Group 6

Aletheia Learning Center (AI generated image)

The Prologue (Victoria)

The year is 2100 and Toronto, like the rest of the Canadian cities, has learned to trust in Aletheia. After the chaos of misinformation and ideological division that plagued the years leading up to the election, the government emerged as the shining example of stability. Aletheia promised truth, disclosure, and unity and to most, they delivered.

Aletheia won the last election with overwhelming support. They presented themselves as the movement built on the desire for order and control. People had grown tired of the noise and confusion. In Aletheia, they saw the hope of a future where knowledge was a tool for progress. Education was sacred and Aletheia controlled how it was delivered. There were no gaps in the citizens' knowledge and above all, there was no room for misinformation. Many labeled them as the protectors of truth.

Toronto, once known for its lush green parks, had transformed into something unrecognizable. The skyline was now dominated by modern buildings and towering condominiums. The few conservation areas that remained were carefully maintained and viewed as symbols of peace. The rest of the city had 32-story buildings sprouting left and right as the demand for a living place had never been greater, with people flocking the city. Each neighbourhood had its own sleek Learning Center. Some were more advanced than others, with state-of-the-art simulations and AI assistants guiding students through immersive lessons. These centers were better funded, located in higher-income areas where families could afford to live and work in harmony with Aletheia's vision.

Human teachers were the heart of every Learning Center. Once the only source of knowledge in the classroom, these teachers now worked alongside AI assistants. Thanks to the AI, teachers could focus on leading diverse class discussions, planning their lessons, while the assistants gave students a more personalized learning experience and took care of marking assessments. This collaborative partnership ensured that no student was left behind. To qualify for the top scholarships and move onto the best Learning Centers, students had to pass standardized tests designed by Aletheia. These measured not only academic excellence but also the student's ability to align with Aletheia values.

Learning Center located in Yorkville

Trial AI assistant in the classroom first pictured in 2030

Cassian, a 15-year-old top scholar had been very fortunate. His learning center was one of the best-funded in the GTA. He has his parents to thank for that as they exhibited their loyalty to Aletheia in numerous tasks. They believed this construct was a fair one. It rewarded those who followed the rules, excelled in their studies and embraced Aletheia's mission of unity. For Cassian, this was all he knew. He never had a doubt with regards to what he was learning in school. Why should've he had one? Everything made sense. Every piece of knowledge he received was unquestionable, whether it was found on the internet or through social media during his phone time.

One night, Cassian's phone glitched. His screen flickered and just for a moment, a fragment of unfiltered media slipped through. He was faced with raw information, something that was banned by Aletheia. For two minutes, the reality beyond his reality was unveiled to him and contradicted most of what Aletheia had taught him. Cassian was left questioning everything he had ever been taught. He knew his parents and the people he respected all firmly believed in Aletheia's truth. They viewed it as the only way to progress as a unified society. Staring at the screen in disbelief, a myriad of questions appeared in his head. What if there's more to it? What if their truth is just a story?

What is Aletheia? (Victoria)

Aletheia had secured its position through a decisive victory in the last election. Framed as a referendum on stability versus chaos, the campaign promised an era of clarity and peace after years of misinformation. Aletheia's campaign focused on their ability to restore trust in education and governance, emphasizing its sophisticated algorithms and unbiased teachers, referred to as Curators of knowledge, as the solution to humanity's fractured knowledge systems. With overwhelming support, Aletheia solidified its authority. However, some argued that the election was engineered. They pointed to the controlled media, which only advertised Aletheia's fortes while silencing voices of the opposition. This election result marked a turning point for Canada. It was now the pillar of truth with the full weight of public trust behind it...or so they thought. For better or for worse, Aletheia would shape the future of humanity's understanding of the world.

The Truth of Choice - Poll station in Toronto

Aletheia’s Rise to Power and Current Policies (Seynab)

Many Canadians remember the night of Aletheia’s election ceremony, as headlines reported a record-breaking population turnout in over 97 years. To show their support, thousands of Torontonians filled the narrow streets obstructed by high-rise establishments, gleefully chanting patriotic hymns to welcome the new order. Excitement could be felt across the city, as many were eager for a long-awaited transformation that Ruth Bash’s government would bring. A bold visionary and great-niece of the former Ontario minister of education Frederick Bash, Ruth has continued to serve as the leader of Aletheia since its introduction to the House of Commons during the 2096 election. Despite initially occupying the second-lowest number of seats, the party quickly rose to power by the next election, securing a majority government and winning the support of millions. The dramatic rise in voter turnout is attributed to the proposal of the 2099 Knowledge Reform Act, a pivotal policy whose enforcement has elevated public trust and has remained a driving force in structuring the current state of education and technology.

