A grade ten provincial history exam is receiving failing marks with some critics who say the test is not only flawed, but propagandist by focusing on the vision of Quebec as a nation.
Former teachers' union head and retired teacher Jim Wilson said he wrote a scathing letter to the Department of Education after he learned the exam asked questions including what makes Quebec distinct, how Quebec can protect its distinct status and what observations they have about the visions of Quebec as a nation.
"If you don't accept Quebec as a nation or distinct society, you couldn't answer the question," he said.
Angela Mancini, chairperson of the English Montreal School Board, disagrees.
"If they're not able to comment intelligently on those types of issues and we pretend like they don't exist at all, I'm not sure what kind of favour we're doing our students," she said.
The non-compulsory exam, as it turns out, was written by staff at several English school boards in the province, including Lester B. Pearson teacher Rosanna Riccardi, who said there was nothing propagandist about the questions.
"No one was trying to brainwash anyone. There's no propaganda, no hidden political issue here. We just want our students engaged and making education a relevant part of their life," said Riccardi.
Because the exam was not mandatory, many of the English boards opted out of the exam, but students at Lindsay Place High School in Pointe Claire did write the test. It will account for 10 to 20 per cent of their grade.
Students had mixed reactions.
"(It was) just your opinion on what you think of Quebec as a nation," said one student, who felt the exam wasn't biased.
Another grade ten student disagreed.
"Basically what it was saying is that we should be going with separation," he said.
Students will write their compulsory exam Thursday.
