Parents take province to court
New Brunswick parents have taken their fight to save the province's early French immersion program to the next level.
Legal papers were filed Wednesday in the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John by parents seeking a review of the changes being implemented to French-second language programming this fall.
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced in March that French would no longer be taught in anglophone schools until Grade 5.
His decision followed the release of a controversial report recommending an overhaul of the system to reduce streaming and produce more bilingual graduates.
Streaming refers to the belief that higher-achieving students take early French immersion, while students who may not be as gifted end up in the core program.
Tim Jackson, one of the parents who helped organize the legal action, said he's hopes this latest effort by parents will save early immersion.
"The decision to change French programming in the province was made hastily and wasn't a transparent process," Jackson said. "Parents, according to the Department of Education, are considered a partner in the delivery of the education system, and yet we were basically left out of the debate altogether."
Jackson, who lives in Saint John, said his daughter has had tremendous success with the early French-immersion program.
She reads in both languages and enjoys learning about French culture.
It's an experience Jackson wanted for his son, who will enter Grade 1 in the fall.
"This is bigger than just wanting my son in the program, though," Jackson said.
"The public was given only two weeks to respond to the report on French programming before the minister announced his decision. That wasn't even enough time for most to digest the report, let alone have anything to say about it."
Patrick Ryan, a concerned parent in Fredericton, provided an affidavit with the request for a judicial review.
He recently returned to New Brunswick with his family in hopes of exposing his children to French at a young age.
"Our expectation moving home to New Brunswick last year was that both our children would have the opportunity to participate in early French immersion," Ryan said. "What concerns us most is the limited consultation and the lack of transparency for such an extreme upheaval to our provinces's education system."
Jackson said he believes a judicial review will, at least, force a delay in the elimination of early French immersion and allow researchers and French second-language experts to come forward with a better solution for the streaming issue.
Legal costs associated with the case are being covered by New Brunswick parents.
Fredericton lawyer Thomas Christie will provide legal representation.
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Comments (24)
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I hope they succeed - this is a disastrous mistake for the children.
And look what a mess that created. Thankfully Mr. Lamrock is not only concerned with what this lobby group wants, but is looking after all children in the province. The same small group of parents connected with CPF, CEC, the Facebook groups, and all the letters to the editor are looking after their own children. Mr. Lamrock is looking after the education of all New Brusnwick students. This group has talked about a wave of support, but 300 people protesting in Fredericton, 15 protesting in Dalhousie, and 200 people at their recent provincial meeting, do not make up a wave of support. The majority supports Lamrock. Thank you for having the guts to take on this issue and for doing the right thing!!! Now watch as the same parents give me the thumbs down; instead of spending so much time posting here, make a real difference and voluteer at a school if you are so concerned about education!
Bit hypocritical since I'm sure you've given 'thumbs down' all the way down the page. The people involved in this tend to be those who are more involved in the schools. I know a principal who spent a day fielding calls from parent volunteers when the president of the Home and School Association wrote a letter in support of his plan. The volunteers were very upset that she would suggest that they were somehow in agreement with her.
If the majority truly supports Lamrock, then you and he have nothing to worry about.
However, if he is worried, we should see him changing his reasons for eliminating EFI. We should see him bring out a parade of good news announcements. We might even see the Premier come out and make a supportive statement.
Oh wait, we've seen all that.
Can you please explain how this groupl is elitist? It's members come from every walk of live and every social class (including those with the lowest incomes who had hoped to get their children out of the loop of poverty), and like the EFI program, their doors are open to anyone who wants participate.
Are you aware that they don't just represent EFI parents? They represent many of us who, while not directly affected by the loss of EFI, have been affected by the aftermath of it's removal (my family has sell our home and move to ensure our children can attend the same school).
They also represent the parents that realize there are wide ranging problems with the new plan. This group includes parents that believe 5 months of forced immersion in Gr5 is not the best option for their child.
So to your point, if I didn't have to spend my money on a legal fight with the Government I elected to do right by my family, I'd have more to share with the children of Burma.
Lamrock knows this. but he just doesn't care.
I expect my Government to base decisions on real information, not one person's slanted and biased view against French.