Which of the following statements about residential schools is NOT true?

What should you know about this topic?

For many years, the federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools to educate and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian culture. Discover Canada explains that these schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students. Some students were physically abused, and Aboriginal languages and cultural practices were mostly prohibited. The schools were run mainly by churches and operated from the 1800s until the 1980s.

Children were often taken far from their families and communities for long periods. Being forbidden to speak their languages or practise their traditions caused deep, lasting harm that has affected families over many generations. The schools were not welcomed by Aboriginal people; many families resisted or had no choice. In 2008, Ottawa formally apologized to former students. This acknowledgment is an important part of efforts toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.

This question is a "NOT true" question, so you must find the false statement. Three options correctly describe the schools as Discover Canada does, and one does not. This topic connects to other test themes, such as the three groups of Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), treaties, Aboriginal rights in the Constitution, and other past injustices that Canada has acknowledged, such as the Chinese head tax and the internment of Japanese Canadians. Learning this history helps all Canadians understand the importance of respect and reconciliation.

Why are the other answers wrong?

• Aboriginal language and cultural practices were mostly prohibited: This statement is true; students were mostly forbidden to use their languages and practise their cultures.
• The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students: This statement is true; Discover Canada says the schools were poorly funded and caused hardship.
• The federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools to educate and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian culture: This statement is true according to Discover Canada, so it is not the correct answer to a "NOT true" question.

What is the most common mistake?

Because the question asks which statement is NOT true, some learners pick a true statement by mistake. Read every option and select the false claim that the schools were welcomed.

How can you remember the answer?

For "NOT true" questions, look for the happy-sounding statement in a sad history: "welcomed" is the false one.