Immersion Delayed is Immersion Denied

Happy Anniversary

2009-02-27T23:54:00.002-04:00

It was one year ago today that we received the disturbing Croll and Lee report. It was also one year ago today that we became activists. Today's anniversary was marked on CBC--please see their report. It has been quite a year. I am going to blow out the candle on the pie.
Cheers,
Matt

Recent report from Minister Lamrock

2008-09-12T22:50:00.002-03:00

Sorry no postings lately. Actually, I have enjoyed not being on the blogosphere. However, it was very clear that this article had to be added to the blog. Please also make sure that you read the comments following Times and Transcript article.

I will be very curious to see what French programs will be developed for children in English Prime K-2 for this winter. Hopefully we will hear about the plans soon. -- Matt

Aloma Jardine--Times and Transcript
French program changes going well: minister
Published Thursday September 11th, 2008

Click here for link

Recent EFI articles, comments and letters in NB papers

2008-08-19T15:46:00.003-03:00

August 19th
Bilingualism is a significant strength for New Brunswick--repeat of Dubé article from the Telegraph-Journal-- The Daily Gleaner
Too many unanswered questions, writes Johnson--Letter--Kings County Record
Liberals hurt integrity of political process in FSL debacle--Repeat of Miramichi Leader piece on August 18th--Kings County record

August 18th
French Immersion debacle reveals Liberal strategy--Miramichi Leader
No French for start of 2008--Letter--The Daily-Gleaner

August 16th
Francophone committee will make us better--Telegraph-Journal
Bilingualism, strength for our province--Telegraph-Journal
Questions remain about FSL--Letter--Telegraph-Journal

When Bad Research Leads to Bad Policy: The Case of New Brunswick

2008-08-15T23:28:00.006-03:00

This opinion piece was in response to EFI policy development in NB. It was written by Philip Oreopolous who is an Associate Professor of Economics, University of British Columbia and a University of Toronto Research Fellow, Canadian Institute For Advanced Research. It was written just before the decision was announced on August 5th and unfortunately it was not printed. However, it is a great piece and it should see the light of day. I believe it is still relevant, particularly when we see what has recently been written in the Ottawa Citizen (see post below).

When Bad Research Leads to Bad Policy: The Case of New Brunswick

Governments in Canada pay a lot for research and commission reports regularly to help develop public policy. Recently, policy makers have been placing more emphasis on experimental approaches to research for determining whether social programs are worth maintaining, or whether better alternatives to current policies exist.

These methods, sometimes collectively referred to as ‘evidence based policy’, involve setting up pilot projects or using historical events that allow the comparison of groups of individuals that are eligible or engaged in a particular program against other groups of individuals that are not eligible for the program, or enrolled instead in an alternative program. The experimental approach leads to strong conclusions about the overall impact of one policy compared to another.

Most often, however, governments rely on non-experimental research to draw policy conclusions. Non-experimental reports often use surveys or interviews, without a comparison group to draw policy conclusions. This approach requires working with data that was never intended to answer the questions at hand.

Often these reports draw strong conclusions when they really should not. We are inundated with research and reports drawing strong conclusions, and it is virtually impossible to tell from reading an executive summary or listening to a sound bite whether a study should be taken seriously or not.

Taking a report’s conclusions or sound bites at face value, without initial skepticism about how the report came to these conclusions can sometimes lead to disastrous policy mistakes.

For example, take the case of French Immersion reform in New Brunswick, which I use in my Public Policy class as a case example of when bad research can lead to bad policy. ....

Click here to link to full opinion piece

More letters and comments on EFI this week

2008-08-15T08:17:00.003-03:00

August 15th
Letters Language program another rushed decision--Telepgraph-Journal
Bilingualism and FSL are a strength for N.B.--Times and Transcript

August 14th
Immersion decision is a disgrace--Letter--Telegraph-Journal
Is everyone now happy?--Letter (little longer than the one above)--Times and Transcript

August 13th
It's not 'elitist' to want immersion program that works--Letter commenting on Margaret Norrie McCain's opinion--Times and Transcript
Parents reluctantly accept FI changes--The Sackville Tribune Post

Is the anti-EFI movement spreading to Ottawa?

2008-08-12T23:09:00.007-03:00

July 10th
N.B. French immersion highly segregated, discriminatory: report--Ottawa Citizen

July 23rd
The real reason we send our kids to French immersion--Dan Gardner--Ottawa Citizen

August 12th
Let's talk about immersion--Elizabeth Payne member of the Ottawa Citizen Editorial Board

"... Ottawa school officials should be paying close attention to New Brunswick's stab at reform."

This is a very strange comment since the Ottawa Carleton Board of Education did conduct a very thorough study of FSL training in Ottawa. To use NB as an example at this time is rather odd isn't it?

EFI in NB papers--Monday and Tuesday

2008-08-12T22:58:00.003-03:00

August 12th
Can a government learn?--Telegraph-Journal
N.B. on an untested path with immersion--Times and Transcript
No French until '09--Kings County Record
Local parent pleased with govt.'s compromise on French immersion--Northern Light
Hit the ground running--Kings County Record
NBers care don't you get it?--Kings County Record

August 11th
Province urged to ensure success of French program--Telegraph-Journal
Parents encouraged to keep fighting for better education--The Daily Gleaner
Local reaction to FSL revisions cautiously optimistic--Miramichi Leader

EFI in the news on Friday and Saturday

2008-08-09T09:25:00.003-03:00

August 7th
Letters Louis would be proud of change: widow & The 'how' of plan is not in place--Telegraph-Journal
Government passes big test--Telegraph-Journal
Sometimes, fear of change is hard to understand--Telegraph-Journal
Bilingualism and equality--Letter--The Daily Gleaner
There is no plan--Letter--The Daily Gleaner
New plan an improvement--Times and Transcript

August 8th
More research sought on language education--Telegraph-Journal
Bullying won't be forgotten--Great Letter from Michael Wilcott--Telegraph-Journal
Let's not drop Education issue--Telegraph-Journal
The education of government--Terrific Commentary by Lisa Keenan--Telegraph-Journal
Federation supporting aspects of FSL reform--Letter--Miramichi Leader
FSL changes step in wrong direction--Miramichi Leader
My thoughts exactly--Bugle-Observer
Minister unveils immersion compromise--Bugle-Observer

More news on the Decision -- more sober reflections

2008-08-07T17:34:00.005-03:00

English Media
FRENCH IMMERSION IN NEW BRUNSWICK: Thinking better of it--Thank you--Globe and Mail
Rural schools may not benefit from changes--The Daily Gleaner
Immersion plan pan--Fascinating--Telegraph-Journal
Lamrock hopes for universal teaching of French--Pay close attention to the comments--Telegraph-Journal
Rural schools to miss immersion benefits--Telegraph-Journal
Remember why debate started--Telegraph-Journal
Letters EFI plan offers a balanced approach: MP--Aargggh--Mr. Murphy you could have "quietly" patted yourself on the back too--In both the Telegraph-Journal and Times and Transcript

Francophone media
Français langue seconde : Madeleine Dubé dénonce le « pas dans la mauvaise direction »--Hebdosblogue
Les groupes de francophones plutôt satisfaits du compromis en immersion--Jminforme.ca
Immersion française : victoire aigre-douce pour les parents--Jminforme.ca
La réforme suscite du scepticisme--Radio-Canada
Le programme révisé est mieux accueilli--L'Acadie Nouvelle
Immersion: bataille aux retombées inattendues --L'Acadie Nouvelle
L'avantage de la cogestion --L'Acadie Nouvelle

Thanks go to Dodie Perkin--I really needed your D-Mail today.

The Morning After

2008-08-06T08:25:00.002-03:00

Immersion compromise--Telegraph-Journal
Education minister checks his ego at the door--Telegraph-Journal
Parents grudgingly accept immersion compromise--Telegraph-Journal
A tale of two premiers--Telegraph-Journal
The ABCs of change--The Daily Gleaner
Language of compromise--The Daily Gleaner
Resources key to making immersion changes work--The Daily Gleaner
Once burned, but Lamrock says he won't be shy--The Daily Gleaner
Quality of education must improve--The Daily Gleaner
Parents call immersion decision 'bittersweet'--Times and Transcript
Judge did gov't 'a favour'--Times and Transcript
Timeline for introduction of new immersion programs--Times and Transcript
Immersion plan watered down--Times and Transcript
Revisions to the French second language curriculum announced--Miramichi Leader
N.B. compromises on cuts to French immersion, offers program in Grade 3--Canadaeast.com and Globe and Mail
N.B. revamps changes to French language education--CBCNews.ca
Outcry saves early French immersion, Premier says--National Post
N.B. backs down on French immersion overhaul--National Post

So where are we now?

2008-08-05T20:59:00.001-03:00

The Decision -- (click here to link to the revised FSL plan)

Minister Lamrock and the Liberal Government have decided that there will be a Universal K-2 Program effective September 2008. They have called this the “Universal Program K-2”. Curriculum modules will be developed to replace the current Core French program starting in January 2009 with the intent of exposing children to French and the Acadian culture during K-2. Unfortunately, at this point we don’t know what these modules will look like. After grade 2, parents will be provided a choice of enrolling their children in either Grade 3 immersion or the new “English Prime” program. As expected, he has also decided to implement intensive French for all students currently in the Core program. After grade 5, they will have the choice of late immersion or English Prime with post-intensive French.

So, where does the decision leave us? We, like a lot of other people, have put a tremendous amount of work into fighting the decision to end Early French Immersion in Canada’s only bilingual province. Was it worth it? Yes, for a number of reasons.

First, we must state that we are disappointed that the children who were registered in Early French Immersion for 2009 are not going to be able to enter that program, as we feel that they should have been grandfathered in. Further, we would have preferred a kindergarten or grade 1 entry-point with significant investment to make it more inclusive, and we worry about the untested and undeveloped aspects of the new plan. That said, the grade 3 entry-point to French immersion seems better than the original grade 6 plan developed by the government. It is our hope that grade 3, with appropriate preparation in K-2, will give children a reasonable chance of reaching advanced proficiency. We also hope that the promised additional resources will be provided to make immersion more inclusive.

Second, we have met a lot of really great people from across New Brunswick and Canada who have shared our concerns. We learned that a group of parents, grandparents and friends can, if they try hard enough, buck the system and get the government to listen to their point of view.

Third, we learned that the internet, with its ease of use and instant information transmission, is a terrific vehicle to challenge the government. Over the past 6 months the people of New Brunswick, and from all areas of Canada, have written many letters to editors, commented on-line about articles printed for and against the decision, and posted comments and proposals on the Government’s website. With email, Googledocs, YouTube, FaceBook, WebPages, Blogs and PayPal, it was possible to conduct research, engage effectively in this debate, and generate funds for a legal challenge. Thankfully, the judicial review was granted and this landmark decision forced the government to reopen this issue. Although grade 3 immersion is not the outcome we were hoping for, without the internet, our “e-voice”, coupled with a huge commitment from so many dedicated people, we expect that we would have been facing a far bleaker FSL education picture in NB than now appears to be the case.

The changes announced today by Minister Lamrock will take us down an uncertain path. Will kids starting immersion in grade 3 still become fully bilingual? Will more or fewer students enroll in immersion at this new entry point? Will streaming be made better or worse? Will having all students take the early years together result in better achievement for struggling learners or make no difference? Will all students do well with Intensive French? Unfortunately, only time will tell. The Minister is asking New Bruswickers to take a leap of faith here, which makes us nervous because it involves the education of children, but we can take solace in the fact that the leap now seems somewhat smaller than it was in March.

On a personal note, when my wife (Diana Hamilton) and I embarked on this incredibly time consuming journey, never in our wildest dreams did we anticipate what would actually transpire. Neither of us is an activist, nor an expert on the use of the internet for this purpose. While this process has been difficult at times and trying for our family, we value what we have learned and the friends we have made. We plan to remain engaged and we hope you will too.

Cheers,
Matt Litvak

P.S. To our friends in Sackville and elsewhere, you are tremendous. Your contributions to the blog have been much appreciated and very powerful.

Decision: Grade 3 Immersion -- unfortunately no grandfathering of EFI for 2008 grade 1 kids

2008-08-05T13:48:00.011-03:00

I will comment later. However, for those interested here is the link to the Government's press release--Click here.

To look at the NB Government's revised FSL plan--CLICK HERE.

Decision Day

2008-08-05T08:37:00.004-03:00

EARLY EDUCATION-- N.B. parents await answer on French immersion's fate--Globe and Mail
Liberals spend at taxpayers' expense--Bugle-Observer
Lamrock to make decision public today--The Daily Gleaner
Immersion reforms unveiled today--Times and Transcript
Today's the day--Telegraph-Journal
Letter of the day Cancelling early immersion won't fix the problem--Times and Transcript

One more day to wait for Minister Lamrock's decision

2008-08-04T08:51:00.004-03:00

Some of the costs for removing Early French Immersion in NB:

'Maybe we'll be back in 10 years, maybe not at all'--Another family decides not to move back to NB if EFI is terminated--Telegraph-Journal

Another installment of "This Week in EFI"-- Hope I don't have to change the installment's name next week

2008-08-02T12:28:00.002-03:00

August 2
Lamrock: 'I'm prepared to lose elections...'--The Daily Gleaner
Support needed for EFI to succeed--Letters--Telegraph Journal

August 1
Cancelling EFI will not address root education issues--Jane Kieth--So very true--The Daily Gleaner

July 31st
Choose immersion and the arts--Peter Powning Commentary--TERRIFIC-- Telegraph Journal

July 29th
Predictions scarce as Lamrock nears immersion decision day--Kings County Record
Sussex businessman enters Tory race--Times and Transcript
Local seats key to toppling Grits - candidate--The Daily Gleaner

This week in EFI, Part IV

2008-07-28T23:52:00.004-03:00

July 28th
EFI problem is bad management--Telegraph Journal
Early immersion proponents skeptical as consultation submissions deadline passes--Miramichi Leader

July 26th
'No magic solution'--Telegraph Journal
'New model' for French education by September--The Daily Gleaner
Education minister mulls over immersion changes--Times and Transcript

July 25th
N.B. minister says new ideas to lead to plan for French language education--Canadeast.com
Expect province to tweak its plan for immersion--Telegraph Journal
Quebec English groups network backs EFI--Letters--Telegraoh Journal

July 24th
Eliminating EFI won't fix funding woes--Telegraph Journal

July 23rd
Artists, writers support early French immersion--Telegraph Journal
Anglophone says thanks for letter--Letter--Telegraph Journal
Seniors groups add voice to immersion debate--Times and Transript

July 22nd
Immersion issue sparks enrolment jump --The Norther Light
Grade 1 students deserve better in September--Letters--The Daily Gleaner
Access for all--Surprise--TJ Editorial does it again-- see comments--Telegraph Journal

Taking some time off in Quebec

2008-07-24T23:15:00.002-03:00

Hi all. Forgot to sign off on Tuesday, too busy packing.
Will be back on Monday ready to blog.

Have you sent in your submission to Minister Lamrock?
If not, please do so -- Friday is the deadline.

An Open Letter to Anglophones

2008-07-19T08:05:00.002-03:00

Published Saturday, July 19th, 2008, Telegraph-Journal.

We have followed with great interest and concern the various initiatives undertaken by many anglophone parents to keep the early immersion program in place in New Brunswick. We applaud their various initiatives and we have decided that the time has come for francophones to take a stand and voice our support.

As is well known, early immersion has been in Canadian schools for more than four decades and Canada's immersion model has been exported to many countries. As is also well known, New Brunswick has long been perceived as a leader in promoting early immersion and as a model for English-French relations for the rest of Canada. The province's bilingual character defines New Brunswick and has given the province a competitive edge in attracting new economic activities, some would even argue that it constitutes our main competitive advantage.

This explains why members of the national media have been scratching their heads, trying to understand why New Brunswick would wish to turn back the clock. If the government proceeds with its plan, Canada's only officially bilingual province will stand out as a province without an early French immersion program.

The government's intention to eliminate early immersion, initially at least, was based on an extremely flawed and now completely discredited report - the Croll/Lee report, which, if nothing else, proved extremely expensive to New Brunswick taxpayers. It is still not at all clear for New Brunswickers what has and continues to motivate the government of New Brunswick to pursue its plan to eliminate early immersion. None of the arguments advanced by government officials are very convincing, and leading experts from both our English and French-language universities have been highly critical of the government's plan to eliminate early French immersion. New Brunswickers are being asked to embrace a new approach without any assurance that it will work. The gamble is too high given what is at stake.

The issue is extremely important to New Brunswick and its political and economic future, and we strongly recommend that the government of New Brunswick take the time necessary to review the matter in detail.

At a minimum, the government of New Brunswick should accept the recommendation made by various groups and individuals to delay the elimination of early French immersion until September 2009 to enable a thorough review of the issue and allow a meaningful public engagement process.

JACQUES BOUCHER, Architect
BERNARD CYR, President-CEO, Cyr Holdings Inc.
MONIQUE IMBEAULT, Lawyer, McInnes Cooper
RODRIGUE LANDRY, Institut canadien de recherche sur les minorités linguistiques, Université de Moncton
JEAN LANTEIGNE, Executive Director, Association des crabiers
LOUIS LAPIERRE, Environmentalist
VIOLA LÉGER, Former Senator
DENIS LOSIER, President-CEO, Assomption Society
GEORGE MARCOUX, Economic Development Specialist
CHRISTIAN MICHAUD, Lawyer, Cox and Palmer
LISE OUELLETTE, Executive Director, Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick
RODNEY OUELLETTE, CEO and Director of Discovery, Atlantic Cancer Research Institute
SENATOR PIERRETTE RINGUETTE, The Senate
JACQUELINE ROBICHAUD, Widow of Former Premier Louis J. Robichaud
ANDRÉE SAVOIE, Acadian Construction
DONALD J. SAVOIE, Chaire de recherche du Canada en administration publique et en gouvernance Université de Moncton
JEAN-CLAUDE SAVOIE, Group Savoie
MARIO THÉRIAULT, President-CEO, ShiftCentral

Click here to link to article
____________________________________________

Merci pour votre appui! Thank you for your support!
____________________________________________

For two reports on this story see:

'Gamble is too high'--Language: Prominent francophones blast the Liberal government for proposal to axe early French immersion--Telegraph-Journal

French community opposes loss of early immersion--Prominent NBers pen letter supporting fight against controversial reforms--Times and Transcript

This week in Early French Immersion, Part III

2008-07-18T19:34:00.004-03:00

July 19th
Compromise needed on immersion--Letter--Telegraph-Journal

July 18th
Immersion process ready to move on--Times and Transcript
Something doesn’t add up--Letter--Bugle-Observer

July 16th
Governments often consult in private--Letter--[Blogger's comment: Sometimes, but on this one? Read the comments on this article--they are to the point]--The Daily Gleaner.
Lack of immersion to pressure District 5--The Tribune
Stakeholders disagree re: FSL meeting--Miramichi Leader

July 15th
Bureaucratic attitudes also have to change--Times & Transcript
Parents must fund real bilingual education-The Daily Gleaner

Is New Brunswick's unilingual past our future?

2008-07-14T21:04:00.003-03:00

Telegraph-Journal, Monday July 14th, Janet Toole, Grandparents for EFI.

"...
Early French Immersion in Fredericton has developed over 34 years, and built a solid reputation for graduating bilingual young persons. There are imperfections, but they can be dealt with.

All children can succeed in EFI, with the proper encouragement.

Like the gift of another language, Measha Brueggergosman was assisted in her music, all the way through school, by Early French Immersion.
...
"Grandparents for EFI" laud this motto: "Language is the sound of music." "

Click here to link to full article

Also see:
FSL plan is without benefits of bilingualism & Lamrock has no interest in bilingualism, only inclusion--Letters--The Daily Gleaner

Are things looking up? Mixed messages

2008-07-12T08:37:00.003-03:00

July 12th
The Sleuth--Now for something that has hit a few more sour notes--Times & Transcript
Two words that gave, then took away, hope: Education Minister says his idea of a 'working group' on French language wasn't exactly what people thought--Telegraph-Journal
Don't expect formal working group: Lamrock--Education minister wants to meet with several small groups of stakeholders about French immersion plans--Times & Transcript
Not even close to bilingual--Letter--The Daily Gleaner [We were a bit surprised when we saw the letter from Premier Graham too]

July 11th
Secrecy doesn't make for open government. In our view: Barring the public from French consultations isn't what the judge ordered--Editorial --The Daily Gleaner.
Meeting of minds: Education Opposing sides in French second-language debate laud roundtable discussion--Telegraph-Journal
FSL experts offer variety of views at stakeholders' meeting--Telegraph-Journal
Be fair and reasonable--Letter--Telegraph-Journal
Educators look for solutions--French Minister says 'clash of ideas' may be beneficial--The Daily Gleaner
Immersion changes could be delayed: minister--Kelly Lamrock suggests working group could help develop alternatives to controversial changes--Times and Transcript
Talk about the writing on the wall--Letter--Bugle-Observer

Future of French immersion discussed in Fredericton

2008-07-10T23:07:00.000-03:00

Minister says he may consider delaying changes.
Click here to see full report from CBC.

For some comments from inside the Roundtable

2008-07-10T22:47:00.003-03:00

"The Independent" tried to "blog live" from inside the roundtable until he was asked to shut down in order to respect the wishes of some of the participants. For comments on his perspective of this event go to: http://albert-county.blogspot.com/.

