The Paikin Podcast JDM Stewart: The History Wars, Statues, and Teaching Kids About the Prime Ministers
Sep 12, 2025
In this engaging discussion, historian and former teacher JDM Stewart dives into his book, focusing on how to effectively teach Canadian history, especially the legacy of prime ministers. He reveals the surprising gaps in student knowledge about past leaders and advocates for a more nuanced curriculum. Stewart categorizes PMs from transformational to irrelevant, reflects on overlooked Indigenous histories, and tackles the controversies surrounding statues and public memory. It's a thought-provoking exploration of reconciling history with today's values.
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Classroom Moment Sparked The Book
- JDM Stewart visited a classroom where students couldn't identify Lester B. Pearson from a wall photo.
- That encounter motivated him to write The Prime Ministers to reintroduce leaders to new generations.
Teach History By Weighing Evidence
- Good history teaching shows all evidence and asks students to weigh positives and negatives.
- Educators should avoid 'maple-washed' propaganda and train students to judge based on evidence.
Four Transformational Prime Ministers
- Stewart names Macdonald, Laurier, Pierre Trudeau, and Brian Mulroney as transformational prime ministers.
- Each reshaped Canada: confederation, national identity, rights and bilingualism, and continental economic ties.
