Résumés
Abstract
For the United Church of Canada, the “New Curriculum” achieved its main objective of renewing bible study for all age groups, with the added bonus of gaining publicity for the church itself. However, the massive project took a huge investment that was neither properly funded nor ultimately realized. The editor-in-chief, Peter Gordon White, unjustly blamed himself for the problems that resulted; however, the project was extremely well managed and produced on schedule. Nor did the calls to burn the New Curriculum due to its overtly modernist biblical interpretations directly cause financial problems. Instead, it was almost universally adopted by United Churches across the country. The problems arose mainly from a disconnect between the world the New Curriculum was conceived in (1950s) and the world it was launched into (1960s). This paper explores the New Curriculum’s successes and failures, and its contribution to the downfall of Canada’s largest publishing house, The Ryerson Press.
Résumé
Pour l’Église Unie du Canada, le « Nouveau Curriculum » a atteint son objectif central, soit de renouveler l’étude de la Bible chez tous les groupes d’âge. Il a en outre conféré une visibilité médiatique accrue à l’Église elle-même. Toutefois, l’imposant projet a nécessité un immense investissement qui n’a pas été adéquatement financé, et il ne s’est pas complètement concrétisé. L’éditeur en chef, Peter Gordon White, s’est imputé la responsabilité des problèmes qu’a connus le projet, alors même que celui-ci avait été géré de main de maître et que sa mise en oeuvre s’était déroulée comme prévu. De plus, les appels au rejet du Nouveau Curriculum en raison des interprétations bibliques ouvertement modernistes qu’il propose ne sont pas en cause dans les déboires financiers qui ont suivi. Au contraire, le programme a été adopté par pratiquement toutes les Églises Unies du pays. Les problèmes sont surtout attribuables à la rupture s’étant opérée entre le monde dans lequel le Nouveau Curriculum a été élaboré (les années 1950) et celui dans lequel il a été lancé (les années 1960). Dans cet article, nous nous penchons sur les succès et les échecs connus par le Nouveau Curriculum, ainsi que sur le rôle qu’il a joué dans le déclin de la maison d’édition la plus importante du Canada, The Ryerson Press.
Parties annexes
Bibliography
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