This Week in Early French Immersion--Part Deux

2008-07-06T10:32:00.005-03:00

Be 'fair' and 'reasonable'--July 5th--Times and Transcript
Spelling out changes to our french language programs--July 5th--Daily Gleaner
Stakesholders applaud francophone education appointment--July 5th--Daily Gleaner

Only francophones will be bilingual--Letters-July 4th--Telegraph-Journal
Immersion changes threaten job prospects--Letters--July 4th--Daily Gleaner
Consultation meaningless--Letter--July 4th--Miramichi Leader
Ground gets shakier for Liberals--July 4th--Telegraph-Journal

Listening to silence--July 3rd--Telegraph-Journal [Read the comments--they say it all]
Alberta district not stealing French immersion teachers--July 3rd--Daily Gleaner

Public education: a public melting pot--July 2nd--Tribune
Premier could learn something & The fix was in from the start--Letters--July 2nd--Times & Transcript
Liberal voice sings alone--July 2nd--Daily Gleaner
Early French immersion proponents seem to want less choice, not more & Immersion cut doesn't address education woes--Letters (see comments)--July 2nd--Daily Gleaner

EFI in NB papers (Happy Canada Day)

2008-07-01T01:00:00.002-03:00

Turnout low for public second-language sessions--Article--Telegraph-Journal

Letter of the day -- N.B. government stumbling from crisis to crisis--Times and Transcript
Is immersion the culprit? & Immersion does benefit students--Letters--Times and Transcript

Terrific articles and letters in today's NB papers

2008-06-30T23:27:00.002-03:00

Parents on pins and needles--Article--The Daily Gleaner
N.B. students do achieve good results--Letter--The Daily Gleaner
Home and school associations disagree on immersion support--Your View--The Daily Gleaner

Premier should engage himself & Where is Shawn Graham?--Two Letters--Times and Transcript

EFI Consultation: Parents have say on changes--Article--Miramichi Leader

This Week in Early French Immersion

2008-06-28T09:20:00.007-03:00

June 28th, 2008
Streaming isn't a reason to eliminate EFI--Telegraph-Journal
Summertime, and the living is crazy--Telegraph-Journal
Experts agree with assessment that early immersion works--Letter- The Daily Gleaner
Streaming happens outside immersion--Your View - The Daily Gleaner
Kelly Lamrock: who named you a superhero? Times and Transcript

June 27th
Premier must heed reccomendations--Letter ThisWeek
Both sides in immersion debate not being treated fairly--Letter - The Daily Gleaner

June 26th
Sussex councillors vote unanimously to delay early French immersion decision--Telegraph-Journal
Immersion Parents have opportunity to voice concerns about French program--Telegraph-Journal
Experts should set direction for French immersion debate--The Daily Gleaner
Parents keen to learn about education choices--The Daily Gleaner

June 25th
Supervisor should have been ID'ed--Letter- Times and Transcript (link to letter that this entry cites -- Ombudsman's report appears to be predetermined)
FSL: something subtle and remarkable--Miramichi Leader

June 24th
Listen to what the experts say--Letter - Telegraph-Journal
French immersion court ruling impedes preparation time, says one retired educator--The Northern Light
The Way I See It: Minister's failing grade won't change final outcome--The Northern Light
Elimination of early immersion is 'a serious mistake': MP Godin--The Northern Light
Patience gone for unreasonable minister--Bugle-Observer
The solution to streaming is access to help for struggling students--Kings County Record,

June 23rd
Education issue is about choice--Letter - Telegraph-Journal
Graduates say being bilingual is essential--The Daily Gleaner
Children learn best when young--Letter Times and Transcript

CEC Handout for DoE Open House Information Session on FSL

2008-06-25T10:34:00.010-03:00

CEC has generated a hand-out for the DoE open houses listed in the previous blog entry.

Click here to link to the CEC document

This Week -- Department of Education Open Houses

2008-06-24T14:40:00.003-03:00

A series of open houses, hosted by the nine anglophone school districts, will take place on Wednesday, June 25 from 12 noon – 8 p.m., and on Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. District representatives will be on hand to provide information and answer questions, and people can also submit written comments at the events.

Please attend and make your opinions known.

Click here to link to DOE site listing their locations

Do not forget to get your comments to Minister Lamrock and DOE.

To share your views with Minister Lamrock and DOE please click this link to go to their comments submission site.

Click here to see comments published on DOE's website.

Selection of Friday's and Saturday's Articles and Letters related to FSL training in NB

2008-06-22T20:47:00.005-03:00

The ordinary vs. the excellent--Times and Transcript
Letters: Group calls for moratorium on FSL changes and The meaning of quashed--Times and Transcript
Not all proponents of EFI are elitists--Daily Gleaner

My thoughts exactly --Great times for political junkies--Bugle-Observer
French teachers left in limbo--Bugle-Observer
Graham's mid-term--Telegraph-Journal
Handling of FSL ruling dismaying--Miramichi Leader
Has premier been briefed on FSL?--Miramichi Leader
Calling for the education minister's resignation--ThisWeek

The Ottawa-Carelton District School Board's Review of FSL programs, elementary phase

2008-06-20T12:43:00.003-03:00

EFI equals streaming - right? Not necessarily. However, Late Immersion does. See below:

Bloggers' note: As indicated in a previous blog entry, the Ottawa-Carleton Board of Education decided to terminate their Late French Immerision Program because they found that it caused streaming problems. It is an interesting read and we would strongly recommend that this report be read by all interested parties. Clearly it should have been read by Croll and Lee.

Additional note: unlike the Croll-Lee review, which had no reference list and cited only a handful of papers (mostly reports), the Ottawa-Carleton review actually had a reference section (4.5 pages long) containing numerous peer-reviewed publications. This suggests that they actually did the background research to develop their conclusions. This presents another question: Not only is the Croll-Lee report flawed and discredited based on their math and unsupported conclusions, but why did they not review the literature? Perhaps there is no current scientific evidence to support their approach and conclusions. Also, why didn't Croll and Lee cite the Ottawa-Carelton review? It is very pertinent to our situation - Ottawa is a bilingual environment with similar participation in French Immersion programs. Clearly, New Brunswickers deserve better.
_________________________________________

With regard to streaming, segregation (an unfortunate term that DOE is using), and class heterogeneity there are numerous quotes from the Ottawa-Carelton review that are pertinent to Minister Lamrock's and DoE's most recent justification for terminating EFI in NB. Here are two:

"Much of the debate within the immersion literature has focused on the appropriateness of this type of program [FI] for certain groups of students (e.g., ELLs, students withspecial needs, students in their early years of schooling). While it is acknowledgedthat early on this may have been the case, more recent research suggests that immersion programs are not elitist (particularly in EFI), and that there can, and should, be an appropriate program option for all groups of children, including those with special education needs and those for whom English is their second language."

"Immersion programs have traditionally been viewed as being elitist. However, Dube and MacFarlane (1991) argued that while this may have been the case in the initial stages of implementation, EFI typically serves a more heterogeneous student population in terms of cognitive ability and social background. The reason for this is that parents of children in SK have little knowledge of their child's academic ability because it has not yet been formally assessed. By grade 4 or grade 7, however, parental decisions to register in MFI and/or LFI programs are based more on a child's academic ability, resulting in more homogeneous groupings than those found in the EFI program."

Click here to download the full report

Busy and weird day

2008-06-19T21:59:00.006-03:00

Articles

Lamrock turns down ombudsman's advice on French immersion--The Daily Gleaner

Parents take sides on French immersion changes--The Daily Gleaner

Watchdog fails Lamrock on immersion changes--Times and Transcript

N.B. firm on stopping early immersion programs--The Globe and Mail

N.B. Liberals face public scrutiny following difficult legislative session--Canadaeast.com

'Serious flaws' in FSL process: report -- Canadaeast.com

Embarrassing Editorials from NB papers

Let's not delay essential change --Times and Transcript -- or Bloggers' Alternative Title -- What facts? Who needs facts? Let's make a change for change's sake.

No place for politics -- Telegraph Journal -- Bloggers' comment: Since the editor likes Thoreau, here is another of his quotes -- "It takes two to speak the truth: one to speak, and another to hear." Maybe it is time the editor starts listening.

A few more stories today--let's see what happens tomorrow.

2008-06-19T00:41:00.005-03:00

N.B. government rejects ombudsman's plea--Globe and Mail

N.B. Liberals face public scrutiny following difficult legislative session--Canadaeast.com

Let MLAs consult the public--Telegraph-Journal

Ombudsman recommends 1-year delay to French immersion changes--CBC

District 18 students excel in test--The Daily Gleaner [Note: District 18 does have EFI]

Report of the Ombudsman into the Minister of Education’s decision to modify the French Second Language Curriculum

2008-06-18T09:11:00.003-03:00

Ombudsman and Child and Youth Advocate
June 2008

Click here to link to the report that comes out strongly supporting the concerns and comments of so many New Brunswickers.

A few excerpts

"Jurisdiction and Scope of Investigation

On April 3, 2008, my notice of investigation summarized the main areas of investigation under the following headings:

Unfairness stemming from a lack of consultation
Unfairness due to insufficient notice prior to implementation
Decision premised upon a mistake of fact arising from errors in statistical
analysis and other factual errors
Failure to consider all the evidence before the Commissioners and before the
Minister
Bias arising from an alleged pre-determination of the consultation outcomes
Determination of FSL policy on the basis of irrelevant grounds or considerations,
or for an improper purpose
Failure to consider commitments of citizen engagement in the government
response to the Commission on Legislative Democracy

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

The Minister immediately confirm plans with the school districts to allow parents to register Grade one students in French immersion in September.
The Government defer the consultation announced by Minister Lamrock and delay implementation of the elimination of early French immersion until September 2009, pending the outcome of a public engagement process as outlined in the provincial government’s recent report, authored by the province’s Advisor on Public Engagement, Don Lenihan, and entitled: “It’s More than Talk: Listen, Learn and Act: A New Model for Public Engagement.” Further, that the services of a highly qualified consultant, such as Mr. Lenihan, be retained to carry out the process, concluding in time for the next (2009-2010) school year."

Second shoe set to drop

2008-06-18T07:56:00.002-03:00

Report Ombudsman will weigh in today on the decision to axe early immersion

MEGAN O'TOOLE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

FREDERICTON - Ombudsman Bernard Richard's report on the province's elimination of early French immersion is set to deal another blow to the government when it is released today.

Weeks after Education Minister Kelly Lamrock took the axe to early immersion, and with more than 200 complaints flooding into the Ombudsman's office, Richard announced his intention to review the process behind the decision.

Click here to link to full article

Some background information to help clarify the relationship between FSL and first language skills

2008-06-17T22:40:00.006-03:00

A report commissioned by the Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation, which NB is a member, examined the effects of second language learning on first language literacy skills.

Click here to go to the Monique Bournot-Trites and Ulrike Tellowitz"Report of Current Research on the Effects of Second Language Learning on First Language Literacy Skills"

Their conclusions were clear:

There is no negative effect of second language training on first language proficiency, and
Second language training seemed to actually boost proficiency in first language literacy skills.

See excerpt from their report below:

"The effect of learning a second language (e.g. French) on first language skills has been positive in all studies done. Furthermore, the loss of instructional time in English (first language) in favour of the second language has never been shown to have negative effects on the achievement of the first language. Cummins' interdependence hypothesis, which maintains that language skills are being transferred from one language to the other, can be assumed to be true for the core French situation as well. One can confidently assume that cognitive abilities acquired in the learning of one language can be put to use in the acquisition and proficiency of the other language. Numerous studies about the relationship of second language learning to first language skills support this claim. In these studies the first language skills did not suffer. On the contrary, in many studies first language skills were shown to be enhanced, even if instruction time in L1 [first language] was reduced in favour of L2 [second language] instruction.

The literature gives us this very positive evidence about the value of learning a second language. These advantages have been shown in the above studies to be in the cognitive area; but another important educational factor is the positive attitude and understanding it creates for other cultures. Lapkin and Swain (1984, p. 52) report on a study of compositions that grade 5 and 6 students had to write, about "Why I like being Canadian." The immersion students gave on average two to three times as many reasons than did the English comparison groups. They commented especially on the rich and varied cultural and linguistic composition of Canada. This was seen to be a very positive and encouraging consequence of learning a second language." (pages 30 and 31).

Nice analogy

2008-06-17T09:24:00.002-03:00

Bugle Observer

Dear Editor,

Imagine the minister of Transportation unveiled a new plan for a bridge over the St. John River.

Imagine also that dozens of mathematicians found flaws in the calculations for the design, the manufacturers of the major components of the bridge said they wouldn't carry the weight, all New Brunswick civil engineers said it wouldn't work, and a large part of the public said it wasn't what they wanted any way.

If the minister were given the chance to relaunch the project, do you think the minister should offer up the same discredited design?

If you answered ‘no,' you should hope that (Education) Minister (Kelly) Lamrock never takes over the transportation portfolio, because that is exactly the approach he is taking with his ‘consultation' on French language instruction.

Even though the rebuke by Justice McLellan gave him a golden opportunity to re-design the FSL plan according to professional advice, Lamrock has decided to relaunch the old, discredited Croll and Lee plan.

His ‘consultative' Web site even links to the exact same document that stirred the controversy weeks ago, the document that dozens of mathematicians considered statistically flawed, that was rejected by the inventors of Intensive French (the plan's major component), that all N.B. language experts have opposed, and that summoned sufficient public opposition to land the minister in court.

In educational planning, just as in engineering, if the design is wrong, you go back to the drawing board; if you try to fix a fundamentally flawed design, it ends in disaster.

N.B.er waiting to come home,

Shelley Ashfield, P. Eng., Cortenay, B.C.

French cuts delayed by judge's decision, or not

2008-06-17T09:16:00.002-03:00

By Charlene MacKenzie
King's Record

SAINT JOHN In the wake of a judge's decision overturning the province's elimination of early French immersion this fall, New Brunswickers may not know whether the axe is still falling until Aug. 5.

Kings East MLA Bruce Northrup says if he could look into a crystal ball, he's pretty sure he'd see Education Minister Kelly Lamrock going ahead with the status quo, implementing the sweeping changes he announced March 14.
...
Parents are looking for a one-year moratorium on the changes and a proper investigation, not six weeks of "lip service," Keith said of Lamrock's proposed online consultation period.

"He needs to consult real French second language experts and end up with something credible, not full of flaws, mistakes, innuendo and anecdotes."

She's awaiting Ombudsman Bernard Richard's report later this month on his investigation into the province's decision to cut early immersion.
...

"It's far from over," agreed Northrup, who believes Lamrock and the Liberal government wasted a chance to take another year to consult experts in favour of adhering to their controversial plan. ...

Click here to link to full article.

Early immersion supporters call for one-year moratorium on reforms

2008-06-17T08:07:00.002-03:00

MEGAN O'TOOLE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
...
The request comes in the wake of a court decision last week forcing the government to reopen debate on its plan for early immersion. To that end, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock launched a six-week consultation period.
...
"The government really has to go back to the drawing board and really listen to people, and make their voices count," said Jane Keith, the group's executive director. Lamrock's method of inviting people to share their opinions via the Internet, rather than face-to-face, is inadequate, she added.

Citizens for Educational Choice, the group that took Lamrock's proposal to axe early immersion into the courts, also issued a release Monday blasting the government over a brochure that was distributed in weekend newspapers.

The brochure provides an update on the province's education initiatives and includes a statement on the plan to eliminate early immersion.

"It clearly contravenes the decision that came down (in the court)," said Tim Jackson, who was involved in organizing the court challenge.

Communications New Brunswick spokesman Tim Porter said the education brochure was created and distributed to newspapers a full week before the court ruling came down, noting its purpose was to provide a comprehensive update.

Groups have started latching on to almost anything that could be construed in some way to support their point, Porter said.

"We are taking the high road," he said. "We are trying to consult. We are trying to come up with good ideas."

Bloggers' comment:

We are sure we are not the only ones confused about Mr. Porter's comments. Does the recent glossy insert entitled "Becoming the best - update on public education initiatives Anglophone sector" sent out June 14th contravene the ruling of court?

We must remind Mr. Porter that Minister Lamrock's decision on March 14th to end Early French Immersion in NB was quashed by Justice McLellan in his ruling on June 11th.

However, on the last page of the recent DOE flyer they indicated that Intensive French in grade 5 is the universal entry point to FSL learning; i.e, no more early French Immersion as of 2008. We realize that this flyer was printed before the ruling, however, the government did not stop its distribution. It was distributed through all three major NB Newspapers on Saturday, June 14th.

Clearly, DOE and NB Communication had enough time to ask the publishers to not insert the glossies in Saturday's papers. As of this posting, it is still on their website.

Canadian Parents for French calls for one-year moratorium

2008-06-17T08:04:00.000-03:00

By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The New Brunswick branch of Canadian Parents for French is calling for a one-year moratorium on any changes to early French immersion and early core French.

The group is also requesting that a working group of French second-language experts and researchers be established - similar to the working group that was set up to look at post-secondary education - to develop the best possible French second-language plan for the province.

"We know the system has to be fixed, but that doesn't mean slash and burn, and eliminating programs that produce a high level of French proficiency, like early French immersion," said Jane Keith, the group's executive director.

She said parents aren't comfortable with Education Minister Kelly Lamrock heading up another round of consultation.

"Lamrock needs to put the brakes on and remove himself from the debate," said Keith.

"He's too enmeshed in the issue to be impartial. We need impartial French second-language experts and researchers to give us good, solid, trustworthy advice this time around."
...
Click here to link to article.

More Great Letters

2008-06-16T19:20:00.002-03:00

Daily Gleaner
Some thoughts on Lamrock’s immersion plan -- Bruce Robertson, Sackville, NB
When confronted with parent school support committee surveys showing that parents oppose his French secondlanguage plans in a ratio of about 4:1, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock doubted the statistics, claiming that some who had expressed their opposition in the survey had subsequently telephoned to inform him that they had mis-voted.
I hope the next time someone conveniently parrots his talking points, Lamrock will have the forthrightness to inform them there is no reason to believe any greater number of students will be in immersion after Grade 5 under his plan, which provides only late French immersion. ...

Telegraph Journal
Lamrock shouldn't talk of abuse -- Sameera Yusuf, Fredericton, NB
It is amusing and revealing to hear Kelly Lamrock say that he and his colleagues "have a high threshold for abuse."
Are we to understand that the honourable judge's order to hold Lamrock to his promise of full consultation on the EFI issue constitutes abuse? Who is the minister to talk about abuse? He has abused the people's trust and our children's future. ...

Minister has lost credibility -- Bill Evans, Sackville, NB
Judge McLellan said the Minister's decision was "unfair and unreasonable" which confirmed the conclusion so many of us had reached after months of dealing with him on this issue. Simply put, Kelly Lamrock has lost all credibility with the public over his handling of this file. ...

Six weeks is not enough time -- Jean-Guy Richard, Notre Dame, NB
Following the court decision, it is obvious that six weeks is not long enough to consult and exchange ideas with all the stakeholders. ...

Globe and Mail: FRENCH IMMERSION IN NEW BRUNSWICK

2008-06-16T12:01:00.002-03:00

June 16, 2008, Globe and Mail Print Edition

'Quashing" is a technical, but pleasingly expressive word for what happened to an ill-considered decision to phase out early French immersion (EFI) in New Brunswick, Canada's most genuinely bilingual province, and our only officially bilingual one.

The judgment on Wednesday of Mr. Justice Hugh McLellan of the province's Court of Queen's Bench rightly took no position on the policy issues of bilingualism and education. On procedural grounds, he quashed, or struck down, a decision in March by Kelly Lamrock, the Minister of Education of New Brunswick. But those matters of procedure point to matters of substance.

One moral of the story may be that politicians should be careful of what they promise in the way of consultation. In July, 2007, the New Brunswick government appointed two commissioners to review second-language education in the province. The government would respond to their report within two months, which Mr. Lamrock said would "allow for a full debate and cabinet response."

The commissioners reported at the end of February. A government news release said the views of citizens on their findings and recommendations would be welcome and listened to.

The report found that many children who start in early French immersion do not carry on in French through high school, and concluded that it should be phased out.

That was just before the March break began. Within two weeks, Mr. Lamrock announced that the phase-out would start in September.

On the causes of the attrition in EFI, the commissioners had little to say. The report has many quotes and numbers, but little analysis - a gap that a real public debate could fill.

Two parents applied for judicial review, and Judge McLellan decided that Mr. Lamrock had raised a legitimate expectation that citizens would really be listened to on this language issue.

It is now Mr. Lamrock's legal duty to go back and review the question. Early French immersion in New Brunswick has at least two months more of a lease of life.

Canada leads the world in French immersion, and hitherto New Brunswick led Canada in providing it. The provincial government must now engage in genuine consultation, and the result should not be a forgone conclusion. It has an opportunity to reconsider its rushed ending of this valuable program.

Click here to link to article

District 16 schools planning for possibility [of] continuation of early French immersion

2008-06-16T10:00:00.000-03:00

Published Monday June 16th, 2008
by Daniel Martins

...
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced the end of early French immersion in March, to be replaced by intensive French beginning in Grade 5. Core French would also have been abolished.
In the ruling, Justice Hugh McLellan of the Court of Queen's Bench called Lamrock's decision "unfair and unreasonable," and said the government needed more public consultation before making a final decision on early immersion.
...
Retired early immersion teacher Esther Mahoney said she was pleased at the judge's decision.

