Well, Seems Like Someone Wasn't Paying Attention in School...

Justin Hoffer, from Raging Tory makes a rather unusual assertion:

Freedom continues to suffer as separatist revisionists destroy our history.

[...]

As political correctness continues to destroy our freedoms, it begins to rewrite our history. Here's something they don't teach you in school. Canada went through two rebellions before we were released from British rule. No one I know was ever taught this in school. Not even my parents.

Now, you see, I find this claim a bit odd, since I distinctly recall being taught about the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada in Grade 8. I recall writing an essay on the topic. Emphasis was placed more on Upper Canada than Lower Canada, but given that my Grade 8 education was in Ontario, that's to be expected - we could have field trips to emphasize the Upper Canada Rebellion. The Lower Canada Rebellion would've been a bit of a hike.

A cursory search turns up this curriculum document. Page 57:

Students examine the causes of the rebellions of 1837–38 in Upper and Lower Canada and describe the roles various men and women played in the conflict. Students use inquiry/research and communication skills to identify social, economic, political, and legal changes in the colonies between 1837 and 1850 and to analyse their importance. Students consider ideas about conflict and change, methods of creating change, and methods of conflict resolution in both historical and contemporary contexts.

So, more accurately, Justin should have said "Here's something that they teach you in elementary school."

There's also a certain delicious irony that he's touting the Rebellions of 1837 as a demonstration that the sword is mightier than the pen, and a shining example of Canada's rebellious spirit, when the Lower Canada Rebellion is held up by the same separatists he condemns in the beginning of the post as a cause célèbre.

Update: A Lame Defense Avails Him Naught

Quoth Justin:

Must be just my NDP government here in Manitoba that blocks it out, then. My older brother wasn't taught about it, and my younger sister, who is still in school, hasn't been taught, either.

Hm. Well, then, there must be something wrong with this Grade 5 Social Studies Curriculum Document I procured from the government of Manitoba's education website. Because, you know, it says (on page 183, introducing Cluster 4):

Students examine life and citizenship in British North America. This study includes a focus on the United Empire Loyalists, War of 1812, Selkirk Settlement, 1837 to 1838 Rebellions, and the people, issues, and events surrounding the origins of Canadian Confederation.

And I suppose the activities on pages 199:

Students read or listen to excerpts from Lord Durham’s report on problems in Canada following the Rebellions of 1837-1838. Students discuss Durham’s main points and make predictions about the solutions he will propose. Students share their predictions with each other and discuss what they think life may have been like in Upper Canada and Lower Canada at this time, making connections to some of the ongoing historical issues faced by Canada as a nation.

204:

Using print and electronic resources, students research people or groups involved in the Rebellions of 1837 to 1838, as well as the aftermath of the Rebellions. Students record the position and actions of the individual during and after the rebellions.

205:

Students listen to the lyrics of the traditional French folk song, Un Canadien Errant/ AWandering Canadian, about an exiled Patriote following the Rebellion in Lower Canada. Students discuss the feelings expressed in the song, and other observations (e.g., their impressions of the consequences of the rebellions, whether they think the punishment of the rebels was fair, did the reformers make the right choice in resorting to violence, and were their actions effective in changing government?).

and 206:

Students assume the role of an individual involved in the 1837 and 1838 Rebellions (e.g., the radicals Louis-Joseph Papineau in Lower Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada), or the moderates (e.g., Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine in Lower Canada and Robert Baldwin in Upper Canada), and prepare and present a persuasive speech expressing their position.
TIP: Refer to the Acquiring Strategy earlier in this Learning Experience that refers to roles in the Rebellions (BLM 5.4.3o—Role Cards: Rebellions of 1837 and 1838). As a part of their presentation, the students representing the reformer groups may collaborate to develop action plans to counteract the Family Compact in Upper Canada and the Château Clique in Lower Canada.

...were missed by the NDP's revisionist leftist censors, eh? Or maybe poor Justin was tired and fell asleep in class a lot, because the persecution complex that he was developing, even then, was keeping him up at night.

The Progress of a Right Winger (Conclusion):

Step 1: Lefties are destroying history! (Also, they are somehow responsible for the threatened violence related to a reenactment of the Plains of Abraham!)

Step 2: Well, maybe not ALL lefties, but the lefties where I live are!

Step 3: Well, maybe not the lefties in my area, but the ones who taught me were!

Step 4: *sulks*