The "Old" Geography: Mountains, Rivers, Volcanoes, Etc. The "New" Geography: Blatant Indoctrination

I had a bit of a problem with my son's Grade 9 geography last year. Much of it had little to do with geography per se but afforded an opportunity to sneak in all sorts of "progressive" tropes about things like climate change and the superiority of Canadian socialized health care over America's non-socialized system. (What can I tell you--the textbook was written prior to the glorious age of Obamacare.)

It is thus no surprise that Grade 9 geography in one of Toronto's "Africentric" programs is also an exercise in indoctrination. In this, case, though, it harps on "Africentric" themes/memes:

Geography, Grade 9, Academic (CGC1DP)

This course explores Canada’s distinct and changing character and the geographic systems and relationships that shape it. Students will investigate the interactions of natural and human systems within Canada, as well as Canada’s economic, cultural, and environmental connections to other countries. A particular focus will be on the role and location of the African Diaspora within these systems. Students will evaluate the dominant narratives currently accepted about geographic systems to explore their impact on the identity and self-image of African Canadians and other members of the African diaspora.

To translate from the pedagoguese: the white man still dominates; you're still the victim.