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By Todd Curran
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) recently sent a letter home to parents advising them that the mandatory core French program in Grades 4 to 9 will be discontinued as of the 2011-12 school year.
“This is a giant step backwards for French Second Language Education in Calgary,” says Michael Tryon, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French-Alberta Branch. CBE advised CPF Alberta that the decision as to whether French will be taught in grades 4-6 will now be made by individual school principals in consultation with the community, staff, parents and other stakeholders.
For Grades 7 to 9, registration in a second language will be available in all schools. Those enrolled in French will continue to receive instruction until all students currently in French are finished. “All Canadian students have the right to receive education in both of Canada's official languages,” says Tryon, “and CPF Alberta have fought since 1978 for the right of Alberta's students to receive a French Second Language Education.”
Canadian Parents for French is the national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians. There are currently 26,000 members across Canada and 3,500 in Alberta.
CPF Alberta believes that by making a second language optional, our students will be positioned even farther behind in our global economy and society compared to their counterparts around the world.
Visit www.cpf.ca for more information.
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