Ahead of Queen Elizabeth91裸聊视频檚 coronation in 1953, Kenneth Munro91裸聊视频檚 Grade 2 class studied the history of the monarchy, staged a play about the Royal Family and all 700 students at his northern Ontario school listened live on radio as she took her oath.

But with King Charles set to be formally crowned on May 6, school boards across the country contacted by The Canadian Press said they had no special plans or dedicated curriculum to mark the occasion 91裸聊视频� yet another indication of widening apathy towards the monarchy.

Munro, a retired former history professor at the University of Alberta, recalled the crepe paper robe 91裸聊视频� complete with cotton balls and bunting 91裸聊视频� that he wore as a seven-year-old when cast as the incoming queen91裸聊视频檚 husband, Prince Philip, for the performance at his school in Longlac, Ont.

91裸聊视频淭he whole community was really geared toward this event, and certainly at school, so that you couldn91裸聊视频檛 get away from it,91裸聊视频� Munro, 77, said.

91裸聊视频淲e were really steeped in coronation lore. It was very much as if we were part of this great celebration.91裸聊视频�

Observers say that, beyond the apparent lack of pomp, there is a larger issue with Canadian schools91裸聊视频� muted approach to the upcoming coronation.

While feelings about the monarchy91裸聊视频檚 rightful place in Canadian society and governance have grown increasingly mixed, the coronation offers an occasion to inform residents about the institution, said Nathan Tidridge, vice-president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada.

It91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渁n important moment,91裸聊视频� that Canadian schools are not taking advantage of, said Tidridge, who is also a Grade 10 civics teacher in the Hamilton area

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a chance to talk about all kinds of things, like colonial structures, Crown-Indigenous relationships, what the Crown does here in this country,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淲e could be talking, having those conversations, and unfortunately, it91裸聊视频檚 not happening.91裸聊视频�

Munro said 70 years ago, students would have been hard-pressed to avoid talking about the monarchy.

91裸聊视频淲e had a picture of the queen, Prince Philip, and actually Prince Charles and Princess Anne as well, in the classroom,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e would sing O Canada in the morning, but in the evening, God Save the Queen.91裸聊视频�

As the 1953 coronation approached, everyone at school was given a coin adorned with the queen91裸聊视频檚 image.

After listening to the ceremony on the radio, 91裸聊视频渨e went over to the schoolyard where the ceremony was taking place, and we sang and danced and had speeches from local dignitaries,91裸聊视频� he said.

The celebratory atmosphere existed in other school districts as well, according to archival material and officials.

The curator of the York Region District School Board91裸聊视频檚 heritage schoolhouse museum and archives, Rebekah Mitchell, said the board had special programming for Queen Elizabeth91裸聊视频檚 coronation as well as for her father King George91裸聊视频檚 assumption of the throne, in 1937.

She said the board91裸聊视频檚 records indicate 91裸聊视频渟chool closures were a tradition in York County for the coronation of a British monarch,91裸聊视频� throughout the 20th Century. Students 91裸聊视频渨ere expected to participate91裸聊视频� in the festivities, Mitchell said.

91裸聊视频淧arades, choirs, drill demonstrations are consistently shown in records of student activities,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭he Girl Guides and Scouts organizations are also often mentioned as marching in the parades.91裸聊视频�

Tidridge said the contrast for Charles91裸聊视频� coronation is stark.

That is a problem, he argued, because 91裸聊视频渢he coronation and just the Crown in general is something that is, whether people like it or not, intrinsically important to the federation.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲hat I fear is we91裸聊视频檙e gonna have this (coronation) and a lot of people watching it and not having any connection to it, not understanding it, even though it actually very much does touch on the political life, the treaty life, the very foundations of our federation,91裸聊视频� said Tidridge.

He questioned the usefulness of surveys asking people if they would like to remain part of the Commonwealth, arguing the public isn91裸聊视频檛 well informed about the monarchy91裸聊视频檚 function in Canadian public life, or what transitioning to a republic entails.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important for our federation to understand what it is that we91裸聊视频檙e tinkering with and what it is that we have,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd then we can have that conversation, and it91裸聊视频檚 an important conversation to have.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频擩essica Smith, The Canadian Press

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