An important change took place in Ontario schools during the Second World War. As men prepared themselves to be shipped overseas, schools too prepared for the repercussions of total war. As prevailing ideologies and propaganda pushed attitudes in support of the national interest, the Ontario Department of Education too pushed similar agendas as they were seen as quasi-civil servants. During wartime, alongside being educators, teachers also became responsible for engaging children in acts of social welfare and fundraising towards the war effort. The federal government also took the glorification of war and war heroes, and replaced it with respect and honour for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. At schools, pupils were told that they too could make the ultimate sacrifice for their country and that their every contribution brought Canada closer to victory, peace and freedom. As such, this essay will explore the mobilization of Ontario youth during the Second World War, and look at the various reforms made by the Ontario Department of Education and, how these changes were justified as being for the betterment of the youth. It will also look at how students, “too young to enlist or grasp the severity of the war”, took on serious responsibilities and acquired a sense of purpose during the war and how this spawned concerns over their moral and social health. Lastly, this essay will show that during the Second World War, colleges and universities in Ontario did not stand idly by and provided female students a platform to mobilize towards the war effort. As war lingered on, the government was making dramatic appeals for devotion and sacrifice. The government wanted to persuade the nation’s youth to partake in the w... ... middle of paper ... ..... "Education in Canada, 1939-46." History of Education Journal 3, no. 1 (Autumn 1951): 7-13. Sethna, Christabelle. "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home: Absent Fathers, Working Mothers, and Delinquent Daughters in Ontario during World War II." In Family Matters: Papers in Post-Confederation Canadian Family History, edited by Lori Chambers and Edgar-André Montigny. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press, 1998. 19-41. The Canada Year Book 1945. Ottawa: Edmond Cloutier, 1945. The Globe and Mail (Toronto), "Teachers Urge All Students Be VD Tested," December 29, 1944. The Varsity (Toronto), September 21, 1942. The Varsity (Toronto), September 28, 1942. Toronto Daily Star, "Juvenile Delinquency: A War Neurosis," October 13, 1943. Vox Lycei 1940-1941. Ottawa: Lisgar Collegiate Institute, 1941. Vox Lycei 1943-1944. Ottawa : Lisgar Collegiate Institute, 1944.
Stacey, C. P. Six Years of War: The Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific.
look at the impact of the Second World War on the various aspects of life of the Canadians.
American women in World War II brought significant changes which although people expectation that life would go back to normal they modify their lifestyle making women free of society pressure and norms, because the war changed the traditional way to see a woman and their roles leading to a new society where women were allowed to study and work in the same way than men. Creating a legacy with the principles of today’s society.
Tim O’Brien finds himself staring at his draft notice on June 17, 1968. He was confused and flustered. O’Brien does not know how or why he got selected for the draft. All he knew was that he was above the war itself, “A million things all at once—I was too good for this war. Too smart, too compassionate, to everything. It couldn’t happen” (41). He was also demented on the fact that he, a war hater, was being drafted. He felt if anyone were to be drafted it should be the people who supported the war. “If you support a war, if you think it’s worth the price, that’s fine, but you have to put your own precious fluids on the line” (42). His draft notice was when he first carried his thought of embarrassment. He instantly thought if he does not support the war he should not have to go to war. The only way not to go to war was to flee the country so the draft council could not find him. He had a moral split. “I feared the war, yes, but I also feared exile” (44). This quote is so true in young adults, not only then, but also now. Peer pressure, the thought of being embarrassed if we do not do something, pushes many young adults to do things they do not want to such as pushing Tim O’Brien to enter the draft. The thought of being judged ...
Most women in Canada before World War One (WWI) were treated poorly compared to the men. Women were dehumanized and were not looked as any worth or value. During WW1 women’s roles in Canada changes to a great extent. The war influence change in the work force and politics. Women had to take on jobs of the men who went to war to keep the established economic system running. In 1911 before the war 16.6% of the female population of 2,521,000 participated in the labour force. During the war in 1921 the participation rate increased from 418,486 female workers to 563,578. War changed their roles greatly as before women were housewives, they would raise the children and do household chores. Now during the war they were needed as men went overseas
The Young People of Today, a series of opinion polls conducted among young educated Frenchmen by Henri Massis and Alfred de Tarde find romantic sentiments for war much like von Treitschke. The two authors interviewed a professor who tried to explain that there were in fact unjust wars, however, according to the professor, “the class obviously did not follow me; they rejected that distinction” (Massis and de Tarde 224). Massis and de Tarde go on to write about the many young men who left their high studies to pursue lives as soldiers because for them “it is not enough, for them to learn history: they are making it” (Massis and de Tarde 224).