"We certainly need time for consultation," she said. "Hopefully [Lamrock] will be listening to the concerns of the parents and put a bit more thought into it before there is action; put some more thought into the future of our children, and certainly the future of bilingualism in the province."
...
During question period in the legislature last week, the Opposition Conservatives charged that Lamrock would scrap the program regardless of what the six-week consultation shows.

"This minister has no intention of debating the people of New Brunswick," said Opposition MLA Keith Ashfield. "He will take from those discussions what he wants, with no expertise other than his own, to promote French second language education in this province."

MLA Mike Olscamp wondered if the six-week consultation program was long enough.

"Given the chaos that has been created with this decision, does the minister believe that, come September, those issues will be settled and the school year will get off to a smooth, good start?" he said.

Click here to link to full article

Be a part of it. A discussion paper for New Brunswickers.

2008-06-13T16:41:00.005-03:00

Minister Lamrock's discussion paper is now out. Excerpts of particular significance from Minister Lamrock's document (click here to link to document):

"5. The Judicial Review
Some parents felt that the consultation period had not been sufficient for a number of reasons, and made application for a judicial review of the decision to eliminate the Early French Immersion program. On June 11, 2008 a judicial ruling was made that the Minister’s decision be “quashed”. Effectively, this means that the Minister’s previous decision to eliminate Early French Immersion is void and no longer applies. However, the matter of dealing with the Croll Lee Report recommendations was remitted to the Minister, who has decided to re-visit those recommendations.

6. Next Steps - Consultation
In reconsidering the Croll Lee recommendations, the Minister has committed to six weeks of consultation, ending on July 25, 2008. You are therefore asked to consider the challenges presented here, and to present your submissions, comments or proposals to the Minister either electronically or in paper copy, on or before July 25, 2008.

In addition to receiving written submissions, comments or proposals, the Minister will actively engage in the consultation process by meeting with interested groups or individuals. He will also review all comments, submissions and queries as they are received, so that he is fully informed at all times. After this additional period of consultation, the Minister will make recommendations to government. Government’s decision will be announced publicly on August 5, 2008."
_________________________

Bloggers' comment: We look forward to "being a part of it". Hopefully the debate will be open and that the $100,000 spent on the communication report* will now pay dividends.

*Click here to link to: "It’s More Than Talk Listen, Learn and Act A New Model for Public Engagement The Final Report of the Public Engagement Initiative April 2008"

We will just list titles and links because there is so much news coverage today

2008-06-13T15:07:00.008-03:00

Published Friday June 13th, 2008

The Daily Gleaner

Times and Transcript

Letter of the day Nothing is 'universal' about the immersion plan

Telegraph-Journal

Summer hazy for French teachers
Editorial -- Immersion's problems must be addressed

CBC

N.B. parents hopeful for French immersion's future

Des parents réjouis qui continueront leur combat

2008-06-12T23:00:00.001-03:00

Mise à jour le jeudi 12 juin 2008
Par: Mylène Doiron
L'Acadie Nouvelle

SAINT-JEAN - L’émotion était à son comble dans une salle bondée de la Cour du Banc de la Reine, hier, à Saint-Jean, dans l’attente du jugement sur l’abolition du programme d’immersion précoce.

Les éclats de voix, les rires et les pleurs ont perturbé l’atmosphère habituellement calme de la cour lorsque les parents et les enfants qui les accompagnaient ont laissé éclater leur joie en apprenant que le juge leur avait donné raison.

"C’est de l’émotion! Ouf! C’est une décision très positive, l’immersion précoce demeure au N.-B. Le juge donne la possibilité au gouvernement de revisiter sa décision et d’avoir un processus de consultation adéquat", laisse entendre Jacqueline Jacob-Vogels, de Sackville et dont l’un des enfants est en immersion précoce.

Seule ombre au tableau: rien n’empêche le ministre Lamrock d’abolir à nouveau le programme d’immersion précoce dès qu’un processus de consultation raisonnable aura eu lieu. Malgré tout, Mme Jacob-Vogels a confiance.

"Je pense qu’il y a eu assez de débats. On a maintenant des parents, un juge, des enseignants, l’AEFNB, l’ombudsman, des spécialistes en éducation et en langue seconde qui ont dit que le programme que vous (le gouvernement provincial) proposez n’est pas bon.

"Je ne peux pas voir que le gouvernement va poursuivre avec ce qu’il voulait implanter. Alors, prenez le temps de consulter et de développer un programme adéquat pour nos jeunes", lance-t-elle en message au gouvernement.

Ray Small, patriarche de l’une des familles demanderesses dans cette enquête judiciaire, est enchanté de la décision rendue par le juge McLellan.

"D’après ce qu’on peut comprendre, le programme d’immersion précoce vient d’être réinstauré. La cour a parlé. Le ministre doit maintenant mener un processus de consultation du public qui sera juste et ouvert. C’est fantastique!" s’exclame M. Small.

Matthew Litvak et son épouse, Dianna Hamilton, sont professeurs de biologie et de statistiques. Ils ont lu et analysé le rapport Croll-Lee de façon extensive avant de rédiger eux-mêmes un document qui en démontrait les failles.

"Nous allons continuer à mettre en évidence les failles du rapport Croll-Lee. Nous voulons que tous soient au courant. Manifestement, le gouvernement ne nous a pas écoutés et il n’a pas écouté tous les experts qui ont admis que le rapport comportait plusieurs problèmes", déclare Mme Hamilton.

Phoebe Robertson, en 7e année à l’école Marshview, de Sackville, a séché les cours, hier, pour venir entendre la décision du juge.

"J’étais furieuse quand j’ai su que le gouvernement abolissait le programme d’immersion. Dans ma classe, tout le monde parle très bien français. Ça fonctionne, l’immersion! soutient celle qui est passée par le programme d’immersion précoce.

"L’immersion française m’a ouvert tellement de portes! Si mes enfants n’avaient pas ce choix-là, je pense bien que je déménagerais, c’est trop important le français!"

Pour Matthew Litvak, le temps est venu pour le gouvernement de prêter une oreille attentive aux inquiétudes et aux suggestions des parents.

"Nous sommes inquiets, comme tous les parents devraient l’être. Après tout, nous confions au gouvernement la tâche d’éduquer nos enfants. J’espère bien qu’il réalisera que ses actions étaient complètement inappropriées et qu’il prendra finalement conscience que le N.-B. est une province bilingue et que les anglophones souhaitent que leurs enfants soient capables d’interagir avec la communauté francophone."

mylene.doiron@acadienouvelle.com

Question Period NB Legislature.

2008-06-12T21:00:00.004-03:00

Minister Lamrock refused to answer any of Mme. Dubé's questions about whether the Early French Immersion program would be re-instated today as was ordered in Judge McLellan's decision.

Click here to link to the question period in today's Hansard.

Coverage in NB press

2008-06-12T08:35:00.004-03:00

Lamrock says he's ready for 'abuse'
Published Thursday June 12th, 2008
By CHRIS MORRIS
The Canadian Press

The provincial government is being forced to reconsider its decision to scrap early French immersion, but it's not backing away from the plan yet.
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock said Wednesday he will bow to a court ruling that quashes his decision and orders the government to allow for a "full debate" on the plan to eliminate early French immersion, beginning in Grade 1.
Lamrock said he will allow six weeks of consultation in June and July before making a final decision Aug. 5, leaving just enough time to make changes for the start of the school year in September.
But he warned that the status quo is not acceptable, saying if parents who want to keep early immersion believe they can hammer the government into submission, they are wrong.
"I and my colleagues have a high threshold for abuse," he said, adding he is open to new ideas on how to improve French language instruction in Canada's only officially bilingual province.
Justice Hugh McLellan of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench ruled it was "unfair and unreasonable" of the government to axe early immersion in English schools without allowing for full debate and public consultation.
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web

Parents win round
Published Thursday June 12th, 2008
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

Clea Ward is celebrating with caution.
The Fredericton mom is thrilled Justice Hugh McLellan of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench sided with parents opposed to the provincial government's decision to cut early French immersion.
He has allowed a judicial review of the government's decision, stating Education Minister Kelly Lamrock was unfair and unreasonable in not allowing enough time for debate on the issue.
The ruling is a victory for parents, but the fight is not over, Ward said.
"I'm cautious about celebrating too much because I don't know what this will mean for early French immersion in the long run," Ward said. "(Lamrock) has been so set in this decision that I'm not sure he's going to take this ruling seriously."
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web.

Judge forces province to play nice
Published Thursday June 12th, 2008
MATT MCCANN AND MEGAN O'TOOLETELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Ruling Government to seek more public input on early French immersion after decision.
SAINT JOHN - Parents won a victory in the divisive battle over early French immersion in New Brunswick schools Wednesday as Justice Hugh McLennan ruled the government fell down on its duty to consult with the public.
Calling Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's decision "unfair and unreasonable," McLellan quashed the phase-out of early immersion and urged the province to allow time for interested citizens to make their opinions heard.
To that end, Lamrock will be opening up the issue to a six-week discussion period, during which other potential programming plans can be tabled and examined. On Aug. 5, a final decision will be announced that will determine what happens in September.
...
Elation erupted at the Court of Queen's Bench - filled to capacity with parents, children and journalists - after the judge handed out paper copies of his seven-page decision. A brief scramble to obtain copies of the documents was followed by silence as people pored over the contents.
Soon, gasps of "we won" rang out from parents and a few hand claps grew into a round of applause. Handshakes and hugs were exchanged, and backs slapped.
"We're feeling pretty great," said Ray Small, one of the parents named in the affidavit submitted with the application for a judicial review of Lamrock's decision.
"The court has spoken."
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web

Setback should be opportunity as well
Published Thursday June 12th, 2008
MARTY KLINKENBERG, Telegraph-Journal

The government that spent $100,000 this spring to learn how to better engage New Brunswickers was slapped upside the head by a judge on Wednesday for refusing to engage New Brunswickers.
Obviously, there is a lesson here, but if Wednesday is an indication, it will be lost on the Liberals. Shortly before they were chastised for limiting public discussion on early French immersion, they made a move in the legislature to stifle debate on 19 bills that are waiting to be considered, Sunday hunting included.
Sooner or later, the government will either understand its opinion isn't the only one that counts, or it will be bounced from office by those pesky voters that keep making it hard for the Liberals to do what they please.
In a decision issued in Saint John, Justice Hugh McLellan on Wednesday called the government's plan to scrap early French immersion "unfair and unreasonable" and ordered that future decisions not be made until citizens and organized groups have an opportunity to be heard.
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web

Sackville council asks premier to save immersion
Published Thursday June 12th, 2008, Times and Transcript
Wallie Sears
Council calls on premier to halt changes until long-term economic impact can be assessed
SACKVILLE - Proposed changes to French second language instruction in the province are seen here as a further hindrance to economic development and in one of its first moves, the recently elected town council has called on Premier Shawn Graham to put a halt on implementing the procedures until its impact on long-term economic interests of the town can be assessed and an appropriate mitigation strategy adopted.
The motion notes that the province will be left without a system of second language instruction comparable to other provinces and the changes will not affect the nearby town of Amherst, which operates an early French immersion program.
The council motion goes on to stress that Sackville now competes on a global, national and regional basis when recruiting professionals, academics and businesses that can locate anywhere and that Sackville's ability to recruit people who value second language instruction for their children will be seriously compromised by the proposed changes to the province's education system.
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web

Immersion changes unfair, judge rules
Published Thursday June 12th, 2008, Times and Transcript
Education minister pledges more consultation, says changes could still be in place for September
Mary Moszynski, Times & Transcript Staff
FREDERICTON - Education Minister Kelly Lamrock will consult New Brunswickers over the summer regarding changes to French immersion after a judge ruled government didn't allow enough time for debate on its decision to scrap early immersion.
But Lamrock was adamant he wants to hear alternative suggestions to cancelling what's considered by many as the Cadillac program for teaching French, saying government isn't going to abandon its goals of improving bilingualism rates and addressing the issue of streaming.
"If the next six weeks turns into a test of 'can we hammer government so hard that they'll simply forget they ever wanted questions to answer, they'll turn their backs on those kids.' That isn't likely to happen," he told reporters. "I, and my colleagues, have a high threshold for abuse.
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web

N.B. holds more talks on early French immersion after losing court case
Published Wednesday June 11th, 2008
Chris Morris, THE CANADIAN PRESS

FREDERICTON - Plans to scrap early French immersion in New Brunswick's schools were put on hold for at least the next couple of months on Wednesday after parents fighting the government decision scored a victory in court.
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock says in the meantime, he will set up a website and consult with those affected until July 25 before announcing his intentions for the program on Aug. 5.
The government had planned to scrap the program starting in September, but that was thrown into doubt when Justice Hugh McLellan of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench ruled Lamrock didn't allow enough time for debate on the issue.
"Thus the decision of the minister was unfair and unreasonable," McLellan wrote.
The judgment quashed Lamrock's decision in March to scrap the program and sent the matter back to the government for further review.
...
Click here to see full article and comments on the web

N.B. early French immersion cuts 'unfair and unreasonable': judge

2008-06-11T23:19:00.004-03:00

Click here to link to CBC report

Education minister says he'll announce program's fate in August

The New Brunswick government's decision to scrap early French immersion programs was quashed for at least a few months by a provincial court judge Wednesday.

Justice Hugh McLellan, of the Court of the Queen's Bench in Saint John, ruled there should be a judicial review into the cancellation of the early French immersion program, which was offered to students entering Grade 1.

In his seven-page decision, McLellan wrote that the decision to cut the French education program was "unfair and unreasonable."

"The application for judicial review is allowed. The minister's decision to phase out early French immersion is removed into the court and quashed."

Breach of contract alleged

The group had called on the court to delay the program's cancellation. The court challenge dealt with two specific children who are currently enrolled in kindergarten and registered to start early French immersion in the fall, but the case will affect the entire province.
...
McLellan said that parents who had enrolled their children in the program for the fall "had a reasonable and legitimate expectation that program would not be cut without them having a real opportunity to be heard by the minister."
...
Lamrock said he would set up a website and consult with those affected by the decision. The consultations are set to continue until July 25, with the announcement on whether the program will go ahead in September to be announced on August 5.

He said the six-week consultation period will allow the government "to hear if there are other ideas from New Brunswickers as to how we can meet our goals. For example, making sure we have a higher rate of participation in immersion programs, making sure we have more bilingual graduates, not fewer, making sure we have more equality and equality of access to bilingual access. These are important questions."

He said he hoped there would be "good conversation" over the next few weeks and that he would keep an open mind.

He said a decision in early August would still leave time to implement his proposals from March for the start of the school year. He said whether another plan could be implemented on this timeline would depend on the details of the alternate plan.

Bloggers' notes: Minister Lamrock's comments in the media are somewhat confusing in light of Justice McLellan's decision. "Quashed" means that Minister Lamrock's plan is terminated and that EFI is reinstated. It means that he now has to re-hire the immersion teachers, not sell the EFI books, put EFI information back on the web, offer information sessions on EFI for next year ... If he does not do this, then we will never know that his consultation period is genuine and he is potentially in contempt of court.

Small & Ryan v. New Brunswick (Minister of Education), 2008 NBQB 201

2008-06-11T22:46:00.003-03:00

Decision--June 11th, 2008

S/M/32/08

IN THE COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH OF NEW BRUNSWICK

TRIAL DIVISION

JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF SAINT JOHN

B E T W E E N: PAULA SMALL and PATRICK JAMES RYAN

Applicants

- and -

PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK,
as represented by the Minister of Education

Respondent

BEFORE: Mr. Justice H. H. McLellan

AT: Saint John, NB

DATE OF HEARING: June 4, 2008

DATE OF DECISION: June 11, 2008

COUNSEL: E. Thomas Christie, Q.C.
for the Applicants

C. Clyde Spinney, Q.C. and
Heather Doyle Landry
for the Respondents

Click here to link to full document

Concluding paragraphs from Mr. Justice H. H. McLellan's Decision

Conclusion

24. In this case I must apply the principles from the precedents including the factors identified in Baker. In my opinion the disputed decision of the Minister in March 2008 was made in contravention of his own representation in July 2007 that the decision-making procedure would have time to “allow for a full debate”.

25. Because of that representation by the Minister I am satisfied that the applicants as parents of children registered to begin Early French Immersion in Grade 1 in September 2008 had a reasonable and legitimate expectation that program would not be cut without them having a real opportunity to be heard by the Minister.

26. In my view the news releases on February 27 and 29, 2008 and the Minister’s invitation for comments did not satisfy the requirements of consultation created by his own “full debate” representation.

27. Thus the decision of the Minister was unfair and unreasonable. The application for judicial review is allowed. The Minister’s decision to phase-out Early French Immersion is removed into the Court and quashed.

28. Following the precedent of the MacDonald case, I remit the matter back to the Minister. The Minister may if he wishes again consider the matter. Any further decision by the Minister should not be influenced by any expectations, consequences or possible waste caused by the March decision that has been quashed. Also any further decision should be made in accordance with the principles of fairness after an appropriate opportunity for interested citizens and organized groups to be heard to satisfy the Minister’s representation that there would be time to “allow for a full debate”.

29. Counsel will be heard with respect to costs.
______________________________
H. H. McLellan
A Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench
of New Brunswick

_______________________________

Bloggers' notes:

After deliberation, and considering the significance of the case before the courts, Mr. Justice H. H. McLellan awarded the applicants $5000 after indicating the typical award is in the $500-$1000 range.

It was a good and a sad day. The good is that we had our day in court and that an impartial examination of the facts surrounding the elimination of EFI in the anglophone school system resulted in quashing of Minister Lamrock's decision. The sad part is that we had to take the government to court to be heard. Clearly, the Liberal government needs to engage the population of NB when making a decision of this magnitude.

Judge sides with parents

2008-06-11T15:27:00.001-03:00

From The Globe & Mail:

Justice Hugh McLellan of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench sided with parents who argue Education Minister Kelly Lamrock didn't allow enough time for debate before making his decision on the program.

“Thus the decision of the minister was unfair and unreasonable,” Judge McLellan wrote.

The judgment quashes Mr. Lamrock's decision in March to scrap the program and sends the matter back to the government for further review.

“Any further decision by the minister should not be influenced by any expectations, consequences or possible waste caused by the March decision that has been quashed,” Judge McLellan says.

“Also any further decision should be made in accordance with the principles of fairness after an appropriate opportunity for interested citizens and organized groups to be heard.”

French immersion changes proceed as province, parents await court ruling

2008-06-10T23:55:00.002-03:00

Published Tuesday June 10th, 2008
Telegraph-Journal
Jesse Robichaud -- Canadaeast News Service

MONCTON - The opposition that has erupted in response to the Liberal government's decision to cut early French immersion has not derailed the process of implementing the reforms in time for the start of classes this fall.
...

Parents Paula Small and Patrick Ryan filed affidavits with the Court of Queen's bench in Saint John last month in support of their application for an injunction that would halt Lamrock's reforms pending a judicial review.

Department of Education deputy minister John Kershaw filed documents seeking an application to end the legal action, claiming financial hardship would occur if the reforms were overturned after $2 million has been spent on restructuring the immersion system.

Lawyers for both sides have stated their cases before McLennan.

Legal counsel to the parents group, Thomas Christie, claimed in court that Lamrock's amendments will contravene the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom's minority language education guarantee. He also focused on what he alleged were incorrect procedures.

Christie charged that Lamrock left only two weeks between issuing a release asking for public input into the decision, which was based on 18 recommendations from the Croll-Lee report. He said that was not enough time to collect meaningful input on the policy change.

The province's lawyer, Clyde Spinney, said Lamrock had no obligation to consult with the public over a matter of broad public policy.

Lamrock sounded the death knell for early immersion in March when he announced reforms of the French second language system based on a controversial report by Jim Croll and Patricia Lee.

Click here to link to full article.

Letters June 10th -- the letters keep coming

2008-06-10T23:44:00.003-03:00

Daily Gleaner
N.B. should be embarrassed of French immersion decision

On May 29, the federal commissioner of official languages, Graham Fraser, released his annual report.

In it, he specifically mentions the New Brunswick minister of education and the changes made to French second-language education.

Specifically, the report reads: "... the Commissioner is concerned about the recommendations made by the commission charged with reviewing French-as-a-second language programs and activities in New Brunswick and the decision of the province's Minister of Education to end early immersion programs.

"A very larger majority of experts still agree that immersion, and early immersion in particular, is the best way to learn a second-language."

Premier Shawn Graham should be embarrassed that his Department of Education has been specifically and negatively named in the commissioner's report.

Personally, I'm tired of hearing expert after expert prove how wrong it was to eliminate early French immersion. Premier Graham, it is time to prove that you know what the right decisions are:

* reinstate EFI;

* and remove Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.

Jenny Doucette, Fredericton

Why wasn't Genesee part of team reviewing immersion?

In a letter published in a recent edition of The Daily Gleaner, Dr. Fred Genesee of McGill University took Education Minister Kelly Lamrock to task for misquoting him in some arguments for making New Brunswick Canada's only province without a public early French immersion program.

Genesee points out many flaws in Lamrock's use of his research, but he never mentions the greatest flaw of all. If Lamrock believes that the opinions of experts such as Genesee need to be consulted to justify these decisions, why didn't he hire at least one of them at the beginning of this process, as a member of the panel studying FSL in New Brunswick?

