FREDERICTON — Teachers and parents gathered in Fredericton to make their voices heard opposing the New Brunswick government's plan to reform the French immersion program in schools by the fall.
The government-led consultations involving about 300 people at the Delta Hotel on Wednesday lasted about 90 minutes past the scheduled 8:30 p.m. end time, and all of the roughly 30 people who addressed the room criticized the province's proposed changes.
Attendees questioned what evidence the government had on the shortcomings of the current French immersion program that justified the reforms. They also demanded to know what data the province used to create the new program, and wondered whether the changes were being rushed after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teacher Heather Hollett likened the government's plan to demolishing the entire house when just the kitchen needed a remodel.
"Rather than taking apart the system, I would suggest gathering data and pouring resources … into education by way of more educational assistance, behaviour mentors support intervention, occupational therapist, speech language pathologists," she told the audience.
The government says the goal of its reforms is to ensure all graduates in the anglophone sector have at least a “conversational level” of French. The province prides itself on being the only officially bilingual province in Canada but has lamented how most of its anglophone graduates can't speak French.
The proposed changes — which are to be implemented in the fall — are proving controversial because they cut the time students would be learning in French. The province’s current immersion program offers up to 90 per cent of class time in French, while the new program devotes half the day to learning in French and the other half to English instruction for subjects such as math, reading and writing.
Moira Buyting, who has children in the French immersion program, said the government should pause its reform. Teachers and students, she said, have been through two years of COVID-19 and are still reeling from its effects.
"I feel like the system just needs to pause and catch up," Buyting said. "The teachers need to be rejuvenated and the kids need to just have a sense of consistency."
Hollett said she had some "serious concerns" because the government doesn't seem to have left room for extracurricular activities. The logistical realities of school, she said, make the government's promise to teach students in French for half the day "uninformed and untrue."
“If 50 per cent of the day is dedicated to literacy in math and instruction in English and 50 per cent of the day is to be dedicated to French-language instruction, where would subjects such as physical education, art and music fit in?"
Her statement led to cheers and applause from the audience.
Education Minister Bill Hogan began the evening by telling the crowd that the purpose of the session was to gauge whether the government was on the "right path."
"At the end of the day, when we look at all the data that we've gathered, then we're going to make a decision," he said. "We're going to share that as soon as we can."
Jeff Beairsto, an engineer who has children in the French immersion program, wanted to know whether the government had received support for the planned changes in private. Because, he said, the opposition to the province's idea has been vocal and public.
"If you come to the public and say 'the silent majority spoke,' I hope you have data to back that up," he said. "It doesn't seem like the silent cohort is the majority."
Hogan did not answer reporters' questions about what proportion of people were in favour of the program.
"I've received a number of positive comments and emails from teachers. So yes, I have," he said. "We'll put that in with the rest of the data that we have and we'll draw conclusions."
Chrissy Montgomery, with the New Brunswick Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, said there is a shortage of language interpreters and teachers for students with auditory problems. She said children with hearing challenges should be taught sign language before French or English, adding that the government's plan would only add confusion and frustration to those students.
Many deaf students entering kindergarten, she said, haven't been properly taught to express their needs in French or English. "You're going to have them switch between an English class 50 per cent of the time, switch between a French class 50 per cent of the time without having any language?"
Donna McLaughlin, a board member for Canadian Parents for French, said, "We have yet to see the data that supports your proposed plan. We haven't seen the research that you are proposing. You have yet to mention who your experts are."
Chris Collins, executive director for the New Brunswick chapter of Canadian Parents for French, who has been to all the public consultations — in Bathurst, Moncton and Saint John — said the public reaction has been "very negative towards changes."
"I can't say I think they'll be heard," he said. "I can say that I hope they'll be heard."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 26, 2023.
Hina Alam, The Canadian Press