Teenage life in Canada during the 1950’s is hard to understand unless having lived there. With this new demographic, many things had to be created in order to satisfy this demographic, such as clothing, music, rules, and schools. Unique aspects of teenage life in this era include a lot of rules, the movie theatre, rock n roll and the way they communicated to each other. Issues teenagers faces include marginalization, condemnation and disapproval. The new demographic helped Canada as it made the “children” demographic smaller, and it gave the teenagers more freedom, independence and they finally felt as they could have their own “stuff” as they would call their music, their clothes, their friends their social life etc.
The post-war time was a period where major changes were occurring. After being involved in two international conflicts, Canada was ready to reestablish their economy. During this time, Canada had started working on ways to become stronger and reputable. It is evident that Canada had matured through the post-war era. Canada’s economic progress left a positive impact on the growth of the country as consumerism became popular, and economic ties with America became stronger. Moreover, the removal of racial and ethical barriers contributed to Canadian social affairs such as the huge wave of immigration and the baby boom. The Canadian government also had become more aware and involved in issues impacting Canadian citizens. Canada as a whole started identifying itself as an independent nation and participating in events that brought a positive reputation amongst them. These economical, social, and legal changes helped Canada mature into the country it is today.
CBC (2014). A history of residential schools in Canada - Canada - CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/a-history-of-residential-schools-in-canada-1.702280
My interviewee went through a lot during World War II and sharing her amazing story left me evaluating her words for a long time, rethinking and still not willing to imagine the pain. She was one of the 150,000 American woman served in the Women’s Army Corps during the war years. They were one of the first ones to serve in the ranks of the United States Army. She recalls being teased a lot about being a young woman in a uniform but was very proud of it. Women finally were given the opportunity to make a major contribution to the national affair, especially a world war. It started with a meeting in1941 of Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers and General George Marshall, who was the Army’s Chief of Staff. Rogers asked General to introduce a bill to establish an Army women’s corps, where my interviewee, Elizabeth Plancher, was really hoping to get the benefits after the World War II along with other women. ( Since after World War I women came back from war and were not entitled to protection or any medical benefits. )
As evidenced by his words, it was not simply a matter of going over there at the age of seventeen to fight for one’s country. Rather, it was a matter of leaving behind the safety and security of the home to which you were accustomed, with little expectation of returning. At a time when these ‘kids’ should have been enjoying, they were burdened with the the trepidation of being drafted.
This investigation will evaluate the question, to what extent did the British Women’s Auxiliary Air Force assist the Allies’ war efforts during the Second World War? This question is important because in World War 1 British women were active in the war effort but to a limited extent, acting as nurses on the battle field and working in munitions factories, but resumed their traditional roles in society after the war. In World War 2 women were more active in the military through auxiliary groups, such as Women’s Auxiliary Force (WAAF) and it is important to understand how much of an impact their work made on the Allies war effort. The scope of this investigation focuses on the use of WAAFs in World War 2, from 1941 to 1950. One method to be used during this investigation will be the analysis of several personal accounts of former WAAFs. This source will be used to gain insight on the level of contribution of the WAAFs. Another method employed is the examination of Sniper Girls and Fearless Heroines, a research paper about the duties of female British auxiliary groups and how they were portrayed in Canadian English press, which provides a foreign view of the WAAF’s impact and duties.
Introductory Paragraph: The 1920s were years of political controversy and defying social. standards, this time in Canada would mark an era which would pioneer the way for those to come in. regards to daring fashion, radical opinions, progressive technologies and political changes. “ The Roaring Twenties” is a phrase often used when describing this period of time in North America. phrase is justified by the cultural and artistic diversity of the time, it was a period of glamour and prosperity for many of us.
After forcing 60 million deaths, World War II was a disastrous event. Anyway, it transformed Canada from a small country into a well-respected and thriving nation. Canada’s participation in the Second World War had a very significant impact on it as a Country. Canada faced many hardships however, it emerged as a different and united nation. In fact, World War II had paved a new lease of activity in the Canadian setup in aspects such as social developments, economical developments, and political developments.
Ed. W. Gordon West and Ruth Morris. Toronto, Canada: A Canadian Scholar? Press, 2000. 89-99.