Then, instead of misquoting Genesee's research in a vain attempt to prop up his ill-conceived ideas, he could simply let Genesee speak for himself, and we New Brunswickers would have the benefit of a truly well-thought-out plan for French education.

Debbie White, Fredericton

Even government's lawyers don't support decision

Weeks ago now, when Education Minister Kelly Lamrock decreed that all French instruction would be removed from kindergarten to Grade 4 in schools, he attempted to characterize it as the result of a proper consultation.

When the Croll-Lee study, on which he based that decision, was discredited by wave after wave of criticism, he thereupon tried to suggest that by brushing off opposition as not "Christian" or arguing that the new plan contained a "hidden X factor," he was undertaking a "time of discussion" which should lead to decisions.

If one thing is clear from the recent judicial review of this decision, it is that nobody believes Lamrock's story, not even the government's own lawyers.

It was recently reported that the government's defence will not follow Lamrock's story; instead, they will argue not that he has done his proper duty as a minster, but merely the much safer point that "Lamrock had no obligation to consult the public before making the decision."

It seems that Lamrock, who once wrote the NDP election platform, is leading the way in forming two new Liberal policies: consult only when necessary by law; and admit to a lack of consultation only when sworn into a court.

Kelly Black, Oromocto, N.B.

Telegraph-Journal

Liberal popularity drop may be costly

Recent polling suggests the Liberal government has suffered a 12 per cent drop in popularity, but are still ahead of the leaderless Conservatives.

Some will claim 12 per cent isn't much and that it's normal for this point in a mandate when difficult decisions have been made. However, a closer look at the numbers would be warranted.

First, popular vote does not always equal victory. In 2006, the Liberals lost the popular vote but were elected anyway. It has to do with winning seats. Twelve per cent doesn't mean 12 per cent in every riding - in all likelihood the drop is higher in places where people are most angry.

In 2006, 10 Liberal MLAs won by a margin of 15 per cent or lower, and six of these won by less than 10 per cent - ridings where French immersion participation ranges from 37 to 49 per cent. If anger is even slightly concentrated in these areas, their problems are compounded.

Second, this poll was conducted before it was revealed that the government appears to have hired consultants (Croll and Lee) who were looking for data to match their pre-determined conclusions, rather than drawing conclusions based on data.

Third, people have long memories when it comes to their children. Every year parents will have to watch as their children lose out on opportunities to become bilingual. The Liberals are in trouble over this, whether they want to admit it or not. They need to undo the damage now before it's too late.

JEFF INGALLS, Saint John

Lamrock's reality even more elitist

An elementary school still needs to hire the same number of teachers for the same number of students. The number of textbooks will not change. There is no extra cost to early immersion. In fact, costs will skyrocket as communities formerly served by French immersion now assert their constitutional rights for their own francophone schools. This will cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.

There is no denying that French-language training in early years is crucial for success. Lamrock concurs, explaining his own child's success in early immersion. Now he deems it better to have more students obtain a mediocre French proficiency evaluation than pay a non-existent cost for an "elite" few to score high. This is not a fix. This is making the problem even worse. A nefarious regression to the mean is no longer good enough. We must also lower the mean.

Lamrock continues that elitism inherent in the status quo is responsible for New Brunswick's terrible scholastic results. He ignores Canada's top performing provinces; all have early French immersion.

Lamrock's new reality is even more elitist and more unjust than before. New Brunswick will soon have two tiers: bilingual francophones and unilingual anglophones. It gets better: a privileged few anglophones may enrol their children into favoured francophone schools, while neighbouring taxpayers cannot. This year, our own local francophone school has dedicated one of four kindergartens entirely for anglophone children.

We can take small comfort; at least the Péquists in Quebec applaud Lamrock's folly.

EVANGELINE POWER, Quispamsis

Science, not pseudo-science

2008-06-09T09:11:00.000-03:00

Published Monday June 9th, 2008
Miramichi Leader.com

It seems that when you don't have science on your side, you turn to pseudo-science.

Kelly Lamrock's French language instruction plan has been given the thumbs-down by a long line of language learning experts, including the two who devised the Intensive French program on which he is banking so heavily.

Now the Minister is attempting to buoy his sinking plan by announcing that "People have missed the plan's ‘hidden X factor,'" in two parts.

First, "integrating more conversational French opportunities into school life" — something that will be hard to do in the only province in Canada whose elementary school setting will not offer a single hour of French language instruction.

The second element is "events that introduce students to the bilingual and French culture in New Brunswick."

Indeed, listening to Acadian stories told in English for half an hour a month will do much more for our province's understanding of French than actually learning the language.

Education is no different from health and finance: when it comes to making plans for our future, the province's citizens expect something better than "X factors."

We'll settle for nothing less than a plan devised by experts.

Sarah Wilby

Immersion changes not properly explained, parents say

2008-06-09T08:53:00.002-03:00

Times and Transcript, June 9th
Surveys quizzed parents on planned FSL curriculum changes

FREDERICTON - The results from surveys handed out in schools across the province are starting to come back, and the response thus far is overwhelmingly against the elimination of early immersion.

Within weeks of Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's sweeping reforms to the French second language system, a number of parent school support committees sent a survey home with students to gather more information on how the changes were being perceived by parents.

Approximately three-quarters of parents who responded expressed dissatisfaction at the axing of early immersion.

The process has been completed at five schools -- three in Fredericton and two in Sackville -- and at least a dozen more surveys are still under way, in regions including Saint John, Moncton, Miramichi and Sussex.

The survey contains seven questions, asking parents to weigh in on whether Lamrock's decision was adequately explained, the level of consultation, and whether plans for implementing the changes are sufficient.

Parents are also quizzed on their support for the new intensive French program, the elimination of core and early immersion programming, and the Ombudsman's recommendation to delay Lamrock's plan.

The numbers tell a similar story in each of the five surveys completed so far. In most schools, between a third and a half of parents responded. Overall, approximately 70 per cent said the decision was not properly explained and the opportunity for feedback was inadequate.

About 75 per cent were against the elimination of early immersion, while only about half supported the new intensive French program.

Widespread opposition to changes -- June 9th, 2008

2008-06-09T08:43:00.004-03:00

By ADAM BOWIE
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/319914

Hundreds of parents across New Brunswick are hoping the results of surveys conducted by parent school support committees (PSSC) on changes to early French immersion programs will voice their true opinions.

The Daily Gleaner has obtained results from surveys conducted at several schools in the Fredericton area and several more in Sackville.

The tallied results from each school indicate most of the surveyed parents are against the elimination of early French immersion and believe Education Minister Kelly Lamrock failed to explain his decision or provide adequate opportunity for feedback.

Parents with students in grades that will be affected by the changes were sent surveys and asked to respond.

The surveys asked parents to indicate if they agreed or strongly agreed, disagreed or strongly disagreed, or whether they had no opinion on the subject, to a series of statements.

Parents had to respond to statements such as, "I believe the reasons for change to the FSL programs have been adequately explained," or, "I support the elimination of Early French Immersion."

Connaught Street School PSSC member Kate Rogers said the surveys were distributed in April and the results were tallied in May.

Seventy-eight per cent of the parents responding from Connaught Street Elementary School said they disagreed with the elimination of early French immersion. Seventy-seven per cent said they disagreed that they had adequate opportunity to provide feedback on these changes.

She said 118 parents at Connaught Street school responded, sending a clear message that they wanted to voice their opinions.

"If given proper opportunity, people do provide input," he said.

"There are some things that (all parents in the anglophone school system) clearly want and one of those things is French-language instruction, whether it comes in the form of early French immersion or it comes in the form of core French.

"We all want that and we want it before Grade 5."

Sixty-four per cent of responding parents at Barkers Point Elementary School, which is in Lamrock's riding, disagreed that they had adequate opportunity for feedback about the changes.

Sixty-nine per cent of responding parents were against the elimination of early French immersion.

At Park Street Elementary School, 195 parents filled out the surveys and 70 per cent of responding parents disagreed with the elimination of early French immersion.

Sixty-three per cent disagreed with the notion that the changes had been adequately explained.

The results were similar at Salem Elementary School in Sackville where 79 per cent of responding parents felt the changes weren't adequately explained.

Seventy-two per cent felt they didn't have enough opportunity to offer feedback.

Lamrock, who has reviewed the results of the PSSC surveys, said he understands that many parents feel uncomfortable with his decision.

But he said he believes there has been adequate consultation and the decision to act was taken.

"I would say, like most things, if you agree with the decision you think there was enough consultation, and if you disagree, you don't," he said.

He said the surveys were conducted soon after the changes were first announced and many people were still gathering information.

Lamrock said he's spoken with many parents who have filled out the surveys but have since changed their position.

"I've had a lot of parents in schools like Barkers Point call my office and they said, 'Well, I answered those but I didn't know for instance that 93 per cent of kids with special needs are in the same classroom. No one told me that. I want you to know that changes my opinion,' " he said.

"Some called and said, 'I didn't realize only 20 per cent of kids are in French immersion after Grade 5. If I'd known that I would have felt differently,' "

Rogers said Lamrock met with PSSC groups recently but chose not to debate the findings of the surveys.

"He answered a lot of questions and everything but he wouldn't discuss the surveys," he said.

"And I think his view is that he did his form of consultations and this is irrelevant."

Parents will have to wait until Wednesday to learn the outcome of the application for a judicial review of the decision to eliminate early French immersion.

Click here to link to article and read the many comments on the web.
____________________________________

A few choice comments from the web as of 8:51 this morning!

Lamrock says that many parents have since changed their minds? based on what??
He can't stop himself from making stuff up as he goes... We're not that stupid.
16 Thumbs Up 1 Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 09/06/08, 6:18:41 AM ADT

The surveys have been done at different times, and the Sackville ones have just been completed as recently as last week.
Its not getting better, Lamrock and you demonstrate once again that you play fast and loose with information to win the debate.
15 Thumbs Up 1 Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 09/06/08, 6:33:24 AM ADT

And he lies again.
13 Thumbs Up 0 Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 09/06/08, 7:14:13 AM ADT

There is clearly no limit on how low Lamrock will go.
Lamrock is out of control and the Liberal government has the reigns and refuses to bring him into control.
Now he is attempting to discredit the PSSCs of the province.
This sure does not sound like a functioning democracy.
14 Thumbs Up 0 Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 09/06/08, 7:17:56 AM ADT

Kelly Lamrock's response is just plain ridiculous. Yeah right... over 100 parents from Barkers Point School called his office to tell him that they've changed their minds since completing the survey. This is just plain LYING and he needs to be held accountable.
A more genuine response would be to actually LISTEN to what parents are saying.
Shame on you Lamrock. Shame on you "Liberal" government.
2 Thumbs Up 0 Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 09/06/08, 8:34:48 AM ADT

Survey says 'non' to FSL changes -- June 9th

2008-06-09T08:41:00.002-03:00

MEGAN O'TOOLE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

FREDERICTON - The results from surveys handed out in schools across the province are starting to come back, and the response is overwhelmingly against the elimination of early immersion.

Within weeks of Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's sweeping reforms to the French second language system, a number of parent school support committees sent a survey home with students to gather more information on how the changes were being perceived by parents.

Approximately three-quarters of parents who responded expressed dissatisfaction at the axing of early immersion. The process has been completed at five schools - three in Fredericton and two in Sackville - and at least a dozen more surveys are still underway, in regions including Saint John, Moncton, Miramichi and Sussex.

"What this tells us is there is no silent majority, or the silent majority isn't perhaps what the government thinks it is," said Diana Hamilton, who helped tabulate survey results for the support committee at Salem Elementary School in Sackville.

The survey contains seven questions, asking parents to weigh in on whether Lamrock's decision was adequately explained, the level of consultation, and whether plans for implementing the changes are sufficient. Parents are also quizzed on their support for the new intensive French program, the elimination of core and early immersion programming, and the Ombudsman's recommendation to delay Lamrock's plan.

The numbers tell a similar story in each of the five surveys completed so far. In most schools, between a third and a half of parents responded. Overall, approximately 70 per cent said the decision was not properly explained and the opportunity for feedback was inadequate. About 75 per cent supported the Ombudsman and were against the elimination of early immersion, while only about half supported the new intensive French program.

"This shows there's incredible opposition to what's being done," Hamilton said, adding she was struck by the time, effort and thought parents put into making comments on the survey. Some wrote directly on the survey sheet, while others attached separate letters.

"My impression is people really appreciated that someone was finally asking what parents thought, because the government hadn't done it," she said.

According to Freda Burdett, spokeswoman for Citizens for Educational Choice - a group that has taken the government to court over the French second language reforms - the surveys speak volumes.

"Parents are saying we were not consulted, we were not listened to, we don't like the speed at which you're making these changes," Burdett said. "Parents across the board are upset."

Lamrock has remained steadfastly behind the reforms, saying in a recent interview that those who disagree with the program changes are getting desperate in their attempts to discredit them.

"At the end of the day, what matters is getting the policy right," Lamrock said. "I still believe, after all the months of debate we've had, I'm more convinced than ever that a universal system is better than one that teaches French to 20 per cent of kids."

Click here to link to article and comments posted on web.

Tasting one's own medicine -- Letter in Times and Transript

2008-06-09T08:15:00.000-03:00

June 9th, 2008

To The Editor:

There is only so much hypocrisy a person can take.

Health Minister Mike Murphy is raging about the federal government's new prescription drug plan, as reported in the media June 6. "There's only so much greed that can be supported," Murphy said. "I think the federal government really has to look at this carefully."

He also blasted the federal government for not consulting the provinces, and for allowing health ministers only 15 days to respond to the alterations.

Now, Mr. Murphy, you know how parents feel regarding the French second language plan. Kelly Lamrock presented the ridiculous Croll & Lee Report on Feb. 27, a couple of days before the March Break. He grandly stated that there would be "extensive consultation" prior to making a decision. He then implemented the report "in full" on March 14, two weeks later.

It's nice to see the Graham government get a taste of what it feels like to have a hugely impactful policy shoved down their throats with no consultation. I hope that they succeed in having Ottawa give them the chance to contribute to real solutions, and in turn, I trust they will do the same for the parents and children of New Brunswick.

Carla Dunphy, Fredericton

Lettters June 7th

2008-06-07T06:37:00.002-03:00

Telegraph-Journal
June 7th, 2008

EFI decision should embarrass Premier

On May 29, the Federal Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, released his annual report. In it he specifically mentions the New Brunswick Minister of Education and the changes made to French second language education.

The report reads: "... the Commissioner is concerned about the recommendations made by the commission charged with reviewing French-as-a-second language programs and activities in New Brunswick and the decision of the province's Minister of Education to end early immersion programs. A very larger majority of experts still agree that immersion, and early immersion in particular, is the best way to learn a second-language."

Premier Graham should be embarrassed that his Department of Education has been specifically and negatively named in the Commissioner's report.

I'm tired of hearing expert after expert prove how wrong it was to eliminate EFI. Premier Graham, it is time to prove that you know what the right decisions are: reinstate EFI and remove Kelly Lamrock.

JENNY DOUCETTE, Fredericton

Daily Gleaner, June 7th, 2008
Policy is tainting other MLAs

This is an open letter to Liberal MLAs.

Rest assured while education may not be your portfolio, you are all being tainted with Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's experiment in social policy.

In private, you may have questions about his plan to eliminate early French immersion or force all children into an experimental intensive French program.

You may even completely disagree with his decision but, we the public, will never know unless you take a stand.

Great politicians and public servants are not known for their ability to toe the party line. Rather, we respect and admire those willing to take a stand against poor policy and bad decisions.

After this fiasco, Kelly Lamrock will be nothing more than a footnote in the pages of New Brunwick political history. Those who step forward to put an end to this mockery of our bilingual culture will be the individuals our children will be learning about and discussing as models years from now.

Take a stand, MLAs.

You represent the people of New Brunswick, not the Liberal Party of New Brunswick.

Force the premier and education minister to reverse the FSL changes.

Sue Park, Saint John, N.B.

Interesting survey by the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce

2008-06-06T22:32:00.003-03:00

What do businesses think about the removal of Early French Immersion? The Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce recently ran an on-line survey to answer this question.

The results were clear--respondents were of the opinion that removal of Early French Immersion will not be good for business in the Greater Moncton area.

Click here to link to their results page.

Minister should give credit where it's due

2008-06-06T22:30:00.000-03:00

Mirimichi Leader
Opinion--Published Friday June 6th, 2008

At the New Brunswick launch of the Royal Conservatory of Music's Learning Through the Arts, Minister Kelly Lamrock stated in his praise of the program that it shows, "... you can use music and art to create a more engaging classroom ... the kids are far more engaged than sitting still in a chair." Minister Lamrock claims he visits classes frequently. Has he not observed that elementary teachers already do this? Does he really think today's students are painfully sitting still in chairs and that this is the first proof that integrating singing and art into the larger curriculum is a good idea?

The Learning Through the Arts website at http://www.ltta.ca wisely makes no such claim; rather it states that the project's goal is to provide "...rigorous, structured curriculum" and lesson plans that supports teachers who are already a long way down this road.

Minister Lamrock needs to stop taking credit for the improvements teachers have already made long before he became minister.

A more productive use of his time would be to find some way to reverse the damage he will do to our province by eliminating all French instruction from the first five years of schooling.

Michelle Williams

Letters: Friday June 6th, 2008

2008-06-06T22:17:00.004-03:00

Telegraph-Journal
Education data explanation needed

The shell game this Liberal government has been playing has got to stop. I have been asking for answers on specifics of the upcoming program changes, which the Liberal government has announced for this coming school year.

It would seem from the article in Tuesday's paper "That's the rub - Data" that I have been asking the wrong questions.

It has been quietly alluded to that the government had made up its mind about these changes long before the Croll/Lee report was commissioned; now it seems there is some evidence in support of this.

The Liberal government spent $180,000 on a report which has not only been shown to be flawed but now it seems very possible the conclusions of the report were arrived at first, then the data selected to fit those conclusions!

The response from the government official is just as reprehensible.

When the data points in a direction other than the one they desire, the teachers are blamed. Is the arrogance of the Liberal government so entrenched that they really expect us to believe that the teaching in the immersion program is substandard?

And this, the program the minister referred to as an enrichment program for elitist parents. They cannot have it both ways!

If the data in this report was truly manipulated to fit a preconceived conclusion, the people of this province deserve an explanation.

The current minister of education must be held responsible. This is on his watch and he alone is accountable.

MARK DANELLS, Rothesay

Daily Gleaner
Lamrock's mind is clouded

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock and his handful of political hawks are leading his Liberal government on a warpath.

He thinks he's found the weapon of mass destruction in the education system, and it's called early French immersion.

He struck quickly and with stealth. He produced a biased report and then dropped the bomb two weeks later. He's been spinning political propaganda ever since - convincing the public and his own caucus that the EFI program is guilty of crimes in the education system.

He demonizes his opponents, draws upon misleading and inaccurate statistics, and blacks out parts of reports that don't support his position.

He does this all very eloquently.

He still comes across as the smartest guy in the room - so sincere, concerned and genuine. But shrewd is not the same as smart.

A smart politician would have looked a little deeper and would have actually consulted with the experts, teachers and parents.

He would have been flexible in his policy decisions, not single-minded. He would have been truthful in his approach.

Instead, he has his own agenda, claiming that EFI is the smoking gun. The real crime against New Brunswick children is the lack of resources in the education system, as all past reports have stated.

Lamrock could have done the right thing and lobbied his government to address inclusion, enhance core French, infuse EFI with real resources and still fully implement his intensive French program. This would have produced a true increase in learning outcomes, as opposed to smoke screened test results.

Lamrock is leading the education system into a quagmire that subsequent governments will have to clean up.

We need some doves in this government to provide the leadership to change this direction before its too late.

Mike Wolfe, Fredericton

Appalled by decision

As the grandparent of a child in French immersion at Fredericton's Connaught Street School, I have been so impressed by the program and the rapid language development of my granddaughter.

I've been privileged to attend several class events, and it's evident that the children are engaged, stimulated and fulfilled by their school experience.

This contrasts starkly with my own children's experience 30 years ago in French immersion in Ontario, and my grandchildren's current unilingual schooling in British Columbia.

Connaught is head and shoulders ahead of those.

I'm appalled that Education Minister Kelly Lamrock is planning to take arbitrary action to tamper with this obvious success - this jewel in the crown of New Brunswick's education system.

Bob Gibson, La Peche, Que.

Bugle-Observer
Letter to the Editor
Published Friday June 6th, 2008
Dear Editor,

In March and April, two Ministers of government each made a major announcement. One formed his plan with international experts in the appropriate industry, HLT Advisory Inc. and KPMG; the other hired two New Brunswickers with only a passing knowledge of the field.

The first signalled months ago that he was taking New Brunswick into a new venture; the second allowed only two weeks for citizens to discuss the most radical changes in his field in twenty years.

The first has treated the small amount of opposition to his plan with respect and dignity; the second came out swinging when research centres, scholars and citizens called his plan the bad result of a bad process.

I am referring, of course, to Minister Boudreau's recent announcement of a casino in Moncton, and Minister Lamrock's still-embattled plan for French instruction in the province, most recently derided by Dr. Genesee of McGill university as like taking a sledgehammer to fix a boat.

