The article “The Boys in the Nova Scotian Coal Mines: 1873-1923” by Mcintosh was written to highlight the change in view regarding childhood and education between the years of 1873-1923. Previous to the institution of mandatory attendance within the school, youth and in particular young boys were necessary to the financial success and stability of the nuclear family. This article aids in our understanding of the Canadian past as it sheds light on the installation of mandatory education within Nova Scotia and the changing cultural perceptions of childhood and institutionalized education. This article left me wondering how working-class parents were able to move past resisting legislation which demands youth to attend school, to acceptance and compliance with the changed law. If children created a substantial contribution to the family income, how were these families able to move away from sending children into the labour force to encouraging education within the classroom setting? How did these families make up for the lost income? It seems that ideas around the concept and interpretation of childhood were inevitably changing yet it seems odd that these ideas surrounding youth changed so drastically when the nuclear family depended so heavily on the daily presence and aid of children.

Within “ Motherhood and Public Schooling in Victorian Toronto” Clubine elaborates on the parental view of mandatory education. This article reinforces the statement of youth being necessary for the success of the family. Whether participating in paid or unpaid work, the family depended on the contribution from every member. The main thesis of this paper highlights that while mothers felt they had the right to decide when their child attended school, they did not neglect the importance of education. While they did agree children should attend school, the mother figure sought to have control over the education experience. It seems that the mother’s control over education and opinion on how valuable education was to a child was dictated by the needs of the family. Overall, this article sheds light on our understanding of Canadian history as it shows a side of the story which represents parents supporting the idea of mandatory education for youth. The article relies on the primary source of W.C. Wilkson’s diaries for the majority of information which supports the case of parental acceptance of mandatory education. Overall, the argument of Clubine does make logical sense. Within the cities, families depended less on children financially, so it seems fit that these families would be more accepting of the enforcement of school attendance. However, it also brings up the important factor of making decisions for one’s self. Children who intentionally missed school when encouraged to attend from society and parental figures highlight the maturity children developed from becoming accustomed to working environments. They clearly felt the desire to make decisions about their lives which could have stemmed from the responsibility they held within the household to provide.

It seems that these two articles share different views on the parental interpretation of mandatory education. Within Mcintosh’s article, it seems that families opposed mandatory attendance as the family needed the work of children to function successfully. On the other hand, Clubine’s article sheds light on the parent’s approval of mandatory attendance, and while mothers in particular still attempted to hold control over their child’s presence in class, they did not deny the benefits of education. I think it is important to remember that these articles show different views because they represent different people. It seems that Mcintosh’s writing sheds light on those living in more rural communities while Clubine is talking about families who live in more urban or city centres. This contrast is important as it aids in our understanding of different views on the change in the legislature and the different types of Canadians it affected.

Whether or not mandatory school should be the law for youth is a rather difficult question to answer. Instant response to the question is yes, education should be mandatory. Basic levels of literacy are necessary for today’s society to reach what western society considers success. However, I am a strong believer that some of the most important learning experiences occur outside of a formal educational setting. In western society today, education is mandatory and often not questioned; however, in certain parts of the world education for youth is not mandatory and sometimes not obtainable. While these parts of our world function and operate entirely different than our own, their cultural values emphasize the importance of education through experience rather than the classroom. In modern times basic levels of literacy in terms of reading, writing, and arithmetic are necessary to function within society, but it’s difficult to say if this would be the case if legislation around mandatory school attendance were never established. Overall, I don’t think I am educated enough on the topic to decide whether it should be the law for all children to attend school.