Minsters launch The Untold Story of the Suffragists of Newfoundland Curriculum Guide

Sandra C. Kelly, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and MHA - Gander, and Judy Foote, Minister of Education, today participated in the official launch of The Untold Story of the Suffragists of Newfoundland, A Curriculum Guide.

The curriculum guide will accompany copies of Marian Frances White's docudrama The Untold Story of the Suffragists of Newfoundland and will be distributed to junior and senior high levels throughout the province. The launch took place at Gander Collegiate High School this morning with Marian Frances White, producer of the film, and a level I class of Canadian History students.

"This project was undertaken to honour the contribution of the suffragists to the advancement of women's equality in our province and to encourage the use of this docudrama in our schools," said Minister Kelly. "It is a very important resource and will go a long way toward recognizing the important role women have played in building our province and our country."

"We are pleased to support resources like The Untold Story as part of the school curriculum," said Minister Foote. "This video will be a valuable addition to the junior high and high school syllabus and make an important part of our social history come alive for students. Through creative projects like this one, we can help our young people discover their past and feel proud of the rich history of Newfoundland's suffragist movement."

The curriculum guide, produced by the Women's Policy Office and the Department of Education, is a resource designed to introduce the story of the 35 year long struggle of Newfoundland and Labrador women to win the vote into classrooms across the province. 

"The release of this curriculum guide to accompany The Untold Story docudrama will ensure that the suffrage struggle will not only be remembered, but also celebrated," said film writer and producer, Marian Frances White. " It is very gratifying to know that students across the province will now graduate from high school knowing the names of several important heroines including Fannie McNeil, Julia Salter Earle and Armine Gosling. I am honoured to be the one to tell this significant story, and commend both the Women's Policy Office and the Department of Education for taking this pivotal initiative."

The curriculum guide outlines the connections between the content of the video and various social studies courses in the junior and senior high program. It follows the chronology of the video, offering background information and activities which can be used to focus in on this era of Newfoundland and Labrador's history. It allows teachers to encourage discussion by students and to initiate activities related to particular issues. It also provides a list of supplementary resources that may be used to enhance and extend the study of women's history in the classroom.

Media contact:

Janice Lockyer, Communications, Women's Policy Office, (709) 729-5730
Andrea Maunder, Communications, Department of Education, (709) 729 0048

2001 03 05                                                         10:45 a.m.