Exploring Our Educational Past: Schooling in the North-West Territories and Alberta

George G. Ambury is an associate professor of adult education at
Queen’s University.

Nick Kach, from the University of Alberta, and Kas Mazurek, from the
University of Lethbridge, present 10 articles dealing with a variety of
facets of the history of education in Alberta. The book begins with a
useful chapter on history and historiography in Alberta, with the body
of the text divided into three parts: “Early Conflicts,” “Issues
of Opportunity and Equality,” and “The Search for an Educational
Vision.” Topics that are addressed include early Catholic schooling,
aboriginal education, language issues, vocational relevance, women and
education, rural-urban issues, and the rise and fall of progressive
education in the province. No attempt is made at providing a cohesive
historical work; this is a book of readings, primarily by authors from
universities and colleges in Alberta. However, an element of overall
cohesiveness is provided through introductions to each section and a
concluding chapter bringing the reader up to 1961.