Several major changes by Aletheia are legislated through the Knowledge Reform Act, a 324-page digital document outlining a list of initiatives to transform learning. Two principal objectives make up the core of the legislation, the first being the envisionment of societal progress through the democratization of knowledge. With policy changes, knowledge would no longer be disproportionately distributed, but instead, a human right that is accessible to all. Recognizing technology as a vehicle for access, Aletheia developed an assistance service for lower-income families which permitted eligible citizens to rent a maximum of two high-speed technological applications for educational purposes at a lower cost. Among the highest rented applications includes a virtual reality headset which allows for participants to virtually join government-funded lectures on a variety of topics ranging from the sciences to the arts. Political powers were also concerned with the quality of available information, which carried the risk of being distributed and modified by uninformed citizens. To address this obstacle, the Act’s second initiative mandated the excessive monitoring of all formats of information to restrict conflicting and distorted ideologies. Doing so resulted in the widespread homogenization of knowledge, recognized by Aletheia as an essential determinant for a harmonious society. Education was a primary target for legislation, as policymakers understood learning centers as a principal site for the shaping and expansion of knowledge. While AI use and technology were integral to daily life by the time the party gained power, BILL T-32 of the Act required all educational AI systems to be reprogrammed in accordance with Aletheia’s ideals and examined for misinformation. With federal governments assuming higher levels of authority at provincial and municipal levels by 2100, Aletheia’s view on what constitutes true knowledge dominates all social institutions in Toronto.

Excerpt: "The objective of the Knowledge Reform Act is to preserve, promote, and protect the educational rights of all citizens, ensuring universal access to reliable information. Information is one of the primary gateways to knowledge; therefore, it is essential to uphold its truthfulness and reliability. Knowledge is hereby declared a fundamental human right, and no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, age, income, or any other factor." (Inspired by the 1984 Canada Health Act)

The Question of Unity: Inclusion and Exclusion (Seynab)

The response to Aletheia’s legislations continues to be immensely positive. Praises are spread across online platforms, as parents discuss their relief and trust in the learning centers in community online blogs. On the news side of the Internet, hopeful journalists publish online articles expressing hope for greater transparency in politics without the threat of fake news, while social media sites tend to experience high levels of traffic due to users spamming hashtags in celebration of improvements in online safety. A quick look at the profiles admiring the government’s legislative policies indicates a prominent trend: Individuals of higher income living in the heart of downtown Toronto, who are often involved in community programs and initiatives hosted by the government. For the remaining population, persistent obstacles have led to increasing questioning of who is included in Aletheia’s vision of unity.

Though Aletheia is celebrated for increased grade rates following the remodelling of educational institutions, gaps in academic performance between learning centers in different income areas are notable. Teachers in institutions with lower grade levels have pointed to an unequal distribution of funding for technological aid as a prominent factor. To address and resolve these inequities, a committee of nine teachers has recently joined to voice their concerns to Aletheia’s municipal board of education. Among the committee is twenty-eight-year old Isaiah, a young, dedicated educator who began noticing an increasing trend of disparities during his few years in the profession.

As a former student who spent years in schooling before the Knowledge Reform Act and a current educator who teaches in accordance with its implementation, Isaiah witnessed first-hand the promises that Aletheia brought to the future of education. But over the past few months, he couldn’t help but observe how some students seemed to receive preferential treatment with scholarships, or how his colleagues in better-funded schools slyly bragged about their learning center’s innovative technology while his AI assistant couldn’t endure an entire school day without rebooting. A firm believer in Aletheia’s strive for unity, Isaiah joined the committee with the goal of ensuring a lack of barriers to student achievement. Some colleagues have warned him against boldly disagreeing with the government’s order, and to instead focus on the pressing matters in his personal life which deserve more priority. While he knows they mean well, Isaiah reassures himself that surely, Aletheia won’t be entirely opposed to hearing his discontentment when students are the center of concern.

