For Immediate Release
November 23rd, 2022
Parents of New Brunswick’s “Language Learning Opportunities” Continue to Speak Out
SUSSEX, NEW BRUNSWICK– On the same day the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) are scheduled to officially inform the Anglophone School Districts that they will not be accepting registration for the grade one French Immersion entry point for September 2023, Canadian Parents for French New Brunswick (CPF NB) is learning about EECD’s replacement program.
It seems that French Immersion will be replaced by a pilot program that has no consistency and has not received standardized testing. The Principal of Maplehurst Middle School in Moncton, Elizabeth Nowlan, has taken to YouTube defend the Pilot Program currently in place at her school, which in her words, have “blended classrooms”, contrary to the Government of New Brunswick’s Policy 309. The full YouTube video explaining the program is available online here.
CPF NB has had numerous conversations with ten Maplehurst families, students, and former educators about the curriculum that is being offered by Maplehurst School in-lieu of French Immersion. Students receive one class in French a day, French and Social Studies, approximately 50% of the time. Math and Science are taught in English with some instruction in French.
“I am disappointed in the significant changes in the French Immersion program” says Christina Robichaud, parent of a student at Maplehurst Middle School. “Despite the wonderful efforts of dedicated educators, there seem to be inconsistencies with learning and French experience, even within the same grade level. This pilot does not fulfil the definition of a French Immersion program and parents were not informed of the changes that resulted in a significant decrease in the number French classes our children are exposed to, nor did we give our consent” says Robichaud. “While I, like many parents, fully support all students learning French, Maplehurst Middle School students that were previously in French Immersion are no longer studying at the same level of French as their peers in other Moncton schools, ultimately impacting their future success at bilingual employment, for example”.
Chris Collins, Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French NB says that “what ‘French Immersion’ program students at Maplehurst Middle School are experiencing is definitely not French Immersion. While this program, and the Language Learning Opportunity (LLO) pilots, would serve as a tool to supplement existing French Immersion offerings, the province can not expect these offerings to produce fully bilingual students as they are far from reaching the core elements of an effective immersion program”. “While we continue to hear these concerns from parents and educators, we are also getting sneak peeks at what is expected to ‘grandfather’ current French Immersion students, which is equally as concerning for the future of New Brunswick students that are hoping to remain and/or become bilingual” says Collins.
French Immersion in New Brunswick is widely considered to be the gold standard in French Second Language training. In New Brunswick, the programs most recent data shows a 94-98% success rate in achieving conversational French. With the abolishment of French Immersion, New Brunswick, Canada’s only officially bilingual Province, will be the only Province in Canada not offering French Immersion.
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About Canadian Parents for French New Brunswick (CPF NB):
Canadian Parents for French New Brunswick (CPF NB) is a provincial branch of the federal organization, Canadian Parents for French. It is a national volunteer organization of adults who recognize the value of learning French as a second language and actively promote opportunities for young Canadians to learn and use French. The organization’s vision is a Canada where French- and English-speakers live together in mutual respect with an understanding and appreciation of each other’s language and culture and where linguistic duality forms an integral part of society.
Media Contact;
Chris Collins
506-875-0467
executivedirector@cpfnb.net
Download full news release here.