Ontario's Plowden Report: British influence on Canadian education in the 1960s

• Published in: History of education (Tavistock) 2013-03, Vol.42 (2), p.204-221
• Main Author: Clausen, Kurt W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 20. Jahrhundert; Bildungsbericht; Bildungsgeschichte; Bildungspolitik; Bildungsreform; Bildungsreise; comparative history; Education policy; Educational Change; Educational History; Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; Geschichte (Histor); Großbritannien; Grundschule; Hall-Dennis Report; Innovations; Kanada; Ontario; Parents & parenting; Plowden Report; Schulbildung; United Kingdom; Vergleichende Geschichtswissenschaft; Wissenstransfer
• ISSN: 0046-760X; 1464-5130
• DOI: 10.1080/0046760X.2012.707690

Treading in the footsteps of past generations, Ontario policy advisers journeyed throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1966 to directly understand the educational reforms that were being undertaken in that country. On their return, these consultants brought back a number of innovations for discussion with their parent committee in the hopes of possible adaptation by the province. When their final submission was tabled two years later, the 'Hall-Dennis Report' (as it became popularly known) went on to reflect the tone for education in the province for a generation. This study examines the impact that Britain's educational policies in the 1960s, and especially the 'Plowden Report' of 1967, may have had on the recommendations found in the Hall-Dennis Report. As well, it ties these two reports to the longstanding legacy of British influence on the Ontario education system 1 . 1 A first version of this work was presented at the History of Education Society Conference, held in London, 26-28 November 2010. Thanks are expressed to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for its support of this endeavour.