The Canada School of Public Service: An Object Lesson in Public Servant Curriculum

• In Event: Roundtable Session 56
  In Roundtable Session: Is There Promise in Precedent? Learning From Our Curricular Paths

Abstract

Although public institutions have an enormous influence on the social, economic, and environmental conditions in which K12 school systems pursue their educational mandate, academics know very little about how governments create formal learning programs for public servants. This paper attempts to correct this omission by providing an object lesson into public servant curriculum. Using the national headquarters of the Canada School of Public Service as an object of inquiry, this paper presents the series of renovations, demolitions, and reconstruction that transformed a 19th century settlement school for boys into a federal agency that develops and delivers curricular and learning programs to thousands of employees working for the government of Canada.

Author

• Mark J. Weiler, Simon Fraser University