Liberals who persist in supporting Lamrock's plan probably imagine that the growing opposition is some sort of anti-Liberal campaign. But they should take note of these differences: Minister Boudreau did his homework and is advancing his file; Minister Lamrock continues to govern through intuition and is miring the whole party down with him.

Michel Roy, Fredericton

Grits are frittering their lead away

2008-06-06T22:10:00.002-03:00

Published Friday June 6th, 2008
Telegraph-Journal
MARTY KLINKENBERG
At the legislature

Months of stumbling, obfuscating and ruling by condescension seems to have finally caught up with the Liberals. A poll released this week indicates that their popularity is waning, and that's not a good sign for a government operating against an Opposition with a lame duck ruling the roost.

The interim-led Tories have done precious little to gain in popularity on their own, but they haven't had to. All they have had to do is show up at the legislature, and let the Liberals try to re-invent every wheel ever made -- regardless of whether it needs fixing or not.

Political parties have a tendency to dismiss polls that don't tell them exactly what they want to hear, but in this case, it would serve the Liberals well to look at the falling numbers and seriously contemplate whether changes should be made. ...

Cabinet ministers are getting regularly heckled as a result of the party's unpopular initiatives ...

It doesn't seem to matter how many people complain, nor how loud, and that is the root of the Liberals' problem. Arrogance isn't bliss, it is political suicide.

This is how poorly things are going for them: after cancelling public hearings, limiting public input and ignoring public outcry, they spent $100,000 recently to better learn how to "engage" the public. ...

The public has not bought into the elimination of early French immersion, and is waiting to pounce on the government's belated and much-awaited plan for post-secondary education. They are angry over health care issues, sylviculture, uranium mining, and taxes. ...

In some cases, if the public is so opposed, the Liberals should re-examine the direction they are going. On top of that, they should stop acting as if they know it all, and start listening to the people who actually elected them.

Ignorance isn't bliss. It is the road to political ruin.

Click here to link to full article.

Parental Choice in Education Act (Bill 79) to be debated in house today

2008-06-05T09:21:00.002-03:00

The bill be debated and voted on this afternoon. The call is for a standing vote.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick

Parental Choice in Education Act +

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

Delay Policy Change

1. Notwithstanding any provision of the Education Act, chapter E-1.12 of the Acts of New Brunswick, 1997, no changes shall be made to Department of Education Policy Statement 309, made effective on April 21, 1994, and revised on October 25, 2001, unless

(a) a referendum is held concerning the proposed changes, and
(b) the referendum authorizes the changes.

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

Click here to link to Bill 79

Parents make case for judicial review of immersion decision

2008-06-05T08:04:00.004-03:00

Paula Small speaks to reporters outside the Court of Queen’s Bench in Saint John Wednesday. Justice Hugh McLennan will issue a ruling next week on Small’s application for a judicial review of the education minister decision to scrap early French immersion.

Matt McCann
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL, June 5th, 2008

SAINT JOHN - New Brunswick parents have had their day in court, but will have to wait a week to learn the outcome of their application for a judicial review of Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's decision to eliminate the early French immersion program.

On May 14 Paula Small and Patrick Ryan, two New Brunswick parents, filed affidavits at the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John asking the court to review Lamrock's decision and seeking an injunction to reverse all decisions related to it.

Two weeks later the province responded with an affidavit of its own, filed by John Kershaw, deputy minister of education, seeking to quash the application.

Kershaw stated, among other things, that reversing the process, which is already underway, could end up costing the province $2 million.

Wednesday, lawyers for both sides met before Justice Hugh McLennan at the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John to argue their cases.

Speaking on behalf of Small and Ryan, Thomas Christie emphasized that the issue at stake is procedural fairness and a violation of the Charter rights that guarantee minority language education.

"If there's ever a province where Charter rights around language are an issue, it's New Brunswick," he said.

They weren't debating whether Lamrock's decision was right or wrong, Christie argued, but that Lamrock went about it in the wrong way.

"He has to do it according to rules of natural justice and procedural fairness," said Christie. "The process used to arrive at the decision was wrong."

Both Small and Ryan have children in kindergarten and registered them in early February for the Grade 1 early French immersion program in September.

Shortly after, the government announced its decision to axe the program.

Christie said that on Feb. 27 Lamrock issued a press release seeking public input on proposed changes to French second-language programming in the province, based on 18 recommendations from the Croll-Lee report.

The report's data and methodology have been heavily criticized.

According to Christie, Lamrock left only two weeks between issuing the release and implementing the changes in the report, including axing the EFI program. This was not enough time to gather meaningful input on the policy change.

As well, the press release was only available online, and requested feedback via e-mail, making it difficult for some parents.

Clyde Spinney, the lawyer for the province, said the minister had no obligation to consult with the public over a matter of broad public policy.

In fact, said Spinney, the minister went out of his way to meet with different groups and answered the 100 e-mails he received on the subject.

He also denied that any Charter rights were violated.

Though a decision won't be given until next Wednesday, Small says they've already accomplished something.

"One of the things we've accomplished today is the recognition that yes we do have a voice that needs to be heard," she said.

"I feel it's important for all parents to be involved in the education of their children," she said, "so no matter what decision comes out of the process, I'll be involved in my child's education."

Click here to link to article and comments on the Telegraph-Journal webpage.

Letters June 5th: Lamrock shouldn't take credit for teachers' hard work

2008-06-05T08:01:00.002-03:00

Daily Gleaner

At the New Brunswick launch of the Royal Conservatory of Music's Learning Through the Arts, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock stated in his praise of the program that it shows, "you can use music and art to create a more engaging classroom ... the kids are far more engaged than sitting still in a chair."

Lamrock claims that he visits classes frequently. Has he not observed that elementary teachers already do this? Does he really think that today's students are painfully "sitting still in a chair" and that this is the first proof that integrating singing and art into the larger curriculum is a good idea?

The Learning Through the Arts website, http://www.ltta.ca, wisely makes no such claim; rather, it states that the project's goal is to provide "rigorous, structured curriculum" and lesson plans that support teachers who are already a long way down this road.

Lamrock needs to stop taking credit for the improvements teachers have already made long before he became minister.

A more productive use of his time would be to find some way to reverse the damage he will do to our province by eliminating all French instruction from the first five years of schooling.

Michelle Williams, Fredericton

Liberals must consult more

Former New Brunswick Liberal Association president Marcelle Mersereau wrote in her weekly Telegraph-Journal column that the Graham government must increase public consultation regarding its more controversial reforms.

I could not agree more. The lack of public input and expert advice has hampered efforts by Premier Shawn Graham to justify the removal of French language education from anglophone elementary schools in New Brunswick.

The support for educational reform in New Brunswick is almost unanimous. Everyone agrees that changes must be made to improve test scores in literacy, numeracy and science.

A society with dismal results in these categories cannot survive in our globalized economy.

While global competitiveness is important when considering what we teach our children, we cannot ignore important local cultural ties. The disrespect shown to our Acadian cousins and neighbours by axing French instruction is absolutely disgraceful.

The Liberal government could have asked New Brunswickers and language experts how best to teach our children a second language within a reformed school system. They instead relied on the opinions of only three people: Jim Croll, Patricia Lee and Kelly Lamrock.

The voices of parents, citizens, teachers and researchers were completely shut out of the discussion. Concerned parents have been forced to approach the courts for a chance to be heard.

This is unacceptable for a 21st century democratic society.

Shawn Graham should take the advice of Mersereau and put a stop to the Lamrock reforms.

The people are not against change; we simply want it done in the right way.

Robert Hoadley, Fredericton

Why did opera singer's comment go unreported?

Is it possible for the provincial newspapers of New Brunswick to be any more deaf to the voices who oppose the Liberal plan to eliminate early French immersion?

A recent edition of The Daily Gleaner, in reporting on Measha Brueggergosman's local launch of the nation-wide Learning Through the Arts program, did not even mention her pointed comments on this issue: "If you can add arts programs and know that's an effective way to teach children, it's a no-brainer that early immersion shouldn't be cut."

Here is a New Brunswicker, internationally-known for her musical talent, who considers her elementary EFI education, alongside her musical one, to be two of the most important things she learned in a New Brunswick school, and the papers deem this un-newsworthy.

If the provincial papers are going to provide us with every ministerial musing on "hidden X factors" in second language learning, could they also inform us of some real-life success stories, too?

Shelley Duguay, Campbell River, B.C.

AEFNB calls for one year moratorium on Minister Lamrock's decision

2008-06-05T07:27:00.001-03:00

The AEFNB is a professional association dedicated to French education and to the teaching profession. Its 2400 members work in public schools from kindergarten through grade 12.

They recently had an Annual General Meeting in Fredericton this past weekend and decided that they had to comment on the changes made to education programs in NB. The following is their translated press release.
___________________________

The Association des enseignantes et des enseignants francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick (AEFNB) has asked the provincial government to proclaim a one-year moratorium on changes to the public school system in New Brunswick.

It has also called for a general assessment during that year of the state of public education with a view to defining the objectives that New Brunswickers want to see implemented in the province's schools.
...

"New Brunswick has reached a point at which it is important to step back and reflect, Francophones and Anglophones together, on what we want the education system in this province to be and to consider the unique challenges facing each of our linguistic communities," stated Marcel Larocque, president of the AEFNB.
...
____________________________
Click here to link to their translated version of their Press Release (pdf file).

Government can't hide behind consultants

2008-06-05T00:16:00.000-03:00

Telegraph-Journal Editorial, Published Wednesday June 4th, 2008

A parents' group organized to fight the cancellation of early French immersion claims to have found a 'smoking gun' in government correspondence. The group has released portions of an e-mail message sent by French Second Language report co-author James Croll to an unnamed individual. The e-mail appears to discuss the difficulty of isolating data to support the report's arguments.

Much of the context surrounding the e-mail is missing, but the portions that haven't been blacked out raise legitimate questions. Parents want to know which came first: the commissioners' research, or the government's conclusions.

If it turns out the Department of Education took an active role in shaping the conclusions of the Croll-Lee report, the legitimacy of Mr. Lamrock's policy decisions will be undermined. At that point, not many people will be trying to determine whether his initiatives are good ones; what New Brunswickers will remember is the abuse of public trust.

The unspoken rules for government are fairly simple: If you know what you want to do, do it. If you haven't figured out what you want to do, hire an experienced, independent consultant to provide advice. But under no circumstances should a government hire consultants to propose and justify a course of action it has already chosen.

Doing so is an act of political cowardice. It crosses the line between consultation and spin-doctoring, and it can deeply erode a government's credibility.

We hope the government has not interfered in the commission process, because finding the right policy for public schools matters, and Mr. Lamrock seems committed to the quest. Battling over the political process is an unfortunate distraction from the main issue - whether the government's reforms will improve opportunities for New Brunswick's students.

Proof is in the e-mails: education critic

2008-06-05T00:12:00.001-03:00

Immersion Madeleine Dubé says education minister 'went looking for someone who would say the same thing as he wanted'

MEGAN O'TOOLE, TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL, Wednesday June 4th, 2008

FREDERICTON - An e-mail exchange that has fuelled fierce debate over the province's French second-language reforms proves the government's conclusion on immersion was predetermined, according to education critic Madeleine Dubé.

The government-commissioned report on French second language programming was drawn up with the express purpose of supporting Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's decision to axe early immersion, Dubé contended Tuesday.

"We've been saying all along that the minister had made up his mind," she said. "He could have chosen to consult with people and get the opinions of people, specifically of the experts in the field, but he just went looking for someone who would say the same thing as he wanted.

"I think everything's coming to light now."

At the heart of the controversy are documents obtained through a Right to Information request, including e-mails from James Croll, the co-author of the report the province used as the basis for its decision to kill early immersion.

In one message, Croll discusses the need to gather specific pieces of data to "make the case" for streaming, which he pegs as a "critical" issue that has "been raised by senior personnel."

Citizens for Educational Choice, a group that has taken the government to court over its French second language reforms, claims the exchange shows the government made a decision on the fate of early immersion and then sought data to back it up.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock denies there's anything suspect about the e-mails, saying numerous studies - such as the oft-touted MacKay report on inclusion - have pointed to streaming as a major problem. It followed naturally that researchers would examine data on the topic, he added.

"From the moment we were elected we knew that streaming and segregation were a problem," Lamrock said. "As to how we would deal with it, everything was on the table. We were wide open to ideas."

Data gathered by the report's authors were "double- and triple-checked" by the department, he added.

Lamrock questioned the intentions of those criticizing the e-mail exchange, saying it represents "a new phase" of the immersion debate.

"They can't argue policy, so they're going to argue personalities and process," he said.

Also on Tuesday, the francophone teachers association issued a news release indicating the group has asked the province to proclaim a one-year moratorium on changes to the public school system, during which the state of the system could be assessed.

"New Brunswick has reached a point at which it is important to step back and reflect, francophones and anglophones together, on what we want the education system in this province to be and to consider the unique challenges facing each of our linguistic communities," association president Marcel Larocque said in a statement.

Dubé raised the matter during Question Period, saying it shows teachers are unhappy with the direction the education system has been moving and underlines the need for further consultation.

But Lamrock dismissed the idea, saying it would not make sense to postpone a number of key changes designed to benefit students.

"Governments have found a lot of excuses to wait a year when things are controversial or difficult," he said. "I don't think that's a credible position to take."

Click here to link to article and see comments on the web

Letters | Family reconsiders moving to New Brunswick

2008-06-05T00:09:00.002-03:00

Daily Gleaner
Published Wednesday June 4th, 2008

This letter was sent to Education Minister Kelly Lamrock

I am writing to you to express my concerns over the proposed elimination of the early French immersion program in New Brunswick.

We are a family from Alberta who will be moving to New Brunswick in July this year. This decision greatly affects our family, even to the point where I am wondering whether we should be moving to the province at all.

My youngest child will not have the option to study early French immersion in New Brunswick. When we return to Alberta, he will have missed out on the basics of early French immersion and his transition into French immersion here will be that much more difficult. By then, it might not even be an option for him.

My second child will also be missing out on core French (learning a second language has become mandatory in Alberta beginning in Grade 4). She, too, will be missing out on the language instruction which she will be expected to pick up and continue upon our return.

Lastly, my eldest daughter, who has done French immersion since Grade 1, will fortunately have the opportunity to continue in the immersion program.

However, our choice of schools has become greatly limited, as we wanted to have our children attend the same school.

I was so looking forward to coming to New Brunswick because I knew that it was the only officially bilingual province in Canada. This changes everything.

And now I am wondering if the children and I should even come at all. It might be better for my husband to come to your province alone and work, and for the children and I to stay in order to protect the integrity of their education.

For us, the choice has come down to having our family separated, or jeopardize the educational future of our children.

Did you consider any of this when you made your decision? Did you even stop long enough to give people whom it would affect the most, the opportunity to at least let you know how it would affect them?

Furthermore, as a new Canadian, I understand that one of my rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is that my children (all Canadian citizens) have the right to be educated in either of Canada's official languages.

Could you please clarify this for me, Mr. Lamrock? Or have I misunderstood my rights and freedoms?

Janelle Jorgensen, Pincher Creek, Alta.

Speaking out on behalf of teachers who can't

Because a "code of professional conduct" precludes school teachers from expressing any opposition to Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's stream of announcements, I, a retired school teacher, will make a plea on their behalf.

Mr. Lamrock, please stop pretending that you have personally invented all innovative modes of teaching from the past 50 years. When at Park Street Elementary School, you stated: "We have to break away from the idea that learning happens in silos."

With those words, you insulted every elementary teacher who works in this province, and just about everyone who trained them.

These people have thought and worked hard to provide integrated teaching environments well before you arrived as minister of education. In fact, I venture to guess that many of them taught math with song when you were still in diapers. Similarly, how can you claim that out-of-class events introducing students to the French culture of New Brunswick is a new idea, much less a "hidden X factor" in education?

You might be surprised at how many school visits to Le Pays de la Sagouine took place before you took office. The only important difference in the future will be that none of the children visiting from elementary schools will know a single word of French. That's the one change that you and the Graham government can honestly call all your own, since nobody before had even proposed it.

But you know what the citizens of this bilingual province think of that.

Pearl Bryenton, Fredericton

Telegraph-Journal
Liberal MLAs: Take a stand

To the Liberal MLAs: Rest assured while education may not be your portfolio, you are all being tainted with Minister Lamrock's experiment in social policy.

In private, you may have questions about his plan to eliminate EFI or force all children into an experimental intensive French program. You may even completely disagree with his decision, but we the public will never know unless you take a stand.

Great politicians and public servants are not known for their ability to toe the party line. Rather, we respect and admire those willing to take a stand against poor policy and bad decisions.

After this fiasco, Kelly Lamrock will be nothing more than a footnote in the pages of New Brunswick political history. Those that step forward to put an end to this mockery of our bilingual culture will be the individuals our children will be learning about and discussing as models years from now. Take a stand, MLAs. You represent the people of New Brunswick, not the Liberal Party of New Brunswick. Force the Premier and Education Minister to reverse the FSL changes.

SUE PARK, Saint John

What they are doing with FSL training in other regions

2008-06-03T19:34:00.006-03:00

Bloggers' note: The following is an excerpt from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's Webpage outlining their changes to FSL instruction in Ottawa. Notice that they have decided against continuing Late French Immersion and have decided to focus more on early and now middle immersion for a number of reasons outlined below. ___________________________

Ottawa-Carleton Board of Education

French as a Second Language — Important Changes You Need to Know

Early in 2007 we initiated a review of French as a Second Language (FSL) programs, both at the elementary and secondary levels. The objectives for the elementary school phase of the FSL review were to:

improve the effectiveness of delivery and instruction for FSL programs
ensure that students throughout the school district have equitable access to FSL programs
ensure that FSL programs have viable and sustainable enrolments
ensure that FSL programs are cost effective

As a result of our elementary school phase review, we are phasing out the Late French Immersion (LFI) program beginning in September 2008. The phase-out strategy will ensure that, subject to sufficient enrolment, students currently enrolled in grades 4 through 7 will continue to have access to Late French Immersion.

Therefore, beginning in September 2008, French as a Second Language delivery in our elementary schools will be:

Core French (Junior Kindergarten to grade 8)
Early French Immersion (EFI) (SK to grade 8)
Middle French Immersion (MFI) (grades 4 to 8)

Late French Immersion will only be offered in accordance with the phase-out plan.

___________________________________

You can also read their French as a Second Language Fact Sheet

They have an excellent presentation about FSL programs. Please pay particular attention to their last slides on Frequently Asked Questions.

PARENTS WELCOME EFI JUDICIAL REVIEW HEARING

2008-06-03T17:01:00.003-03:00

Saint John (New Brunswick) – June 4, 2008

Parents across the province today are welcoming the judicial review hearing against the elimination of Early French Immersion (EFI) being held at the Court of Queens Bench in Saint John.

A group of parents retained lawyer Thomas Christie to argue on their behalf that the Minister of Education rushed through the changes to the French Second Language (FSL) education program without engaging in a reasonable period of public consultation. They believe that the Minister also showed no consideration for the impact on families who had already registered their children for Grade 1 EFI starting September 2008.

Lawyers representing both the Department of Education and parents seeking a delay to the FSL program changes will present their legal briefs to the Court. Both sides have submitted affidavits to support their cases, including three from parents whose kindergarteners were due to start EFI this fall.

One of those included the Woodstock-based Marcoux family. They are a francophone family who, with the elimination of EFI, will no longer able to access French language education for their children.

The group of parents believe that even if the judge rules against them, the case has represented an important opportunity for keeping debate on the FSL program changes alive.

“Going to court has been a last resort for parents who are dismayed at the elimination of Early French Immersion and the other changes made by the government to the French Second Language programming in our province,” said Tim Jackson, one of the parent-organizers behind the Judicial Review. “Even if the judge does not find that the government has broken the law, we still believe it has a moral obligation to consult broadly with stakeholders for a change of this magnitude to the education system. Such a disregard for consultation and due process is a consequence of both the current government’s attitude to consultation and flaws in the New Brunswick Education Act.”

The parents also believe the issue goes beyond simply reinstating EFI this fall.

“We hope that the judicial review process will uphold the rights of New Brunswick children and parents to have choice in education not only for September 2008 but beyond 2008 as well,” said Paula Small, one of the parents who submitted an affidavit to the hearing. “Many parents have come forward to voice their support to us in this process. We must continue to work with the government to ensure choice is returned permanently in New Brunswick's education policy."

The group has established a Fund for donations to offset legal costs of the case. Information on how to donate and on the broader issues can be found at http://www.educationnb.org/.

-30-

For more information, please contact Tim Jackson: tjackson@nb.sympatico.ca(506) 674-1597 or (506) 476-0951

That's the rub -- data

2008-06-03T08:06:00.002-03:00

Documents Government sought out the findings to support its early French immersion conclusion, citizen group says

MEGAN O’TOOLE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Tuesday June 3rd, 2008

FREDERICTON - Documents uncovered through a Right to Information request suggest the Liberal government may have come to a predetermined conclusion on the fate of early immersion, then looked for data to back it up, according to a group fighting the reforms to French immersion.

Portions of the documents, including some names, were blacked out. But at the core of the debate is an e-mail exchange between an unknown individual and James Croll, who co-authored the report on French second-language programming that the province used as a foundation for its decision to axe early immersion.

An e-mail sent by Croll on Nov. 8, 2007, at 6:54 a.m. reads: "I'm putting together the portion of the report dealing with 'streaming.' So far, we have a bunch of anecdotal material which Faith has dug out of our interviews but, that is good as colour following the presentation of data.

