The be-all and end-all of teaching : Nova Scotia's provincial examinations in history, 1893-1972

Abstract

Provincial examinations were administered to secondary history students in Nova Scotia from 1893 until 1972. This study investigates the history examination system and demonstrates how it circumscribed history education. Documents from the provincial examination era reveal an examination system that imposed a straitjacket on the learning and teaching of history. Provincial history examinations demanded little more than the memorization, and recall, of textbook content. In addition to providing content, textbooks also shaped and organized history courses. The comments of examiners, and the observations of educational officials, make it clear that history courses conformed to the textbook content and organization demanded by history examinations. The provincial examination system handcuffed secondary history teachers and students, limiting their function and defining a history education that made memorization and recall paramount. The implications of such an examination system are important to seriously consider before a return to another era of external assessment for secondary history students in Nova Scotia.