Hall-Dennis Report

The Hall-Dennis Report, officially titled Living and Learning: The Report of the Provincial Committee on Aims and Objectives of Education in the Schools of Ontario, called for broad reforms to Ontario education, to empower teachers and the larger community, and put students' needs and dignity at the centre of education. The report was commissioned by Ontario Minister of Education Bill Davis in 1965, delivered to him in 1968, and haphazard attempts were made to implement it through the 1970s.

The common name for the report comes from its two co-chairman: Emmett Hall, a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, and L.A. Dennis, a former school principal.

The report is divided into the following sections:

This section introduces the need for reform and the guiding principles of the committee, and begins making recommendations.

"Today, on every side, however, there is heard a growing demand for a fresh look at education in Ontario. The Committee was told of inflexible programs, outdated curricula, unrealistic regulations, regimented organization, and mistaken aims of education. We heard from alienated students, frustrated teachers, irate parents, and concerned educators. Many public organizations and private individuals have told us of their growing discontent and lack of confidence in a school system which, in their opinion, has become outmoded and is failing those it exists to serve."

The Hall-Dennis committee was guided by the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child, including:

There are many recommendations throughout this section, including:

The report cautioned that form can overtake function, and that new educational programs must be constantly reappraised.

Large-scale experiments were done in the 1970s, including team teaching and open classrooms.

The teaching of history became more student-centred, with more awareness of searching for truth. There was also an increased sensitivity to marginalized peoples.

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