March 14, 2008

Canadian Parents for French, New Brunswick disappointed and alarmed with Education Minister’s announcement to eliminate Early French Immersion

SUSSEX – Parent-led advocacy group Canadian Parents for French, New Brunswick (CPF NB) is shocked at the Education Minister’s announcement to dismantle the Early French Immersion program.

“CPF NB cannot comprehend why Premier Graham would even think about abolishing the best French second language program available in New Brunswick.  What happened to the province’s education plan When Kids Come First?” asks CPF NB President, Walter Lee.  “In order to continue to develop Anglophone students’ skills in French as a second language and to ensure they are eligible to secure bilingual jobs in the future, it is imperative New Brunswick continue to offer the Early French Immersion (EFI) program to our students.”

Over thirty five years of reliable academic research from across Canada and the U.S. clearly states Early Immersion is the best method for children to learn a second language and produces the highest language proficiency.  This announcement by Minister Lamrock flies in the face of advice from the most trusted language researchers in the world.

“When CPF NB learned the government of New Brunswick was conducting a Review of French Second Language (FSL) programs in the province, we assumed it would be to look at how we could improve our French Immersion and Core French programs, not an avenue to eliminate French Immersion programs and to take choices in education away from parents and students,” explains Mr. Lee. 

How this decision will affect the migration of post-secondary students from the province to other parts of Canada and beyond is not yet known.  It is expected many of our French Immersion teachers will be leaving the province, since every other province in Canada, including the Territories offers Early and Late French Immersion programs.

“It is not inconceivable in a few years time, as our pool of fluently bilingual graduates deplete, New Brunswick employers looking for bilingual employees may have to go outside of the province to find them, to recruit from other provinces where students still have Early French Immersion programs available”, says Jane Keith, Executive Director of CPF NB.

“This decision is a travesty and it is a ludicrous move from a government of the only officially bilingual province in Canada,” says Mr. Lee.  “It is sending us back in time 35 years.  We have Immersion graduates now in their late 20’s and early 30’s already thinking about leaving the province in order to give their children the same advantage they had of learning French in an Early French Immersion program.” 

The decision to discontinue the Early French Immersion program would also affect the number of immigrants we are able to attract to New Brunswick.  One of the important values to potential immigrants is quality education for their children.

Anglophone parents who support bilingualism in New Brunswick are reeling from this decision.  Discussions have already started about developing independent Early French Immersion schools, including options related to the Charter School system in Alberta.  Another option being discussed is taking legal action based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Families with one French speaking parent have an advantage since they are planning to register their children in the Francophone school system. 

“This battle for bilingual education is not over by a long shot, “says Keith. “Parents who want their children speaking French at a young age and equipped to converse with their francophone neighbors do not plan on giving up on Early French Immersion.  They are too committed to their children’s education to give up, especially when children in every other province in Canada have access to the Early Immersion program”.

Canadian Parents for French, New Brunswick is a part of the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and which is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French second language learning opportunities for young Canadians.  There are currently more than 25,000 members across Canada, with over 1,400 members in New Brunswick.

Information:
Jane Keith, Executive Director
Tel:  (506) 432-6584
Email:  janekeith@nb.aibn.com

Alison Menard, Director
Tel:  (506) 388-8115 (home)
                 204-4635 (work)
                 878-7363 (cell)

Robert Bernier, Director
Tel:  (506) 433-4536
                 432-1398 (cell)