Le Conseil supérieur de l’éducation sous Robert Bourassa (1970-1976) : une « machine à faire des rapports » ?

Abstract

In the 1970s, Quebec was the scene of many social crises. Far from being spared, the world of education was at the heart of several debates, in particular those raised by deconfessionalization and the issue of protecting the French language. It was also marked by a radicalization of union discourse and major strikes by teaching staff that immobilized the school system. In this article, we try to understand how the Superior Council of Education, an organization of the Quiet Revolution and emblematic of a technocratic welfare state, adapted, under the mandates of Robert Bourassa, to better play its role of critical adviser to the state. Our analysis shows an unprecedented affirmation of the autonomy of the advisory body, vis-à-vis the minister and the ministry, but also a difficulty in taking part in major societal debates compared to more circumscribed and practical issues.