Letter
Letter to minister
To Education Minister Kelly Lamrock,
We are writing with respect to the announcement made March 14 about changes to French second-language programs in New Brunswick.
It has been suggested we weren involved in proposing these changes.
We support the implementation of intensive French as a means of improving core French results. However, our work in New Brunswick has been exclusively with the core French program. We have not been involved in discussions about early immersion nor were we consulted about the decision to abolish it.
The first indication we had of this plan was the announcement March 14.
We would like to make our position clear. Intensive French was created specifically to improve the core French program. In the other seven provinces and two territories where it is being piloted, it is used only for this purpose.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, it has not been considered as a replacement for early immersion.
We also support intensive French as a means to increasing enrolment in immersion programs. In all the provinces where intensive French has been implemented, including here in New Brunswick, increased enrolment in late immersion has occurred.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, after the implementation of intensive French, enrolment in late immersion increased by about 35 per cent; early French immersion enrolment also increased.
As the designers of the intensive French program, we are happy to work with New Brunswick's Department of Education to implement the program successfully as an improvement to the core French program.
However, we wish to make it clear we were not associated with the government's decision to eliminate early French immersion.
Joan Netten
Claude Germain
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Université du Québec à Montréal
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The 'core' program in New Brunswick is a disaster. Although it receives the vast majority of resource funding, the high number of students who require support has resulted in a system that fails to produce literate and well educated students. Yes, there is streaming - largely because the neighbourhood schools have tried to be 'everything to every student'. Most provinces have designated 'immersion' schools, which helps to cut down on streaming. If your child has to take a long bus ride past the neighbourhood school most of their friends attend, you tend to think twice, and choose immerison ONLY if you are truly committed.