December 19, 2013
VIA EMAIL
David Euale, Director
2050 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7P 5A8
Dear Director and Secretary of the Board:
Re: Equivalent Promotion of English and French Immersion at Grade 1 Information Nights
One of the outcomes of the HDSB French Second Language Program Study (Report 13150) is recommendation 5d) “All elementary schools that offer Grade 1 programming must host a Grade 1 Information Evening that includes information about English program, French Immersion program and Special Education Placements.”
HFFINS has reviewed the HDSB website information on French Immersion as well as “The French Program 2013-2014” parent presentation provided by Robert Hamilton. We have concluded that HDSB does not provide a balanced view of the French Immersion program to prospective parents, and does not do an adequate job of providing an equivalent overview of the English track. We would like to see this remedied in time for the Grade 1 Information Nights taking place this January.
HFFINS is requesting the following:
Equivalent Promotion of English track and French Immersion
Respectfully,
Halton Families for Inclusive Neighborhood Schools
(HFFINS)
cc: Robert Hamilton and Trish Dyson
VIA EMAIL
David Euale, Director
2050 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7P 5A8
Dear Director and Secretary of the Board:
Re: Equivalent Promotion of English and French Immersion at Grade 1 Information Nights
One of the outcomes of the HDSB French Second Language Program Study (Report 13150) is recommendation 5d) “All elementary schools that offer Grade 1 programming must host a Grade 1 Information Evening that includes information about English program, French Immersion program and Special Education Placements.”
HFFINS has reviewed the HDSB website information on French Immersion as well as “The French Program 2013-2014” parent presentation provided by Robert Hamilton. We have concluded that HDSB does not provide a balanced view of the French Immersion program to prospective parents, and does not do an adequate job of providing an equivalent overview of the English track. We would like to see this remedied in time for the Grade 1 Information Nights taking place this January.
HFFINS is requesting the following:
Equivalent Promotion of English track and French Immersion
- Historically the Grade 1 information nights contained information solely on the French Immersion program and thus became a marketing opportunity for the FI program alone. English track, being the standard program, was never presented or promoted to grade 1 parents.
- Recommendation 5d clearly states that both English and FI are to be presented at the information evenings. Parents should be given equal exposure to the English track.
- The System Principal for French oversees the promotion of FI. Where is the equivalent position for the English track? Who will be accountable to ensure that English track is also promoted to grade 1 parents?
- HDSB must do a better job of providing a balanced overview of the FI program for prospective students including pros and cons.
- Current materials only focus on the positive aspects of the program
- Parents should be informed of possible challenges such as:
- Lags in English reading and comprehension in early grades
- Need for French language tutors in later grades
- Demission rates
- Selecting FI based on social desirability (i.e. peer pressure to select FI) versus the desire for the child to study part of the curriculum in French
- Parental desire to try out FI and then switch to English track later (which results in boundary changes and negative impacts on the viability of the English track in various schools)
- HDSB must carefully consider the language it uses in the public promotion of FI. Whether intentional or not, the board has furthered the public viewpoint that FI is a superior program. This has been done via:
- The Associate Director’s comment in the CHCH TV news report that Halton is experiencing FI uptake upwards of 90%. This is misleading as the system uptake is 42%. 90% uptake is for select schools where the FI boundary is much larger than English and the boundary imbalance creates the enrollment discrepancy.
- The home page of the French Language Program states “The ability to communicate in French gives students many advantages…” None of which are provided.
- The French Program 2013-2014 parent presentation provided by Robert Hamilton makes general superiority claims such as… “many academic and social benefits” ..”greater number of career options”.
- These facts as presented by HDSB give parents the impression that FI is a superior program.
- HDSB should be stating that there is NO difference between the English track and FI program in academic outcomes or strength of program delivery.
- Parental choice should be guided by whether they want their child to study part of the curriculum in French (i.e. FI program) or whether they want their child to learn French (i.e. core French in English track).
- The grade 1 core French pilot is an exciting program for Halton. From HFFINS’ perspective this program will offer access to the French language to all Halton students (once fully implemented) early in their school career and using an enhanced model of delivery (AIM).
- From the board’s perspective one of the reasons for its approval is likely the intent that it may help decrease some of the enrollment pressure for FI.
- In order for this to happen, adequate information on this program needs to be provided in the applicable schools during their Grade 1 information night.
- Given the pilot’s very recent approval, the impending Christmas holidays and the information nights occurring in January, there is concern that the program details will not be available in time.
- This would be a disservice to the pilot and may hinder its potential success in easing FI enrollment pressure.
- The AIM program needs adequate explanation to parents and a description of its many linguistic benefits
- HDSB is aware of the public’s concern over the supposed decline in English enrollment in dual track schools (caused in large part by English to French boundary discrepancies that overpopulate a small number of dual track schools with FI students)
- One reason that Halton parents are selecting FI is because they are afraid the English track will be eliminated and they desire for their child to attend their neighborhood school (this has been validated by impromptu parent conversations on the blacktop).
- HDSB should acknowledge the “elephant in the room.” How boundary reviews impact ratios of FI to ET students in grade 1, and how this creates the fear of English track disappearing. HDSB should admit awareness of this phenomenon at the grade 1 information nights for dual track schools.
- For these schools HDSB should provide public assurance that the English program is alive and well and will continue to be supported.
Respectfully,
Halton Families for Inclusive Neighborhood Schools
(HFFINS)
cc: Robert Hamilton and Trish Dyson