If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out the new
historical education exhibit! The new exhibit is titled Ephemeral Lessons: The Evolution of Student Workbooks in Ontario Schools, 1904 – 1985 and it is now on display on the ground floor of the OISE Library.
The exhibit focuses on historical student workbooks currently held in the Ontario Historical Education Collection (OHEC), which includes the Ontario Textbook Collection (OTC). Unlike a class reader or textbook, which would remain in a school collection from year to year, workbooks would typically be discarded or become student property once used. Due to this ephemerality, historical student workbooks can be both fragile and rare and, despite being a central component of a student’s learning experience, they are often overlooked in educational research.
Workbooks were not c
ommonly used in Ontario learning programs until after the 1930s and many of the earlier workbooks in the OISE historical collection are from the 1940s and 50s. Early commentators writing on workbooks as an educational device championed them as way to individualize teaching programs, to bring efficiency to the classroom, and to improve moral character. The material qualities of student workbooks were also considered; the quality of paper, binding, and printing were important factors in successful workbook programs. There were, however, also concerns that the workbook could take responsibility and agency away from teachers by overly systematizing education. Balancing independent learning with teacher contact remains a relevant issue, however the benefits of workbooks and worksheets are shown through their continued presence in classrooms today.
The OISE collection contains student workbooks
spanning from the 1890s up until the end of the 20th century. They provide valuable insight into the educational programs of the 20th century. Research into historical student workbooks can reveal much about the educational program at the time, the expectations for students and teachers, the cultural norms, bias, and anxieties of the period, and their influence on today’s learning environments.
You are welcome to view the workbooks and other historical teaching materials in the Ontario Historical Education Collection. Please visit us at the OISE Library Reference Desk or email kathleen.imrie@utoronto.ca for more information.