Your Community
in the Context of
World History

A Learning Opportunity

Discuss the impact of the Agricultural Revolution in Lowland Scotland on the development of rural Scottish communities in pre-Confederation Canada. Use this web site, www.scarboroughrecord.com, and the bibliographical sources listed on www.mccowan.org/james4.htm and linked pages as your principle resources.

James (Shocked): What! That rent increase is outrageous!

Mr. Gibson (Stone-faced): Well, take it or leave it. I can find someone else who will pay this rent.

James: That may be, but it is still outrageous. (Pauses.) Look around. I've maintained this property with pride. Do you think someone else will care for the house and yards as much as we have? After paying your rent, they'll have nothing left for repairs and improvements.

Mr. Gibson (Snickering): Not a big deal -- if they don't look after it and make the improvements, they'll be out too. I'll find others.

Margaret: (Trembling) Don't you have any sympathy at all for ordinary people like us? Our cost of living is going up every day. Why would you do this to us?

Mr. Gibson: Because I can -- and I will.

James (Frowning as he turns to Margaret): This is happening everywhere you know. It seems we don't have rent controls anymore.

In particular, the evolution of the Canadian identity is, to a large degree, the evolution of our relationship with the land. The Canadian identity cannot be understood unless we comprehend our values with respect to the land -- from home ownership to preservation of the family farm. The story of the evolution of our values with respect to land must be told if we are to comprehend the vital importance of any future commitment to the land. If we understand the changing relationship between humanity and land in the past, we surely must be much better prepared to deal with the forces of change in the future. The Lowland Clearances is a profoundly important chapter in the evolution of our values with respect to the land.

The rather unpolished behaviour patterns of the ordinary rural Scots at the dawn of the nineteenth century matured as they assumed a greater role in social and economic decision-making. Their sense of competition during play was easily adaptable to accelerating competition in the work world. Social intercourse fostered exchange of ideas. Meaningful membership and leadership roles in Friendly Societies, Funeral Societies, Emigration Societies, Agricultural Societies, Temperance Societies and the Church, access to reasonable credit, the right to vote and responsible government all contributed to an attitudinal change at the grass-roots level. Ordinary Scots slowly achieved full partnership in the socio-economic planning process. The upper classes finally gave them full credit for their ideas, their actions and their printed statements. But along with achieving respect and dignity, the ordinary Scots assumed greater responsibilities. They realized that they were now partially accountable for the actions of their governments and fully accountable to the smaller community in which they lived. However, they would no longer be paraded in front of the Kirk Session and the public for some trifling wrong-doing.

In Volume 11 Number 5 of The Scarboro Heights Record, "Interpreting Passage: Pointing to Our Heritage Learning Resources", we explained that the twenty-plus pairs of ribs pointing upwards on Passage are pointers to valuable information that is embedded in our own heritage. We can't just point to it though.

Through efforts such as the BBC Radio Scotland series, "The Lowland Clearances", and the new production of "With, I Hope, A New Face: A Newcomer to a New Land" we can do our small bit to help ensure that past mistakes won't happen again and that achievements from yesterday triumph once more. We have been working closely with BBC-Radio Scotland's Peter Aitchison and Andrew Cassell. Larry Westlake of Capricorn 9 Productions is our enthusiastic partner in the stage drama.

May 24, 2003: 2 PM
Scarborough Heights Historic Sites Walking Tour: Down Doris McCarthy Trail to "Passage"

May 31, 2003: 1:30 PM
Scarborough's Scottish Heritage Afternoon
The Bluffs Gallery, 1859 Kingston Road, Scarborough

• "10,000 Years of Toronto History: The McCowan Collection". A one hour illustrated talk by Bruce McCowan
• "The Lowland Clearances -- The Scarborough Connection".   BBC-Radio Scotland program focused partially on the impact of the agricultural revolution on Scots who emigrated to Scarborough, Canada, in the early nineteenth century.
• Sales of Scottish heritage publications of the James McCowan Memorial Social History Initiative (35% of sales will be donated to the Scarborough Arts Council)

For broadcast times for the BBC-Radio Scotland series, "The Lowland Clearances", and for further information about these heritage learning opportunities, go to: www.scarboroughrecord.com or call 416-447-4895 or email bea@beamccowan.com.

To Get You Started
With Your Essay

Here is a list of some key pages in this web site. Note that each page has an address of the form: http://www.beamccowan.com/zzzzzzz.htm.

From The Scarboro Heights Record V11 #5

 

Bruce McCowan, P.Eng., is available
(with a month's notice)
to give lectures using our Lesson Plans

James McCowan Memorial Social History Initiative
c/o 19 Monarchwood Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, M3A 1H3
  416-447-4895    www.mccowan.org
(email address is on our contacts page)
A Non-Profit, Non-Charitable Organization Dedicated to Placing the
Scottish Experience Within the Wider Context of the Community
Contributor to the "Lowland Clearances" BBC-Radio Scotland Series

Scarboro Heights Record
An On-Line Learning Resource for Community Studies
 416-447-4895    www.scarboroughrecord.com
(email address is on our contacts page)
Dedicated to Promoting Community Events,
Arts and Multicultural Activities,
Non-Profit Groups, Local History and Local Heroes