March: Book 1

 

As part of his high school curriculum, one of my students is reading March: Book 1, by Lewis, Aydin, and Powell, in English class. This graphic novel has little literary merit: the characters are all of cardboard, and the plot is spoiled from the start for anyone who knows the history. There is no new information, no new insights, just a series of historical name-drops. To compare it to Spiegelman’s Maus, the success of which it no doubt was written to capitalize on, is to see how superficial it is. It really does not belong on the English curriculum.

It is perhaps an engaging way to read history. But, being ghost-written with a participant, it gives only one perspective, not acceptable in historical studies. Perhaps this is why it has been smuggled into the English curriculum instead.

As history, it is also American history. Canadian classrooms should teach Canadian history, and world history as it affected Canada. What was happening in Canada at the time?

I was alive for some of the fight in the US South for civil rights. It was of some interest, about as much as the uprisings in Iran or Georgia are today, but paled in comparison to concerns about possible nuclear war, the Cold War, Quebec separatism, the FLQ; even the troubles in Northern Ireland were more relevant, and more discussed and debated. Which made sense, in terms of Canada’s history.

The book does not belong on a Canadian curriculum. Are we reading Robert W. Service? Are we reading Stephen Leacock? Are we reading Thomas Chandler Haliburton? Are we reading W.O. Mitchell? Are we reading Mordecai Richler? Are we reading Gabrielle Roy?