State of FSL Report:
Remarks to the media from Jane Keith, 
Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French, New Brunswick Branch,
August 23, 2000

WHAT:  The State of French Second Language Education in Canada 2000 is the first in a series of annual reports on how French second language programs are faring across the country, province by province.  The report examines the quality of provincial support for FSL programs offered to students.

WHY (produce this report):  Quality FSL education is threatened from many angles.  Concerns range from inadequate classroom materials to absent remedial resources, from a scarcity of qualified teachers to students dropping the programs in their high school years.  
The State of FSL report will help all stakeholders in FSL education (Department of Education policymakers, school district administrators, principals, teachers, parents and students) understand what makes programs succeed, where improvements are needed, and how to make changes today.  It will also create a yardstick to measure progress in delivering FSL programs.  

HOW was the report created?  The report is based on extensive research and broad consultation.  Criteria for successful programs were developed based on research done to date in the field.  These criteria were validated by FSL experts and through discussions with stakeholders.  Materials and data were gathered and analyzed according to the criteria.  A survey collected the opinions of all those interested in and involved with FSL programs.  The criteria for successful FSL programs are (1)  enrollment, (2) quality and (3) accountability.  (explained further on page 38 of the report)  

As Canada's only bilingual province, New Brunswick is looked to for leadership in FSL programs.   Because we in New Brunswick are a mix of two predominant cultures, English and French, because we desire linguistic duality and because we are an officially bilingual province, CPF NB's desire is for our Department of Education policymakers to become visionaries, so NB will become a shining example for French second language education for the rest of the country.
 

THE STATE OF FSL IN NEW BRUNSWICK
Areas of Strength:
(1)  Policy 309 provides comprehensive support and guidelines for FSL 
(2) Quality programs, including mandatory core French
(3) Provincial testing of Math and English skills at grades 3, 6, and 8 broken out by program.  Testing which demonstrates early French immersion is best for learning French and there is no detrimental effect on English or Math skills.
(4) FSL education research conducted by the University of New Brunswick , Second Language Education Centre
(5) Certificate in French immersion teaching available from the University of New Brunswick, Second Language Education Centre.                                 
 

Areas for Action:
(1) Bring practice in line with policy and research.
(2) Give voice to parents.
(3) Acknowledge that action plans are being developed according to the protocol of the Council of Ministers of Education
(4) Ensure accountability for the flow of funds designated for FSL programs.
(5) Solicit and heed the interest of all stakeholders.
(6) Prove or stop citing the claim of elitism in French immersion programs in New Brunswick.  If elitism is found, address the problem rather than dismantle the programs.
(7) Monitor the actual number of hours of French instruction in every school.
(8) Break out Grade 11 Math and English assessments by program.
(9) Improve core French programs.

The State of FSL Report  will dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding FSL education by providing facts based on research regarding charges of elitism (pages 3 and 35), questions about achievement in English (page 3) and students reaching their goals in FSL education(page23).  The report provides CPF NB with confirmation of our concerns.  Attention, resources and action are needed in several areas.  Among the most urgent problems identified by CPF NB are:
(1) actual and growing teacher shortages
(2) the need for more and better resources and methods that will enable French immersion students who are encountering difficulties to get the help they need while staying in the program
(3) the need for a totally transparent process of allocating funds in support of French second language learning.
                                                                                                                   
New Brunswick has areas of strength in FSL education.  We also have areas of concern which need to be addressed.  CPF NB is looking for action to be taken by our Department of Education in the areas which need attention.  No, FSL education is not perfect in New Brunswick.  Yes, there are areas which need improvement and yes, these improvements are possible if our government has the political will to make them happen.