UNB professor backs decision to cut French in grades 1 to 4
Changes | Old system ‘not worth anything,’ says Willms
The Liberal government is eliminating French instruction in grades 1 to 4 for anglophone students in New Brunswick.
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock has adopted the controversial French second-language report that sparked nation-wide debate upon its release in February.
The report recommends the early immersion program and early core program be scrapped in exchange for an intensive French program in Grade 5.
Lamrock said he adopted the change to give all students equal access to seven years of second-language training.
"I fully realize this is a very emotional issue for many New Brunswickers and that many people have differing thoughts and opinions on the approach the government should be taking," Lamrock said. "But after considerable reflection and careful listening to the many views in this debate, I am confident our government is making the right decision to serve the best interests of all New Brunswick students now and in the future."
Under the changes, which take effect this fall, students already enrolled in French in grades 1 to 4 will be able to finish their program.
But students entering the school system for the first time won't have French instruction until Grade 5.
In Grade 6, students will have the choice between an enhanced late immersion program or enriched core program.
They will be required to take French until Grade 12, with the option of studying math and science in English in high school.
Doug Willms, a University of New Brunswick education professor and director of the Canadian Research Institute for Social Policy, said the controversial change is a good move for New Brunswick.
He said Lamrock should be applauded for avoiding the politically safe decision of keeping early immersion.
"We can't keep going with the system that we have because it's proven to not be effective for the majority of students," Willms said. "Some have said the system just needed more resources. You could add more and more resources, but that simply puts a Band-Aid on something that's fundamentally not worth anything."
Lamrock said the new system will free up time for students to take extra art, music or physical education classes in elementary.
It will also free up resources for schools to develop "bilingual learning environments" for students to be exposed to French activities, games and experiences outside of the classroom, he said.
"If we are ever to achieve self-sufficiency in New Brunswick, the system must change," Lamrock said. "With the improvements we are announcing, I am certain it will."
District 18 Supt. Alex Dingwall said the switch to intensive French will be a challenge for school districts, but not an insurmountable one.
He said resources will have to be shifted, some teachers will see their roles change and training will be required to prepare every school for the new French model.
"It is a significant change for us in the school system, but if we want to make gains in education, we're going to have to move forward with the new blueprints we've been given," Dingwall said. "I'm sure, as things roll out and we get a better understanding of some of the things we have to do to adopt this new system, it'll all work out."
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