. According to a popular Canadian textbook from 1934, American children are raised in "filthy tenements, driven out upon the streets to play in gangs." Chalk it up to Canada’s long time malady: jealousy. |