We forwarded an email we received from a Pineland parent and asked the Burlington Post editor do some investigation into HDSB policy as some are deeply affecting our neighbourhoods.
To:Halton Families For Inclusive Neighbourhood Schools <[email protected]>
We have repeatedly reported on this issue - including specifically how it relates to Pineland - on several occasions as it has come up for discussion at various school board meetings.
Here are just some of the most recent examples of that coverage:
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4040493-halton-public-school-board-reviewing-french-education/
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4190971-hdsb-recommends-french-studies-start-as-early-as-grade-1/
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4203754-board-to-hear-from-public-on-french-immersion-recommendations/
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4220033-halton-public-board-eyeing-new-french-immersion-plan/
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4220028-halton-board-urged-to-repatriate-students-to-neighbourhood-schools/
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4231512-french-to-start-in-grade-1-at-24-halton-public-schools/
- http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/4290395-hffins-officially-asks-for-english-advisory-committee/
Don Ford
Managing Editor
Burlington Post
Halton Families For Inclusive Neighbourhood Schools<[email protected]>
To:"Ford, Don" <[email protected]>
Thank you.
With all due respect, only 1 of the 7 articles you referenced is English mentioned in the headline. What is needed for parents to wake up and take notice is a headline that says something about removing English, otherwise they think it has nothing to do with their kids. Taxpayers need to understand that English boards are mandated to provide English and that anything other than English is an optional program (including FI) and that boards do not have to provide it. Taxpayers need to understand that our board has continually promoted an optional program to the detriment of the mandated one. Taxpayers need to be schooled on how the board continues to remove walking possibilities in favour of busing in and out for optional programming. Taxpayers need to understand what happens at Pineland affects the other dual track school across Halton (school board issues should always be printed in all papers in Halton, but that's a separate issue).
Most of Halton's children are NOT in FI yet it dominates all these decisions and headlines. 90% of Halton's high school kids are NOT in FI yet boundaries are messed with and English is "redirected" to convert neighbourhood schools into single track FI schools, just like the 5 that exist in Oakville and are divisive for the communities.
To:"Ford, Don" <[email protected]>
Thank you.
With all due respect, only 1 of the 7 articles you referenced is English mentioned in the headline. What is needed for parents to wake up and take notice is a headline that says something about removing English, otherwise they think it has nothing to do with their kids. Taxpayers need to understand that English boards are mandated to provide English and that anything other than English is an optional program (including FI) and that boards do not have to provide it. Taxpayers need to understand that our board has continually promoted an optional program to the detriment of the mandated one. Taxpayers need to be schooled on how the board continues to remove walking possibilities in favour of busing in and out for optional programming. Taxpayers need to understand what happens at Pineland affects the other dual track school across Halton (school board issues should always be printed in all papers in Halton, but that's a separate issue).
Most of Halton's children are NOT in FI yet it dominates all these decisions and headlines. 90% of Halton's high school kids are NOT in FI yet boundaries are messed with and English is "redirected" to convert neighbourhood schools into single track FI schools, just like the 5 that exist in Oakville and are divisive for the communities.