Aletheia’s Surveillance Policy (Ivana)

Unbeknownst to the public, surveillance is one of Aletheia’s top priorities. Making sure that the public has quality media at all times is an essential aspect of this organization. As Aletheia governs what is appropriate and what is not, it dictates what is “true knowledge” by filtering the media that is available to the public. The majority of the population go their entire lives thinking they have access to all the information they could ever need, since they are able to stream thousands of shows and post whatever they want online. What they don’t know is that Aletheia has a strict monitoring algorithm and teams of people who delete whatever does not align with the values they are instilling in the public. Aletheia also boosts the videos of certain content creators who promote their values and beliefs, while shadow banning others to silence those who contradict them. In order to unify the population and create one way of thinking, Aletheia has put in place a strict code of conduct for what they allow online. After Cassian’s phone glitches, he starts to question what kind of information he does not have access to.

Following the story of Alexandra, the executive assistant to the head of operations for media control, she is able to piece together the kinds of outside information that is being filtered from the media. Alex acts as a fly on the wall as she brings coffee to those who are making the big decisions when it comes to what kinds of information should be allowed online. As she sneaks around and figures out what is being kept under the rug, she becomes conflicted about whether or not she should try and bring light to the topics that are kept in the dark. She struggles with whether or not she should keep quiet and prioritize making money for her children or unveil the lies underlying Aletheia’s “truth”.

The Education System of Aletheia (Ivana)

The etymology of Aletheia is based on the theologies of truth and disclosure. These ideologies shape our curriculum, form the core beliefs of this government power and impact how we serve the children in the GTA.

Aletheia makes sure that children have access to their assignments and classes at all times. With the hybrid option for course work, kids who are sick, hospitalized or unable to make class for various circumstances are able to join online and access recordings of their lectures afterwards. This also allows children to replay lessons and catch up if they have learning difficulties or have trouble understanding certain concepts. Making education accessible for all is one of Aletheia’s priorities. This makes Aletheia seem progressive while they hide their true motives of media censorship.

The History of Aletheia (Ivana)

As soon as Aletheia won the presidential election, they made it their priority to burn all the books that didn’t align with their values. Since most media and texts are digitized, many people did not notice the missing works in the library archives. As libraries became an obsolete institution, burning the books that radicalized populations was Aletheia’s way of making sure that this new wave of governmental rule could get everyone on the same page. Joining everyone under one belief, the truth and essential knowledge would all be available online, making printed texts a thing of the past.

The Curriculum Tailored by the Curators of Knowledge (Ivana)

As the Curators of Knowledge, another one of Aletheia’s tasks is to tailor the curriculum to their belief systems. Getting rid of books that didn’t suit the new wave of thinking was the first step. The second part of Aletheia’s plan was to specify which topics should be taught in schools as well as which topics are strictly prohibited. Teachers who deviated from the curriculum would be penalized through a decrease in pay for that day. If the teacher continuously taught things that were not approved by Aletheia, they would be fired and not given any references for future employment.

The curriculum covered basic themes that encompassed everyday knowledge. Many subjects were taught including those with practical applications for everyday life outside of school. For example, if a teacher was creating a lesson plan for a grade 9 science class, they would not only have to outline the expectations and learning outcomes but also the topic they would be teaching (ie. neurons, mitosis).

The curriculum also has a lengthy section of topics that are banned and not to be discussed in the classroom, including critical race theory, sexuality studies, LGBTQ+ history or gender studies to name a few. Texts that revolved around mental health, physical disabilities or any form of physical, sexual or verbal abuse were also banned. Aletheia also prohibited the discussion of any other systems besides capitalism (including communism and socialism) as well as socioeconomic inequalities or environmental issues related to climate change.

Aletheia believes that outside the box thinking is an unnecessary pathway that leads to division within a population. By providing extensive information around appropriate topics, Aletheia has made the majority of the GTA believe that they know or have access to everything they need. By disguising the confines that Aletheia has created, many don’t know what they are missing or how their lives could be different if they had access to banned knowledge. Cassian is about to find out just how much more is out there and why it was kept hidden for so long.

Individual narratives

Cassian - Journal entries (Victoria)

Isaiah - School Board Meeting Reflection Entries (Seynab)

Skylar - Audio Log Transcripts (Emma)

Alexandra - Day in the life / Journal Entries (Ivana)