... and that's the rub - data." The e-mail goes on to discuss specific pieces of data the report's authors needed to "make the case for the streaming that's been going on," including the number of identified special needs children in Grades 1 and 2, and the number OF special needs children in French immersion in those same grades for the 2006-07 year.

"This seems to be the only route we can go to address: the 'streaming effect' and it's impact upon the choices of immersion, and the Grade 2 discrepancies in literacy assessment - so it'll kill two birds with one stone,"the e-mail reads.

"This is an area that's very critical to the status of our report as the issue has been raised by senior personnel."

According to Craig Leonard, a local executive member of Citizens for Educational Choice, the e-mail exchange indicates a"backwards"process.

"The main concern is that we're seeing a lot of data being requested that seems to be in an attempt to support conclusions that are already reached,"Leonard said.

Citizens for Educational Choice is a grassroots group formed in response to Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's French second-language reforms. The group has made a request for a judicial review of Lamrock's plan, which will be heard before a court in Saint John on Wednesday.

But education department officials deny there is anything untoward about the exchange.

"I think the e-mails need to be viewed in a greater context," spokesperson Jordan O'Brien said. "This is one e-mail that's being cherry-picked out because there's something without context that may be considered a red herring." Leonard also raised concerns about another e-mail in the same chain, sent by Croll on Nov. 8, 2007, at 11:41 a.m. An excerpt reads: "When examining the early immersion versus the English or core program literacy results, there is barely a significant difference which is nothing short of remarkable (in terms of why one would logically expect).

"The issue seems to be that we're definitely measuring two very different populations and, outside of the fact that the French immersion assessment is at a substantially lower level of literacy, there has to be a much more heterogeneous population in the 'English' program." This indicates a jump to conclusions by the report's co-author, Leonard said, noting there are other potential reasons for the closely aligned literacy scores that seem to have been ignored.

"Perhaps with the vast majority of exceptional students, help and support in the core program is much better and that's the cause of the (higher than expected) scores in core," he said, noting similar resources could have been put in place to help exceptional students in early immersion.

But according to O'Brien, the difference clearly indicates "the immersion class is not doing as good of a job of teaching literacy as the core program."

Bloggers' notes: The details of these communications suggest that the result was pre-determined and that this report was not an objective review of the French Second Language program but a directed execution of Early French Immersion.

Mr. O'Brien's comments at the end of the article clearly underlie the circularity of their argument. He assumes that EFI students should be doing better, then when we see that they are not, he claims that clearly EFI is failing.

Their entire argument rests on an assumption that they have no data to support, yet they constuct an argument to explain that too.

This is light years away from any accepted approach to scientific research. Even Minister Lamrock has admitted that EFI does work for those enrolled, yet here we see a member of his staff again trying to claim that it is a bad program.

For those interested, to be truly objective science one follows what is called the "Scientific Method". From Wikipedia --

"Among other facets shared by the various fields of inquiry is the conviction that the process must be objective to reduce a biased interpretation of the results. Another basic expectation is to document, archive and share all data and methodology so they are available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, thereby allowing other researchers the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This practice, called full disclosure, also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established."

Clearly DOE needs to better understand these concepts.

More Great Letters

2008-06-03T08:02:00.002-03:00

The Daily-Gleaner, June 3rd, 2008

Immersion has helped children to learn French

We have three kids in the early French immersion program at the present time, and we are very happy with their ability to converse in French and how they feel at ease with the language.

There are so many things in our education system which need reform, but cutting a program, with which most people who participate in are happy, does not seem to be a step forward.

I do not care if my kids ever write the Grade 12 French exam. All I care and know is that they have received a wonderful base in a second language during their elementary school years, which they will be able to build on in the future.

From my experience, EFI seems to get a lot less effective starting in middle school, as the children's priorities start to shift. I will be more than surprised if Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's so called "X factor" will have any impact at all and, as a parent, I'd rather rely on solid scheduled French instruction for my children to learn a second language than on occasional extra presentations and activities held in French.

However, what angers me most is that the government blames EFI for streaming and the high number of special needs children in the English classes. Let's not forget that we all were supposed to have a choice of which program to enrol our kids in. Sadly, this choice was denied by the Department of Education to children who experienced learning difficulties by not offering the appropriate support in the EFI program.

Let's fix that and finally give everyone a choice, instead of taking away choice from everyone.

Felix Schwarz, Fredericton

Ashamed of Liberal MLA over immersion decision

I need to express how deeply ashamed I am of my MLA.

I voted for my Liberal MLA in the last election and had every confidence that he was a smart man, a man with integrity and good judgment. His reputation was strong, and he promised to do good things for New Brunswick.

However, I now have reason to believe otherwise. As my MLA, he has told me, and has been clear with many others, that he does not agree with the Lamrock-Graham FSL program.

He understands that it is a policy that has no basis in evidence, and that the Croll-Lee report was bogus.

He agrees that it is a bad plan and will not help with literacy, numeracy or, dare I say, obesity.

And yet, he continues to publicly support it. This MLA has demonstrated that he cares more for party loyalty and politics than he cares about my children, or anyone's children.

And so, I am disillusioned and devastated, and ashamed of the man I voted for. It is time for all Liberal MLAs to do what is right and insist Premier Shawn Graham reverse this decision.

Carla Dunphy, Fredericton

Education minister must stop misleading the public

2008-06-02T08:22:00.001-03:00

Daily Gleaner, Letter to the Editor, Published Monday June 2nd, 2008

The headline reads "There's more to immersion reform than cuts - Lamrock."

In this story, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock insinuated that people who are concerned about the changes to French second language education are overlooking the bilingual learning environment policy, what he termed his "hidden X factor."

Apparently this is a well-known policy that all New Brunswickers should know about.

From the article, we are to understand that anglophone teachers in the anglophone school system will be required to integrate "conversational French opportunities into school life." It also adds responsibility on anglophone "school principals to provide programming to introduce students to bilingual and French culture in New Brunswick."

Here is what the backgrounder on Improvements to FSL Programs says about FSL in elementary schools:

"A new policy on Bilingual Learning Environments will be developed which will require ... principals of elementary schools to provide co-curricular programming introducing students to the bilingual and French culture in New Brunswick."

How are anglophone teachers in the anglophone elementary school system going to integrate "co-curricular programming introducing students to the bilingual and French culture in New Brunswick" into their classrooms, when no French is taught until Grade 5? And, even if they could, when would they have time?

They are now mandated to add the extra minutes of physical education, art and music to the curriculum? This doesn't even factor in the effect that the additional standardized tests are going to have on the students and the teachers.

This policy is not something those who are pro-EFI are overlooking; it doesn't even exist for the public to review.

It's time for Lamrock to stop confusing the public with statements that are inaccurate and misleading and rescind his changes to French second language education.

Jennifer Doucette, Fredericton

Letters to the editor | Real education crime is lack of resources

2008-05-31T09:28:00.002-03:00

Telegraph-Journal, Published Saturday May 31st, 2008

Minister Lamrock and his handful of political hawks are leading his Liberal government on a war path. He thinks he's found the weapon of mass destruction in the education system and it's called EFI.

He struck quickly and with stealth. He received a biased report and then dropped the bomb two weeks later. He's been spinning political propaganda ever since, convincing the public and his own caucus that the EFI program is guilty of crimes in the education system. He demonizes his opponents, draws upon misleading and inaccurate statistics, and blacks out parts of reports that don't support his position. He does this all very eloquently. He still comes across as the smartest guy in the room, sincere, concerned and genuine.

But shrewd is not the same as smart. A smart politician would have looked a little deeper, would have actually consulted with the experts, teachers, and parents. He would have been flexible in his policy decisions, not single minded. He would have been truthful in his approach.

Instead, he has his own agenda, claiming that EFI is the smoking gun. The real crime against New Brunswick children is the lack of resources in the education system, as all past reports have stated. Lamrock could have done the right thing and lobbied his government to address inclusion, enhance Core French, infuse EFI with real resources and still fully implement his Intensive French program.

This would have produced a true increase in learning outcomes, as opposed to smoke screened test results.

MIKE WOLFE, Fredericton

Interesting comments from Canada's Official Languages Commissioner

2008-05-31T02:19:00.007-03:00

Bloggers' note: The following is an excerpt from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages Annual Report 2007-2008 (page 74)
...
The Commissioner invites the provinces and territories to step up their efforts to ensure greater continuity in second-language instruction, from kindergarten until the students enter the labour market. Programs must be strengthened so that they produce positive results and support student retention. Of course, the quality of second-language courses and programs and the strengthening of these programs through opportunities for social interaction, cultural activities and exchanges are key factors for attracting and retaining young students.

The Commissioner has therefore undertaken a study on second-language learning opportunities in Canadian universities. Interest in this issue is partially a result of the high number of graduates of immersion programs and other French-as-asecond-language learning programs who are currently studying or about to begin studying at the post-secondary level. The new socio-economic situation brought about by globalization and the skills required for the knowledge economy, including language skills and openness towards other cultures, must also be taken into account.

In addition, within the framework of public service renewal, the Government of Canada needs a pool of bilingual recruits. It is one of the reasons that the Commissioner is concerned about the recommendations made by the commission charged with reviewing French-as-a-second-language programs and activities in New Brunswick and the decision of the province’s Minister of Education to end early immersion programs. A very large majority of experts still agree that immersion, and early immersion in particular, is the best way to learn a second language.

For example, in its action plan Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity 2004–2006, the European Commission writes that early language learning may result in greater knowledge and skills in terms of speaking, reading, writing and understanding. Learning a language at an early age also makes it easier to learn languages later in life. ...

Click here to link to full report

What "silent majority"?

2008-05-31T01:02:00.002-03:00

Letter to the editor Times & Transcript
Published Friday May 30th, 2008

To The Editor:

I have heard quite often of late from our current government that they have the silent majority with them to justify the implementation of some of their more controversial decisions.

To me this is very worrisome as my understanding of living in a democratic society is that we are given a voice to speak out, not to be silent.

The current Liberal government has effectively shut down any public debate on French second language education and other issues and then claims the "silent majority" is with them.

How can this be the case?

If there is no opportunity for either side of an issue to speak out and express their concerns, how does the Liberal government know that those being silent are supporting them?

I would think it more likely that the silence is a result of not hearing a balanced view from both sides of the debate in order to make an informed decision.

When elected, a government does not have carte blanche to implement any policy it desires. They have an obligation to their electorate to consult and take into account any concerns they may have.

To say the "silent majority" supports a particular issue is not only wrong, it goes against the very idea of democracy.

In 2010 after Premier Graham's government is defeated, will they try and claim victory as they have the "silent majority"?

In a democracy a silent majority does not exist and should never be used by a government to justify controversial or unpopular decisions.

Mark Danells, Rothesay

Thanks deAdder-- another gem

2008-05-31T00:46:00.003-03:00

Mr. Graham, we think it is time you start listening. This is not a "normal" situation, like lets say a hog farm, when all you have to do is plug your nose and wait it out. Our children are not hogs. They are the future of NB. It is time you start thinking about that and start listening to your constituents. Public service is a noble vocation, but please remember that public service is service to the public, and that is clearly lacking at this time.

French immersion concerns are real, but response is flawed

2008-05-31T00:41:00.002-03:00

Blogger's note: Finally a NB paper willing to publish a letter from an FSL expert!

By FRED GENESEE
For The Daily Gleaner, May 30th, 2008

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock recently released another written response to concerns raised by his decision to eliminate early French immersion from the elementary school program.

The document was entitled When Should Study Give Way to Decision? This is a response to some of his statements concerning my own and others' research on second language learning in school settings - to set the record straight.

Lamrock rightly raises the issue of early versus late second language teaching and learning. He points out that in my review I conclude that "the notion that there is an optimal starting grade for bilingual education is misguided."

I would stick by this conclusion. However, Lamrock fails to point out that, earlier in the same paragraph, I had stated that:

"The "best" starting grade for bilingual education can depend on the goals, needs and resources of the community. In communities such as Quebec, Belgium, or Northern Italy, where two or more languages are commonly used in everyday life, it may be best to begin bilingual education early so that children become accustomed to both (all) languages early on and, also, so that they can take advantage of language learning opportunities that are afforded outside school.

"In contrast, in communities such as Germany, Japan or many communities in the U.S. where monolingualism is the norm and other languages have no official status and/or are only used in restricted settings, introduction of bilingual education in higher grades may be sufficient."

In other words, the very communities I identified as being appropriate for early immersion resemble New Brunswick. According to the minister's own words: "Bilingualism is simply a fact of life for New Brunwickers ... a universal skill."

Lamrock expresses concerns for the streaming that has resulted from an optional early French immersion program. It is important to point out that there has been considerable research on the suitability of immersion for students with academic challenges of various types. This research indicates that students whose parents choose immersion and stay in the program do just as well as students who opt for the English program and, at the same time, they become bilingual to a level that students in core French do not.

This research suggests that French immersion could be made more accessible to a wider ranger of students than seems to currently be the case, without jeopardizing student achievement. Are parents aware of this research?

In my opinion, rather than eliminating early immersion, the minister could instead stem the attrition by challenging the bias of parents and some school counsellors who advise students and parents to choose English over immersion because of fears that immersion is too difficult.

The minister argues his decision is part of a trend to "use more universal models to teach second and third languages." There is no universal approach that I am aware of, at least in the professional and scientific literature.

However, without doubt, there is an international trend toward more content-based second language instruction beginning in the primary grades. This is important, because the intensive French program proposed by Lamrock is a significant move away from content-based second language instruction, insofar as it eliminates most academic content from the program.

The content, if any, that will be part of intensive French in Grade 5 will necessarily be "peripheral," since anglophone students will lack sufficient proficiency in French to be able to study academic subject matter at the Grade 5 level.

Intensive French that relies on art, music, etc., is a throw-back to the old days of foreign language teaching when peripheral curricular content was used to teach language.

Lamrock seeks to marshal arguments for the new "Intensive French Late immersion" option by stating that because a two-year late immersion program in Montreal produced results as good as early immersion, we should be open to alternative forms of immersion. Fair enough.

However, the implication that the "Intensive French Late Immersion" option might be equally effective as the Montreal late immersion program ignores the fact that the Quebec program was offered to students who had already had seven years (kindergarten to grade 6) of French-as-a-second language instruction consisting of 45-60 minutes per day.

As well, the Montreal program included 80 per cent of instructional time in both grades 7 and 8. If the new "Intensive French Late Immersion" is comparable, then it could be a winner.

The fly in the late-immersion ointment, even in Montreal, was that the level of attendance in late immersion was much more selective and much lower than in early immersion because many students thought it was too demanding, that it would jeopardize their high school grades, and, besides, they would not get additional credit that would facilitate their entry into college or university even if they take late immersion.

In ending, I wish to indicate that the concerns of Lamrock are clearly serious and should be taken seriously. He has done New Brunswickers a service by identifying major issues in the French second language programs in New Brunwick: streaming, high attrition from immersion, low levels of French proficiency among core French students, and the recruitment and professional development of teachers.

Arguments for the status quo in the face of these troubling educational facts would be foolish. At the same time, it is not at all clear how the minister's proposal to replace immersion in favor of a "universal" intensive program will resolve these problems.

There is a lot at stake - the language education of future New Brunswick students and their ability to compete in the job market, not to mention New Brunswick's rightly valued reputation as the only officially bilingual province in Canada. Scrapping a program that is internationally acknowledged to be the most successful form of second language education seems extreme.

***

Fred Genesee is an expert in second-language acquisitions at McGill University.

Commissioner of Official Languages says N.B. has key role in promoting linguistic duality

2008-05-31T00:37:00.001-03:00

By MARC HUDON
Times & Transcript Staff, May 30th, 2008

OTTAWA - A very large majority of experts still believe that early immersion is the best way to learn a second language, says Commissioner of Official Languages Graham Fraser in his annual report, which was tabled yesterday.

It's just one of the reasons Canada's top language bureaucrat is concerned about recommendations made by a commission charged with reviewing French as a second language in New Brunswick.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock sounded the death knell for early immersion in March when he announced sweeping reforms of the French second-language system based on a controversial report by Jim Croll and Patricia Lee.

The report has been blasted as containing flawed data and faulty logic with some parents still pressuring the government to back down on the changes.

"It's always unfortunate when a mechanism that achieves excellence is eliminated," said Fraser, adding he remains encouraged by the government's goal of having at least 70 per cent of high school graduates who can function effectively in a second language.

Fraser, however, reserved his most scathing criticism for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Canadian Heritage Josee Verner, citing their lack of leadership on the file.

He laid out a series of seven recommendations aimed at improving the implementation of an official languages strategy in Canada.

"The situation almost feels like a Samuel Beckett play that could be called 'waiting for the action plan,'" he said.

"I'm not interested in spending another year watching a drama in suspended animation as the government marks time."

Minority language groups are concerned that the Conservatives have yet to earmark cash for programs promoting linguistic duality, said Acadie-Bathurst NDP MP Yvon Godin.

That's despite receiving a report from former New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord in March suggesting a minimum of $1 billion in new money be spent on programs for official languages, he said.

"(The government) is doing this on the backs of minority language groups," he said.

When Godin grilled Verner in the House of Commons on Thursday about the status of the money, the minister skirted the questions by thanking Fraser for producing the report, saying she would study its findings carefully.

The report's central theme, said Fraser, is leadership, adding a bilingual province such as New Brunswick should strive to be a role model for other governments.

"Linguistic duality has to be considered a value, rather than a burden or another obstacle that bureaucracies have to overcome," he said. "I think that New Brunswick has the potential to lead the way in that regard and making it part of its provincial identity; making it something that people aspire to; and really show the way for the rest of the country."

Fraser also said replacing retiring Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache of New Brunswick with another bilingual judge would illustrate leadership on the part of the federal government.

The complement on the top court should be a reflection of our Canadian identity, he said.

"It is essential that judges who sit on Canada's highest court be bilingual in order to understand both versions of the law and to be able to understand lawyers and citizens in the official language of their choice without the need of an interpreter," said Fraser.

The report also noted that federal government agencies and departments in New Brunswick received 49 language complaints in the past year, accounting for about eight per cent of the national total.

You have got to be kidding Mr. Kershaw

2008-05-31T00:28:00.005-03:00

Blogger's comment: It is curious that they are willing to spend $1.2 million on a 54 page PSE report, $4.7 million on a golf course, $800,000 on a plane, $180,000 for the Croll and Lee report, $100,000 on a communication report, but they are not willing to invest in helping promote real bilingualism (i.e., advanced levels through EFI) for the anglophone children of NB. This indeed is a strange way to run Canada’s only bilingual province. I wish they would wake up and start getting their priorities right.

Too late to stop immersion changes - affidavit
Published Thursday May 29th, 2008
Canadaeast News Service

SAINT JOHN - Changes to French immersion in the province are underway and it's too late to turn back, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

Deputy minister of Education John Kershaw filed an affidavit in the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John, indicating a reversal of the revamped French second-language program could cost more than $2 million.

The affidavit seeks a dismissal of the request by two parents for a judicial review of Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's decision to axe early immersion.

Kershaw argues in the court documents that slowing down the reform would benefit the minority of students who have not enrolled in French immersion at the expense of the majority.

"The inconvenience and disruption to the school system from any such delay would be enormous," Kershaw states in the affidavit.

Lamrock sounded the death knell for early immersion in March when he announced sweeping reforms of the French second-language system based on a controversial report by Jim Croll and Patricia Lee.

The report has been blasted as containing flawed data and faulty logic. Some parents have pressured the government to back down on the changes.

Ombudsman Bernard Richard is moving ahead with a review of the plan, which he called a "tremendous gamble."

School districts have organized classes and scheduling, and made staffing decisions based on the restructured program, the document states.

New physical education and music specialists have also been hired and they would have to be reassigned or laid off, the affidavit states.

"That argument is disingenuous," said Alison Menard, president of the New Brunswick branch of Canadian Parents for French.

"The department is not even in a position to provide information about the curriculum for all the French second language programming they're implementing. It's difficult for me to understand how they're arguing before the court that it's impossible to reverse the tide."

A primary bone of contention for many parents has been what they deem a total lack of consultation on such a major revamp of French second-language programming.

But the affidavit states Lamrock had no obligation to consult the public before making the decision. Though the Education Act outlines areas where public input is necessary, the early immersion program is not one of them.

In fact, the affidavit states that since October of 2003, there have been various changes with little to no public consultation, including a major overhaul of the math program that will cut 50 per cent of its required teaching objectives starting in September.

That argument doesn't fly either, Ménard said.

"We're talking about major fundamental policy changes in education that will have far-reaching implications for decades to come," she said. "Of course it's one of those situations where there should be consultation on what direction this province is going to take."

Lamrock's public statements about his intention to consult widely on the matter created an implicit obligation for him to do so, Ménard added.

In seeking the judicial review, parents had argued that Lamrock's decision violated a contract with them and infringed on language equality rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Nowhere in the affidavit does Kershaw directly address the Charter issues, but he denies there is any enforceable contract created when a child is pre-registered for admission, saying the programs are offered on a "where numbers warrant" basis.

Moncton CEC meeting May 27th, 2008

2008-05-28T13:16:00.017-03:00

Over 70 people came and listened to 4 four great presentations and an update on the Legal case now before the courts.

Dr. Diana Hamilton -- Why we are worried about the decision to terminate EFI

Dr. Bruce Robertson -- Response to the Liberal FSL plan

Dr. Rodrigue Landry -- French second language education for all anglophone students in New Brunswick: challenges and issues

Dr. Paula Kristmanson -- An Alternative Plan for FSL in New Brunswick

Tim Jackson provided an update on the case that is currently before the courts.

The audience asked great questions, made great points, lined up, opened their cheque books and donated $1900 for the legal case.

The session was chaired by Alison Menard who also gave an eloquent summary of the talks and her personal experience with her children in EFI.

Thanks also go to Andrew Boughen for helping and U de M for providing the appropriate education and linguistic setting for this meeting.

The youtube videos will be coming in a few days.

Expectations increased, competencies reduced: Dubé -- Wednesday May 28th, 2008

2008-05-28T12:38:00.001-03:00

The Victoria Star

The Opposition Education Critic Madeleine Dubé sharply denounced the Liberal plan to reduce the level of competence for teachers in the area of French second language instruction, and not to require trained teachers in the areas of music, art, vocational education or physical education.

During question period in the Legislature on Tuesday, May 20, the Opposition learned that the Liberal government anticipates reducing the competency requirements so that teachers can move from one subject area to another, without regard to their level of qualification.

"In fact, according to the Education Minister, it only matters that one is a teacher, and not their area of expertise. A few days of teacher training will suffice. It is not necessary to have competency in French, in art or others to teach. Further, Minister Lamrock is not providing additional resources to the schools or to the teachers, but he still demands that they be accountable for the results of the students," stated Dubé.

"In other words," added Dubé, "expectations are increased, but competencies are reduced. The Minister is offloading his responsibilities on to the backs of the teachers, without providing the tools necessary to do their work in an effective way. That is the Liberal plan."

When Dubé requested more details, the Minister was "content to play petty politics with the future of our youth. I do not understand why the Graham government seems to attack our children and teachers. Once again, parents, teachers, school districts and communities want what is best for our youth, but it seems that this is not a priority for the present government."

Finally, Dubé asks parents and teachers to be vigilant. "The first years are extremely important when one considers the education of our youth. Make sure that the Graham government does not hold them hostage, just because they can. Our children deserve better."

Click here to link to article

Letters: X-Factors, rhetoric, biases, mismanagement and elitism

2008-05-28T10:59:00.005-03:00

Daily Gleaner Letters
'X Factors' aren't enough to save immersion plan

It seems that when you don't have science on your side, you turn to pseudo-science.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's French language instruction plan has been given the thumbs down by a long line of language learning experts, including the two who devised the intensive French program on which he is banking so heavily.

And so the minister attempted to buoy his sinking plan by announcing that "people have missed the plan's 'hidden X factor.' "

He said they missed this in two parts of the plan.

First, by "integrating more conversational French opportunities into school life," something that will be hard to do in the only province in Canada whose elementary school setting will not offer a single hour of French language instruction.

The second element is "events that introduce students to the bilingual and French culture in New Brunswick." Indeed. Listening to Acadian stories told in English for half an hour a month will do much more for our province's understanding of French than actually learning the language.

Education is no different from health and finance: when it comes to making plans for our future, the province's citizens expect something better than "X factors."

We'll settle for nothing less than a plan devised by experts. Science, not pseudo-science.

Sarah Wilby, Fredericton

N.B. - No. 1 in rhetoric

The Liberals' war of words on the people of New Brunswick has got to stop.

It is simply unconscionable that a minister of state would refer to one optional educational program, early French immersion, as "segregated," while praising other proposed optional programs, such as enrichment and late French immersion, as suiting students' needs.

Segregation is a word that stinks of racial prejudice and sexism, and it has no place in this debate. When most people use it, they mean that people are forced into separate groups, like African-Americans on public transportation in the 1950s.

Early French immersion is an option, and if anyone was unable to take it, this was because the minister has never made good on the Liberal campaign promise to fulfill the recommendations of the McKay report and provided sufficient resource help for the existing French program.

Until he can use less loaded words, the Liberals should stop Lamrock from tinkering with the subjects that really matter to the fabric of our province and set his sights on improving our scores in the one topic on which he is an obvious expert: rhetoric.

If the Liberals don't stop, at least we'll be the number one province in that field by 2010.

David James, Fredericton

French immersion coverage is biased

I, like so many other New Brunswickers, have been actively following the ongoing public concern regarding the minister of education's abrupt decision to eliminate early French immersion.

I am fascinated, however, at how the Miramichi Leader continues to cover "both" sides of the story (please refer to page A7 of the May 23 Miramichi Leader).

Joseph Dicks is a leading expert in French second language research and has presented the government with an alternate plan for French instruction.

This alternate plan has attracted a lot of attention, yet nothing has been mentioned in neither The Daily Gleaner nor the Telegraph-Journal.

I once subscribed to the Gleaner, however when I read its biased reporting of news lately, I am reminded why I no longer do so. Please remember the importance of providing facts to your public.

Susan Jennings, Fredericton

Telegraph-Journal Letters
Management is the real problem

While the Minister of Education has spent the last two months demonizing the early French immersion program, he has blatantly ignored the real problem in our system - the poor management offered by the Department of Education itself.

For example, the minister claims he had to eliminate EFI because it caused streaming and almost all students who require extra support were found in the core program.

Another reason was the high attrition rates from the EFI program since students were simply not staying in the program. Yet nobody at the Department seemed to be able to put these two facts together and realize that if they provided the required support in the EFI program, many students would not have had to transfer into core to get the help they needed and hence, there would be no streaming.

Over the past few years, by the time a cohort reaches Grade 5, 30 per cent of those originally enrolled in EFI were transferred into core, the same percentage students that enrol in EFI in Grade 1. That tells us in Grade 1, there is an equal proportion of students who are going to require support in EFI and by definition, streaming doesn't exist if all programs have the same proportion of students who require extra support. The fact the minister blames the EFI program for this shows his lack of understanding of the system he is supposed to be in charge of and the incompetence of those working for him.

JIM TAYBERRY, Saint John

Mirimichi Leader Letters
Letter to the editor EFI destined to be “elitist”

A central tenet of Minister Lamrock's embattled plan for French language instruction in our province is that children currently in the early French immersion program will be "grandfathered."

Recent events suggest it will be more like "orphaned." Children in Grade 1 should expect to have 11 more years of their program, yet District 2's website has complete expunged any mention of the program. As a hint of worse to come, District 18 has removed all remedial help for EFI students, and similar programs are being cut in District 8. Studies over the past decade have argued that the proper way of reducing streaming out of EFI is to provide it with better support, as is done today in Nova Scotia.

However, when Lamrock apportioned funds from the joint commission on classroom composition last year, over a million dollars were provided for special help in the Core program, and only $4,000 for EFI students. No wonder parents of struggling students are encouraged to migrate to the Core program. It seems if Lamrock is allowed to continue down this uncharted path, he will do even more to ensure EFI becomes the "elitist" program he has criticized.

Stephanie McCarty

More commentaries in NB papers

2008-05-27T23:59:00.000-03:00

Soprano supports early immersion
Provincial Journal
Published Tuesday May 27th, 2008

FREDERICTON - Parents should fight to save early French immersion in New Brunswick schools, says Juno winner and opera diva Measha Brueggergosman. The Fredericton native returned home for a live show Tuesday at Wilmot United church. Visited Park Street Elementary School on Friday. She went through French immersion at this school. "If you can add arts programs and know that's an effective way to teach children, it's a no-brainer that early immersion shouldn't be cut."

CBC reported her as saying. "It doesn't need to be cut, and the people who have the power are the voters, and they need to take that power back."

Fredericton

If New Brunswick had a Siberia, Lamrock would be sent there
Published Tuesday May 27th, 2008, Kings County Record, Outside the Bax, By Michael Baxter

Refreshing it was, reading about Bob Bernier's resignation a while back.
Leaving the presidency of the Kings East Liberals, and going against the party line over the cancellation of Early French Immersion, took both morals and guts. I don't know Bob, but would somebody please buy him a Schooner until I get back.

To be honest, I'm completely disgusted with how arrogant the current Liberal regime has become since grabbing the provincial reins.

It just burns me that $180,000 was dropped on the completely fictitious Croll/Lee report, when another EFI study the $30,000 Rehorick Report was commissioned two years earlier and its data never released. It wasn't disclosed because it didn't suit the agenda of our dodgy Education Minister, Kelly "The Fish" Lamrock.

Call me crazy, but shouldn't all commissioned reports that are funded by taxpayer money be released regardless of their conclusions? That's just common sense and voter respect. Come on, Fredericton! Taxpayers are flipping the bill for this silliness, at least give us a peak at the goods.
Lamrock, and all members of government, for that matter, should be held personally responsible if it is proven they have frittered away taxpayer money over and above the usual squandering that goes on.

If I was on the end of the gavel, and New Brunswick had a Siberia, Lamrock would be sipping a thin borsch soup on a frosty train right now. As for Croll and Lee, it appears they couldn't crunch the data on a two-car parade.

If the Liberals have so much spare money to throw around, commission me for $100,000 I'll prove Yoda was the ruination of the Universe and Darth Vader really wasn't such a bad guy after all. I think irony died the day Lamrock became the Minister of Education. As a teacher of English as a second language here in Tokyo, I've seen first hand the importance of exposing kids to a different tongue early on. Young kids are extremely impressionable, yet The Fish surely is under the old assumption that kids are stupid.

New Brunswick used to be a progressive society. French immersion started in Grade 7, and several years later, they wisely decided to start it in Grade 1. I actually thought the next step was offering French to pre-schoolers. Under the Lamrock watch, I guess I was wrong.
I can't believe Liberal MLAs towed the line on this one. It just goes to show that politicians claim to represent voters, but when the stuff starts to hit the fan, 99 per cent of them back the party first. That's not democracy. That's personal and party agenda.

I figured the current Liberals were a pretty arrogant lot after the local courthouse fiasco, and their handling of the EFI situation has offered little to suggest otherwise. And while Bob Bernier can take pride every time he looks in the mirror, I have my doubts the greater majority of our representatives, the current education minister included, could even find their reflection at all.

Stay tuned…
Collina native Michael Baxter teaches English in Tokyo, Japan and invites both criticism and support to outsidethebax@gmail.com

Guest editorial Communication report a waste of money
Published Tuesday May 27th, 2008
CanadaEast News Service
Miramichi Leader

More than 50 per cent of marriages in this country end in divorce. In most of those cases a lack of effective communication is cited as a key issue in the break-up.
Perhaps then the fear of a nasty divorce is why the Liberal government in Fredericton decided to spend $100,000 for an 83-page consultant's report on how it can more effectively communicate with the public.

The Liberals could certainly use some help in that department. Just look at the mess it has made of the decision to scrap early French immersion (EFI) based on the recommendations of a consultants' report and without consultation with parents.

Months after deciding to end EFI this fall, the public furor over the decision has not declined and, in fact, seems to be growing while Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's reaction to the criticism fans the flames.

Initially the minister attacked EFI by referring to it as the "Cadillac program." Everyone seemed to understand that was code for elite and suggestive of a class system whereby a privileged few students are given a better education than the majority of students in New Brunswick schools.
But recently it has become apparent the minister must have a lesser opinion of Cadillacs, because he has also criticized the program as ineffective, saying it was "... a few kids learning in the classroom, and then going out and forgetting about it."

The minister is also letting his district superintendents face the public and defend the program. School District 16 superintendent Laurie Keoughan was thrown to the wolves May 13, facing an angry congregation of parents during a meeting at Croft Elementary. The superintendent didn't exactly endorse the program when he told parents not to shoot the messenger, that he was setting aside any personal feeling he may have and simply doing his job at the direction of the provincial government.

The FSL fiasco is just one very obvious example of why the Graham government needs to do a better job communicating with the public. Yet we don't think taxpayers needed to spend $100,000 for a report that calls on the premier to be an international leader in public engagement, that suggests government departments design their own public engagement processes and, finally, that advises the government to consult with the public before making major decision.

It seems to us the decision to hire consultants rather than use its own communications officers to produce a report on communication (after all, is that not their job?) was in and of itself an exercise in public relations nothing more than an extravagant (not to mention patronizing) attempt by the government to convince us that it really does care about what we think.

Letters on NB Government's lack of understanding, ability to listen, and warring with their constituents.

2008-05-27T23:58:00.000-03:00

Telegraph-Journal
Lamrock shows lack of understanding

Hearing of Kelly Lamrock's latest plan to revamp the education system (standardized testing for teachers), and reading of Measha Brueggergosman's comments re: the cutting of the early French immersion program, I am struck (again) by the minister's apparent lack of understanding of language, and indeed of culture (specifically music, art, and education).

In cutting the early French immersion program, which is a program "that works," Lamrock claims to be broadening the accessibility of language acquisition. Rather he is adopting a lowest-common-denominator approach that degrades a system already in trouble, rather than playing to its strengths. He has claimed in the past few weeks that students are currently being taught "too many concepts" in math, and so he has made changes to that curriculum.

Learning a language is not akin to learning a subject like math. Language is a way of contextualizing everything we do; it is a framework for teaching subjects like math and science. Immersing children in language at a young age is a proven way to teach it effectively. Like music and art, language is a mode of expression. Like music and art, it is a way of thinking and perceiving and expressing experience.

His arrogance in not consulting those with expertise in education (including teachers), and in his rejection and disrespect of opposition to his broad-strokes, profoundly disruptive plans, is breathtaking.

Why do Lamrock and the Liberal government underestimate the abilities of students and teachers so, and why must we all pay the price of his underestimation?

BETHANY GIBSON

Is premier really ready to listen?

I am wondering if Mr. Graham is truly ready to implement the ideas of this newest report mentioned in Wednesday's paper entitled, "Can we Talk?" To me the concept seems like common sense. Could it have been the coming together of the people during the UNBSJ fiasco in which Mr. Graham was quite willing to jeopardize the reputation of our University to change it to a polytechnic school that has caused this change of direction for our governing officials? Or could it be the impending judicial review over the reckless changes to our French second language program that have left parents with no other option than to sue our government?

It is a shame that it took $100,000 to tell our leaders that labelling parents who didn't agree with their decision to eliminate choice in their child's education, as emotional members of an elitist self-interest group, probably wasn't a smart or proper thing to do.

Mr. Graham and his ministers have got to show respect and consideration to people who have dissenting opinions. Then and only then, will this government regain some of the respect and confidence it has lost during what seems to be a dictatorship-like style in which decisions have been made.

LISA HERRINGTON, Willow Grove

Letter to the Editor--Bugle Observer Provincial Liberals must stop war of wordsPublished Tuesday May 27th, 2008

Dear Editor,

The Liberals' war of words on the people of New Brunswick has got to stop.

It is simply unconscionable that a minister of state would refer to one optional educational program, early French immersion, as "segregated," while praising other proposed optional programs, such as enrichment and late French immersion, as suiting students' needs.

Segregation is a word that stinks of racial prejudice and sexism, and it has no place in this debate. When most people use it, they mean that people are forced into separate groups, like African-Americans on public transportation in the 1950s.

Early French immersion is an option, and if anyone was unable to take it, this was because the minister has never made good on the Liberal campaign promise to fulfill the recommendations of the McKay report and provide sufficient resource help for the existing French program.

Until he can use less loaded words, the Liberals should stop Lamrock from tinkering with the subjects that really matter to the fabric of our province and set his sights on improving our scores in the one topic on which he is an obvious expert: rhetoric.

If the Liberals don't stop, at least we'll be the number one province in that field by 2010.

David James, Fredericton

A Response to Minister Lamrock's Justifications for His FSL Plan

2008-05-27T08:42:00.002-03:00

In recent days, Minister Lamrock has been circulating the following text to justify his plans for French education in NB. A team of us from the Citizens for Educational Choice have taken on the task of annotating the Minister's argument, pointing out errors in fact and argumentation. Although the details are to be found in the following pages, some general points arise repeatedly.

1. The Minister misuses French language learning scholarship. For example, his many misrepresentations of the ideas of Dr. Fred Genesee of McGill has resulted in a letter from Dr. Genesee explaining the problems. If the Minister wants the benefit of experts in FSL, he should assign them with the task of devising an FSL plan for the province or, at very least, heed their warnings regarding the Croll and Lee recommendations.

2. The Minister seems to persist in misunderstanding the nature of French immersion. In this text he presents it as a challenge that suits higher-achieving students; whereas we understand from the works of Dr. Dicks, Dr. Genesee and others, and from the experience of other provinces such as Nova Scotia, that EFI can be accessible to nearly all children.

3. The Minister erroneously argues that the many studies before Croll and Lee support his innovations: they simply do not, and we encourage all to read these reports and determine the truth for themselves. In fact, since the Scraba report of 2002, NB has been encouraged to improve participation and retention in EFI by increasing the resources required to support students within the EFI program.

4. The Minister argues weakly against this less disruptive and more standard solution: he claims that it cannot be done because it has not been done or because a fully detailed plan for this approach does not exist.

5. The Minister frequently suggests that any report or expert opinion which supports an entry point for French immersion later than the current grade one entry point also lends support to his plan for immersion to begin only in grade 6 because such opinions support a 'later' date. We believe that if he were to consult with the authors of these reports, he would find that they consider the grade 6 entry point which he proposes to be quite worse than the grade 2 or grade 3 entry points that some experts advise.

6. Finally, in the title of the piece and throughout, the Minister wishes to suggest that the past two months have been a time of 'study', which should now conclude in a decision. We hope our comments will show that the Minister and Croll and Lee are very far from having studied the topic well, and that the decisions made in haste and ignorance thus far should be delayed so that a true and careful course can be plotted for this important aspect of our province's public education system.

Click this link to find the Minister's original text in italics and CEC's critique in plain text following each point he makes.

Not so fast, New Brunswick

2008-05-25T22:21:00.001-03:00

GENE OUELLETTE's commentaty is now published in the Globe and Mail.
Globe and Mail Update
May 25, 2008 at 7:18 PM EDT

Ever since New Brunswick Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced plans to scrap early French immersion in New Brunswick schools, there has been a firestorm of controversy. Academics and politicians alike have waded into the issue, as have parent and community groups. In the spirit of partisan politics, the province's Liberal government has stood by their beleaguered minister, as he continues to roll out one reform after another. We are told that it's all for the future of the children.
...

Click here to see the rest of the article in the Globe and Mail.

CEC Meeting in Moncton

2008-05-24T11:14:00.005-03:00

Click here to open map of Université de Moncton

Measha Brueggergosman speaks out against termination of Early French Immersion in NB

2008-05-24T08:27:00.002-03:00

Immersion cuts hit a sour note with diva
CBCNews.ca

An international opera star is lending her voice to the fight over early French immersion in New Brunswick.

About 300 students and parents welcomed soprano Measha Brueggergosman into a Grade 5 classroom at the Park Street Elementary School in Fredericton on Friday.

An alumna of the school, Brueggergosman, 30, helped launched a new music program, but her message wasn't just about the arts in education.

"It's quite amazing to be able to come back and sing with these kids and know, at least for the time being, there's still French immersion here," Brueggergosman said.

Brueggergosman went through the French immersion program, which is slated to be eliminated in September, at Park Street Elementary School.

French immersion and music are the two elements of her early education that shaped who she is today, said the singer.

Brueggergosman was at the school promoting a new "music in math" program that is meant to help engage students engage with learning through the arts.

The cross-subject instruction keeps students engaged, said Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.

"What you're seeing today is that you can use music and art to create a more engaging classroom that's also teaching math skill, literary skills, so the kids are far more engaged than sitting still in a chair," Lamrock said.

Pushed back to Grade 5
The new program comes as part of the province's efforts to inject more resources into music, art and physical education. The lengthened class times that will be provided to the subjects come partly because of the province's elimination of its early French immersion program.

Beginning in September, parents will no longer be able to register their children into the early French immersion program in English schools. The core French program, which required all students to take French as a mandatory single class subject, has also been pushed back until Grade 5.

Brueggergosman applauded the program but said it shouldn't come at the expense of teaching children a second language.

"If you can add arts programs and know that's an effective way to teach children, it's a no-brainer that early immersion shouldn't be cut," Brueggergosman said.

Parents shouldn't give up on their fight to keep the French immersion program in New Brunswick's English schools, Brueggergosman said.

"It doesn't need to be cut, and the people who have the power are the voters, and they need to take that power back," Brueggergosman said.

Click here to link to article

More great letters, they keep on coming

2008-05-23T08:18:00.002-03:00

Voting Liberal may not be an option
Published Friday May 23rd, 2008
Daily Gleaner

The decision to eliminate the early French immersion program is wrong.

Both of my children (Grade 7 and Grade 3) are in the program now and I could care less if they score advanced, intermediate, or basic in the French proficiency test at the end of high school.
Both of my boys speak French today.

It is too late to start a French immersion program in Grade 5 (especially with boys). You will get fewer boys in the program and they will not learn as quickly as they do when they are young.
I grew up an anglophone in Quebec. I did a one-year French immersion program in Grade 7.
My younger sister had the opportunity to do early French immersion. My sister is fluent in French. I failed my high school French and ended up having to go to summer school to graduate.

It is easier to learn a second language when you are young. This provincial government is giving parents less choice in the education of their children. This decision will make learning French harder for English children. Instead of helping to bring the French and English communities closer, it will polarize the two communities. I am thankful my children are already in the early French immersion program.

This province has an opportunity to be a leader in French immersion education.
This government's decision would move the province in the wrong direction. I believe it would be better to have all New Brunswick children take early French immersion until Grade 5.
Imagine the outcry from anglo parents if a N.B. Government tried to implement this.

Why does Minister Lamrock feel a decision like this must be made with such haste? Why is it being pushed through? Why not introduce a late immersion program and see how it works before eliminating the early French immersion program that we know already works?
Most parents who have children in early French immersion believe it is a good program. This decision does not directly affect me as I have no more children entering the education system but I am deeply concerned about how this decision will affect New Brunswick.

I will not be voting Liberal in the next provincial election, if I do not see a positive change on this issue.

Chris Lynn, Fredericton

An education in rhetoric

On the front page of a recent newspaper, Kelly Lamrock informed New Brunswickers that he had reversed a decision to force-feed students a "one-size-fits-all" education program that one of his fellow ministers characterized as the "biggest mistake in education."
Oddly, less than two weeks ago, this same government was touting its one-size-fits-all French program as "universal."

Which is it?

Does Lamrock believe by removing all French instruction from the first five years of schooling against all advice of language learning experts inside the province and abroad he is doing something noble. The lack of French instruction is, at very least, "universal."

Or does he believe that such "one-size-fits-all" education systems do not let students reach their full potential? One thing is for sure, the minister could give the whole province an education in rhetoric.

Dawn Ashford, Fredericton

Only one minister did homework

In March and April, two ministers of government each made a major announcement.
One formed his plan with international experts in the appropriate industry, HLT Advisory Inc. and KPMG. The other hired two New Brunswickers with only a passing knowledge of the field.
The first signaled months ago that he was taking New Brunswick into a new venture. The second allowed only two weeks for citizens to discuss the most radical changes in his field in 20 years.

The first has treated the small amount of opposition to his plan with respect and dignity. The second came out swinging when research centres, scholars and citizens called his plan the bad result of a bad process.

I am referring, of course, to Minister Boudreau's recent announcement of a casino in Moncton, and Minister Lamrock's still-embattled plan for French instruction in the province - most recently derided by Dr. Genesee of McGill university as like taking a sledgehammer to fix a boat.

Liberals, who persist in supporting Lamrock's plan, probably imagine that the growing opposition is some sort of anti-Liberal campaign.

But they should take note of these differences.

Minister Boudreau did his homework and is advancing his file.

Minister Lamrock continues to govern through intuition and is miring the whole party down with him.

Michel Roy, Fredericton

Telegraph-Journal letters May 23, 2008
High standards go both ways

In Monday's Telegraph-Journal, Minister Lamrock says he will test schools to make sure they uphold a high standard.

Yet when he introduced his radical plans for changes in French education in the province, he included the provision that, for the time being, he would lower the standards of French education in N.B. and consider it a success when students achieved a standard two levels below the current goal of the early French immersion program and one level below the goal of late French immersion program.

I have a suggestion for the teachers and schools that Minister Lamrock wants to put under the microscope. Why don't they state that "for the time being" all tests and papers that previously rated a "C" would now receive "A" grades. Like the minister, they could then claim a rousing success in two years.

They probably won't though: they have too much pride in trying to achieve real results.

JENNIFER GUIDRY, Fredericton

The dangers of 'fantasy' government

In Monday's front-page article, Kelly Lamrock compares his work as Education Minister with his hobby: "fantasy football," what the article describes as an online game he participates in where users can draft players and earn points when those players score.

For the past months we've watched Minister Lamrock reject the opinions of experts, make radical last-minute changes to programs based on erroneous statistics and argue for his choices with all the grace of a 10 year-old Xbox warrior.¨ (Click here to link to Minister Lamrock's comments in the Telegraph Journal, May 19th, 2008)

Now we know why: he's playing "fantasy government."

But while in his hobby no real people are hurt by his arm-chair quarterbacking, this province's French education is in danger of falling into the bush leagues.

RACHEL WEBB, Fredericton

Experts take exception to Minister’s use of their research

2008-05-23T08:09:00.002-03:00

Published online in the Miramichi Leader, May 23, 2008

Please find attached two letters written by leading language experts that take exception with Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's misrepresentation of their research and advice. These letters raise questions regarding the Minister's ability to defend his FSL plan.

Freda Burdett, Citizens for Educational Choice

Scrapping most successful form of second language education seems extreme

by Dr. Fred Genesee

The Honorable Minister of Education of New Brunswick, Mr. Kelly Lamrock, recently released another written response to concerns raised by his decision to eliminate early French immersion from the NB elementary school program — the document was entitled, When Should Study Give Way to Decision? This is a response to some of his statements concerning my own and others' research on second language learning in school settings.

...

There is a lot at stake: the language education of future New Brunswick students and their ability to compete in the job market, not to mention New Brunswick's rightly valued reputation as the only officially bilingual province in Canada. Scrapping a program that is internationally acknowledged to be the most successful form of second language education seems extreme.

Dr. Fred Genesee is a professor at McGill University
______________________________

Response to radio interview with Minister of Education Kelly Lamrock

by Dr. Joseph Dicks

I feel compelled to respond to the interview with Minister Lamrock that was aired on Friday, May 16.

There are a number of statements that the minister made that need to be corrected. I find it incredible that the Minister of Education, the person responsible for public education in this province, could make such unqualified statements that ultimately mislead the public on matters related to public education.

Here are some examples of Minister Lamrock's misleading statements ...

There is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding in the general public about second language education. It is a complex and multifaceted field in which professionals spend entire careers educating themselves, future teachers and the public about the various issues and the relative merits of different pathways to bilingualism. It is extremely discouraging and frustrating, therefore, to have a minister of education who, in this area at least, is contributing to public confusion rather than public education.

Dr. Joseph Dicks is the director of the Second Language Research Institute of Canada.

To see full contents of these letters click here

Another expert weighs in

2008-05-22T23:59:00.002-03:00

Dr. Gene Ouellette (Ph.D)
Language and Literacy Learning Lab
Mount Allison University

French Immersion, Education, and Politics. Does Anyone Actually Care about the Evidence?

Ever since New Brunswick Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced plans to scrap early French Immersion in New Brunswick schools there has been a virtual firestorm of controversy. Academics and politicians alike have waded into the issue, as have parent and community groups. In the spirit of partisan politics, the Provincial Liberal Government has stood by their beleaguered minister, as he continues to roll out one reform after another. We are told that it's all for the future of the children. Yet while debate has stirred pro and anti- French sentiment, pro- and anti- Liberal stances, does anyone really care about the scientific evidence behind education and child development? As a language and literacy researcher I would put forth that if reform is for the benefit of the children, and the very future of the Province, it is imperative that we step back and actually consider the empirical evidence.
...

Click here to link to full commentary

Tories grill Lamrock on teacher qualifications

2008-05-22T23:46:00.002-03:00

Published Wednesday May 21st, 2008
MEGAN O'TOOLE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

FREDERICTON - Intensive French teachers will not be held to the same qualification standards as immersion teachers when the province's new plan kicks into effect this fall, and students will suffer for it, the Opposition Tories charged Tuesday.

Critic Madeleine Dubé repeatedly pressed Education Minister Kelly Lamrock on the issue of teacher qualifications during Question Period. Starting in September, a universal intensive program beginning in Grade 5 will replace both core French and early immersion.

"If you want to have the best results for our students, we need to have the right teachers with the right qualifications in the classroom," Dubé said.

Her concerns were tied to Policy 309, an education department document that establishes guidelines for the provision of French second language programming in New Brunswick's anglophone school districts.

Section 5 of the policy dictates the minimum levels of teacher proficiency for core French and immersion programs, as defined by the province's Second Language Proficiency Scale. For core French, that level is set at Advanced. For immersion programs, teachers must function at the Superior level.

The document does not account for the new intensive French program, leading Dubé to press the issue. Later in the day, Lamrock pegged that level at Advanced Plus, a step down from Superior.
....

Link here to see the rest of the article.

Great Letter May 21

2008-05-22T23:38:00.002-03:00

Daily Gleaner
Lamrock misleading public on immersion

I am so frustrated at the continued misinformation spread by Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.

It is clear that while he is very articulate in arguing his case, he is clearly misleading the public and resorting to divisive arguments to support his misguided changes to the anglophone system.

Why do I say this? There are three reasons.

He is arguing his changes to French second-language programming will provide universal access and help 70 per cent of children become bilingual. The problem: His stated goal for those 70 per cent is Intermediate, which will not get students any bilingual-designated job in this province. He's done away with the one program where over 70 per cent of graduates attain an Intermediate Plus or Advanced level of proficiency.

So much for self-sufficiency. All our brightest students will go elsewhere, as they won't be able to get a job in New Brunswick.

He blames early French immersion for streaming, and streaming for lower-than-the-national-average literacy scores.

Guess what? The Education Department's own data and the Croll-Lee report both show that comparing scores between EFI and non-EFI students in elementary school reveals no differences. Their numbers show the streaming effect is a lot worse with late French immersion - the program that Lamrock is keeping.

And the worst thing? No child will learn French before the age of 10, if they are in the anglophone school system. So much for rapprochement between anglophone and francophone New Brunswickers.

My three children will be incapable of comprehending their francophone friends in the language of their choice. Lamrock is systematically dismantling bilingualism in our province, but he is too polished for most people to realize it.

And our Liberal government supports him, without really understanding what they are supporting.

Peta Fussell, Fredericton

School Crackdown

2008-05-19T23:21:00.004-03:00

Education Schools, teachers that don't measure up will be held accountable for their inaction,
MEGAN O'TOOLETELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

FREDERICTON - Education Minister Kelly Lamrock is cracking down on teacher accountability, and he thinks more standardized testing is the key.
...

A whack of new standardized testing unveiled this month, including a pre-kindergarten assessment, will go a long way toward determining the difference each school and teacher makes in a child's development, Lamrock said.
Those that don't measure up will be held accountable for their poor results.
...

"At some point, we're going to have to come up with a clear plan for what happens when schools consistently don't perform," Lamrock added, though he discouraged "overly punitive" measures, such as shutting down schools or transferring students elsewhere, which could end up having undesired side effects. More incentives should be created to motivate teachers to strive for excellence, and then encourage others to learn from the "stars," Lamrock said.
...

He pointed to the example of fantasy football, an online game he participates in where users can draft players and earn points when those players score. The program publishes data annually on "keys to victory," he explained.
"You can actually see the guy who bet on Brett Favre in the fifth round did a lot better than the guy who drafted Carson Palmer in the first," Lamrock said.
"Amazingly, a society that has the ability to drill data down for fantasy football leagues, we aren't yet able to say, 'Wow, over a five-year period over 80 per cent of the students who had this teacher showed marked improvement in literacy.' "
...

Brent Shaw, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, was dubious that beefing up standardized assessments will lead to any real change.
"If you look at any of the countries that are doing the best in the world, one of the things that makes them the best is certainly not external evaluations," Shaw said, noting a better way to measure student success is through teacher-driven, "authentic" evaluations that reflect each classroom's unique learning environment.
Evaluating problems doesn't solve them, he added, and departmental resources could be better directed.
"You can't fatten a pig by weighing it," Shaw said.
...

Click here to link to article
__________________________

A sampling from 53 comments-to-date on the Telegraph-Journal webpage in response to Minister Lamrock's comments in this article.
__________________________

My, the Min of Ed certainly knows his sports analogies! Wow, isn't he impressive! Give me a break, now it is the teachers! First it was the EFI program and not it is the teachers. Of course there are a few bad apples, trust me I have seen them, every profession has them. But there seems to be more than the Liberals fair share of bad apples. Min of Ed at least 2-3 times a week has a new announcement, he is just putting up smoke screens to make the people not see what he is trying to cover up, his idiotic decision to eliminate EFI in the Canada's ONLY bilingual province. People, please wake up and smell the coffee, see what "Lamerock" is really doing. We will not forget, 2010!
72Thumbs Up 8ThumbsDown
Anonymous Reader on 19/05/08, 7:45:56 AM ADT
___________________________
Minister Lamrock should start to listen to "experts" and to do his own little research. This look like "No Child Left Behind" from the US and it has not been successful. It is so easy to blame the teachers! It is also easy to see "the couple high school teachers who have no business in the classroom". Most teachers are doing an excellent job. The Scaba report says exactly the same thing. The NB teachers are well trained and efficient, but the system is mismanaged. She said that for the immersion program too. It is mismanaged. The problem is not with the program, it is with the way it is managed. Scaba also said to refrain from adopting a one-size-fit-all approach to solve the problems. Poor, poor students and teachers! This is a real mess. Lamrock has to go faster than 2010!
76Thumbs Up 3Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 19/05/08, 7:56:25 AM ADT
___________________________
A headine from the citizens of NB:
Government Crackdown
Education Minister, Premier and Liberal MLAs that don't measure up will be held accountable in 2010
70Thumbs Up 3Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 19/05/08, 8:31:28 AM ADT
___________________________
I'm one teacher who can no longer tolerate Lamrock's obsession with “testing” and his opposition to educational choice. This teacher, with an advanced degree and work experience in the field that I teach in, has been given the "incentive" and "motivation" to leave the province by Kelly Lamrock.
I can no longer participate in an education system that runs contrary to expert advice and opinion, taking us to follow the most unsuccessful models of education and assessment. I agree with Mr. Shaw, testing does not solve problems. Broad based, authentic evaluations performed by teachers, over the course of a student’s schooling should not be considered irrelevant next to a test of memorization skills. It is wrong.
I do not need Kelly Lamrock to write a test on assessment and education to see how little he knows about assessment and education. The result is painfully obvious to this trained educator.
75Thumbs Up 3Thumbs
Anonymous Reader on 19/05/08, 9:27:17 AM ADT
___________________________
Could Kelly Lamrock possibly get more time with the Telegraph Journal Editorial Board???
Ridiculous.
A little journalism here, folks - No Child Left Behind has left a generation of students in the US unable to read, write or think.
Even George W. Bush's closest supporters agree.
LAMROCK MUST GO.
57Thumbs Up3Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 19/05/08, 11:03:27 AM ADT
___________________________
Doug Willms, besides being the public policy professor that published the sole brief in support of Lamrock when the C&L report got into trouble, is also the director of a for-profit company that has, until now, done much of the educational testing for the province: http://www.ksiresearch.com/

It would, of course, call future testing into question if the same person were to do future testing as the person who has put his public reputation at stake and who has been commissioned to make a report that supports the C&L process.

I trust the Ombudsman will recommend that any future spate of testing be performed by the many capable firms outside of our province. This will benefit NB, too, because Willms' company would be presumably be drawing further business into NB and expanding its market, not simply circulating cash within the province.
38Thumbs Up 2Thumbs Down
B. Robertson, Sackville on 19/05/08, 12:18:54 PM ADT
___________________________
I work with teachers everyday, and they never cease to amaze me. They run from the minute the students come in in the morning until the final bell, frequently without a break. They rush to prepare for the next day, frequently attending professional development after school. They make the most out of impossible situations, oversized classes, no resources, unreasonable parents, special needs children etc etc. They take money out of their own pockets to pay for books, classroom resources, lunch, milk, parties, decorations and on and on. They make the BEST out of an IMPOSSIBLE situation. MR Lamrock, you should be ashamed for putting MORE PRESSURE on teachers, and WASTING even more money on testing that should be going to resources. You owe the teachers of NB an apology!
45Thumbs Up 2Thumbs Down
Anonymous Reader on 19/05/08, 12:21:43 PM ADT
___________________________

Parents protest FSL changes --

2008-05-19T11:19:00.000-03:00

Miramichi Leader OnLine Edition, by Daniel Martins
Published Monday May 19th, 2008

School District 16 superintendent Laurie Keoughan faced an angry crowd of parents at a meeting on May 13 at Croft Elementary School.

Keoughan was there to talk about upcoming changes to the French education curriculum, but many parents were more interested in restoring the early immersion program cut by the provincial government earlier this year.

"For 30 years we were on the right track," said Mindy Schenkels. "And today I am stunned that I will leave this gymnasium. I have a child, and I have no option for that child."

Schenkels' brother in law, John Schenkels, was more critical, saying the changes had been forced through by the provincial government and Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.

"There are a lot of parents here that feel they're not being heard by the minister, because he's refused to really acknowledge that this is an issue, even though people have spoken out," he said.
Under the new program, early french immersion will be eliminated, as will core french instruction prior to Grade 5.

That's when students will undergo intensive French which, for half of the year, will require them to receive 70 per cent of their instruction completely in French.

For the second half of the year, the French component will be rolled back to around 150 minutes per week, scheduled for one afternoon. This would be followed by compulsory post-intensive French in grades 6-12.

Keoughan said the district plans to implement the changes as early as September 2008 to avoid the upheaval of a longer-term adjustment period. According to Keoughan, several teachers will be trained in the program over the summer. He said the curriculum for Grade 5 intensive french, as well as post-intensive programs for grades 6-8 are already written, with curricula for the remaining grades on the way.

"We are, as a district, concerned that we get this right," he said. "They're your kids, and I know that's your concern as well."

But he stressed that whatever his personal feelings, he was just the messenger.

"The minute I walk into that office, I leave my personal opinions behind because I am directed to implement school curriculums in the school district. That's my job."

John Schenkels said the details coming from Keoughan were too vague for the parents' liking.

"It's May, and we're looking at starting this thing in September. The details should be there," he said. "We should know what should be coming in Grade 6. We should know what should be coming in Grade 12. That plan should be there. We need the details."

District 16 Second Language Coordinator Jacqueline Roy-Patterson told the parents research and experience with intensive French in other provinces, based on research from Memorial University in Newfoundland and sources in New Brunswick, had shown positive results, even with children considered to have difficulty in Grade 4 English.

"The intensive French program is good," she said. "It does produce results. The teacher training is good, the methodology is sound."

John Schenkels suggested the research was uncertain and incomplete.

"You have no way to tell me today that, at Grade 12, my child is going to be in the intermediate grade, because you haven't proven it anywhere," he said. "You haven't proven it in Newfoundland; you haven't proven it in New Brunswick; you haven't proven it in Quebec. It isn't proven."

Jennifer Amos was also skeptical of the program, saying mandatory intensive French in Grade 5 would be hard on some students.

"The fact remains that not every child has the capacity for a second language," she said.

Cynthia Wiley agreed, noting it would be even harder without core French in earlier grades.

"To me, it's kind of scary to throw your kids into a different language with no background at all," she said.

Keoughan acknowledged some children could struggle, but said the answer was not to exempt them from the program.

"I think we need to think outside the box to find new ways of including them," he said.

Lila Barry attacked the mandatory nature of the intensive program on the grounds that children with mental disorders could struggle with it, leading to frustration, anger-management issues and problems at home.

"Why is the department of education setting these high-risk children up for such a state?" she asked. "As a parent, none of those outcomes are acceptable."

Keoughan replied that the department would look at each child's individual needs.

"As the months roll on toward September, I'm sure those issues will be dealt with," he said.

At the end of the evening, many parents were still demanding that the changes be reversed. Bill Schenkels demanded to know what could be done on the parents' part to accomplish that, and said many teachers had been forced to stay silent on the issue.

"If we need to support the teachers and give them a voice, we will do that," he said.

"I'm very passionate that this is the wrong decision. It has been forced through and we're putting our children at risk."

Click here to link to article

Bloggers' comment: Reminder -- The description of intermediate proficiency from NB DOE includes:

"Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. Can handle routine work-related interactions that are limited in scope. In more complex and sophisticated work-related tasks, language usage generally disturbs the native speaker." ... "The individual's utterances are minimally cohesive. Linguistic structure is usually not very elaborate and not thoroughly controlled; errors are frequent. ..."

It appears that having 70% of our graduating class capable of minimally cohesive utterances is acceptable to the Minister. We wonder whether it is acceptable to New Brunswickers, especially when it comes at such a high personal cost to the hundreds of students who will no longer graduate as truly bilingual citizens.

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EFI in the news on Friday and Saturday

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The Morning After

So where are we now?

Decision: Grade 3 Immersion -- unfortunately no grandfathering of EFI for 2008 grade 1 kids

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An Open Letter to Anglophones

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This Week in Early French Immersion--Part Deux

EFI in NB papers (Happy Canada Day)

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CEC Handout for DoE Open House Information Session on FSL

This Week -- Department of Education Open Houses

Selection of Friday's and Saturday's Articles and Letters related to FSL training in NB

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Nice analogy

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Early immersion supporters call for one-year moratorium on reforms

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We will just list titles and links because there is so much news coverage today

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Coverage in NB press

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Small & Ryan v. New Brunswick (Minister of Education), 2008 NBQB 201

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Immersion changes not properly explained, parents say

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Tasting one's own medicine -- Letter in Times and Transript

Lettters June 7th

Interesting survey by the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce

Minister should give credit where it's due

Letters: Friday June 6th, 2008

Grits are frittering their lead away

Parental Choice in Education Act (Bill 79) to be debated in house today

Parents make case for judicial review of immersion decision

Letters June 5th: Lamrock shouldn't take credit for teachers' hard work

AEFNB calls for one year moratorium on Minister Lamrock's decision

Government can't hide behind consultants

Proof is in the e-mails: education critic

Letters | Family reconsiders moving to New Brunswick

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PARENTS WELCOME EFI JUDICIAL REVIEW HEARING

That's the rub -- data

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Education minister must stop misleading the public

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Interesting comments from Canada's Official Languages Commissioner