<br>L O W L A N D S - L - 09 February 2007 - Volume 03<br><br>=========================================================================<br><br>From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
sassisch@yahoo.com</a>
<br>Subject: Resources<br><br>From the latest issue of the Eurolang journal"<br><br>Regards,<br>Reinhard/Ron<br><br>***<br><br>(1)<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">
North Frisians protest against plan to dissolve their 'sprachenland'</span><br><br><font size="1">
Husum, Monday, 05 February 2007</font><span class="small"><font size="1"> by Onno P. Falkena</font><br><br></span><div>A group of North Frisians from all political parties have started
a movement with the aim to prevent the forced redivision of counties in
the northernmost German land of Schleswig-Holstein. </div><br>
<div>Inspired by their neighbours, the Low-Saxon speakers of
Dithmarschen, the North Frisians recently launched an on-line petition
in order to prevent the plan of the government in Kiel to reduce the
number of counties (Kreisgebietsreform). According to the government
proposal the number of Kreises (counties) could be reduced from 11 to 4
or 5 in the year 2010. North Friesland on the westcoast of
Schleswig-Holstein would then merge with at least one of the counties
on the eastcoast. There is no proposal yet for the exact borders of the
new counties. The government is expected to publish a first draft
proposal next month. The final decision should be made in 2009.</div><br><div>According
to the North Frisians the plan would further weaken the small North
Frisian language and culture. In North Friesland 10,000 people out of
the total population of 150,000 speak one of the eight varieties of
North Frisian. </div><br><div>As well as Frisian and German,
Low-Saxon (Plattdeutsch), Danish and Southjutlandic or Soderjysk are
also spoken in the multilingual border region. Tourism is important in
North Friesland and in the past the area has been promoted as
'Sprachenland-Northfriesland' (Language land-North Friesland).</div><br><div>President
Jörgen Jensen Hahn of the Friisk Foriining last week asked all North
Frisians to support the internet campaign to help save North
Friesland. North Friesland is already one of the largest counties of
the republic. The existing borders fit very well with the historic
identity of its population. It is obvious that the preservation of
North Frisian unity would serve the interests of the North Frisians
best.'' </div><br><div>On a legal point, the eventual merging of North
Friesland with neighbouring counties may contravene the Charter for
Regional and Minority Languages of the Council of Europe, Article
7.1.b., where the geographical area of the language must be respected.
The Charter has been signed and ratified by the German Republic. </div><br><div>According
to the North Frisian proposal the counties may be dissolved only if the
population accepts. If the North Frisians succeed in collecting enough
signatures the Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein (Landtag) is obliged to
discuss the proposal not to change the borders of North Friesland
against the wishes of the population. </div><br><div>If the Landtag in
Kiel does not accept the proposal of the North Frisians and their
neigbours from Dithmarschen, they intend to continue to collect
signatures in order to force the government to organise a referendum on
the issue. For this 100, 000 signatures are needed. (Eurolang 2007)</div><br><div>Websites:<br><a href="http://www.wir-sind-nordfriesland.de/">www.wir-sind-nordfriesland.de</a> The on-line petition of the Northfrisians (German).
<br><a href="http://www.wir-sind-dithmarschen.de/">www.wir-sind-dithmarschen.de</a> The on-line petition of Dithmarschen (German).<br><a href="http://www.friiske.de/">www.friiske.de</a> website of the Friisk Foriining (Frisian, Danish, English, German).
</div><br>***<br><br>(2)<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">
Welsh language education boom leads to school overcrowding</span><br><br>
Penygroes, Cymru, Monday, 05 February 2007<span class="small"> by Huw Jones <br><br></span>The London weekly education newspaper "TES" has reported that
there are not enough schools for those parents who wish their children
to be educated in Welsh. <br><br><div>Like many other parts of
Europe where state schools once punished children for speaking a
minority language in the past, Wales has seen a boom over the past 30
years in Welsh language education.</div><br><div>But the pressure group
Parents for Welsh Education (RHAG) has been quick to blame a recent
slowdown in growth on a lack of Welsh medium schools. </div><br><div>Overcrowding
is seen as a particular problem at Welsh-language schools in the
capital Caerdydd (Cardiff), whilst the overall numbers of pupils is in
decline leading to empty places in English language schools. </div><br><div>Meanwhile
in Casnewydd (Newport), another predominantly English speaking town in
the industrial heartland of south east Wales, the pressure group's
views are backed by a survey which shows 31 percent of parents would
probably send their children to a Welsh-medium school if there<br>was one less than 3km from their home.</div><br><div>National
statistics show there were 52,867 pupils in 458 Welsh-medium primaries
in 2006. The proportion of primary pupils taught in classes where Welsh
is predominant has increased from 19.6 per cent in 2005 to 20.1 per
cent in 2006. At secondary level there has been a rise from 14.8 per
cent to 15.2 per cent. </div><br><div>The Welsh National Assembly government wants 26 per cent of the population to be Welsh-speaking by 2011. (Eurolang 2007)</div><br><div>TES Magazine (English) <br><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/2332754">
http://www.tes.co.uk/2332754</a></div><br><div>Parents for Welsh Education (RHAG) Multilingual website:<br><a href="http://www.rhag.net/">www.rhag.net/</a> </div><br><div><br><strong>Twf Addysg Gymraeg yn achosi ysgolion gor-lawn
</strong></div><br><div>Mae
papur Llundain y TES wedi cyhoeddi bod 'na ddim digon lefydd ysgol ar
gyfer rhieni sydd am eu plant cael addysg trwy'r Gymraeg. </div><br><div>Fel
llawer o ardaloedd eraill Ewrop ble cosbwyd blant am siarad iaith
leiafrifol yn y gorffennol, bu dwf sylweddol yn addysg trwy'r Gymraeg
yn ystod y 30 mlynedd diwethaf.</div><br><div>Ond mae mudiad Rhieni Dros Addysg Cymraeg (RHAG) wedi bod yn gyflym i feio arafiad diweddar yn y twf ar ddiffyg ysgolion.</div><br><div>Mae
gor-lenwi'n broblem fawr yn ysgolion Cymraeg Caerdydd tra fod niferoedd
ar eu lawr yn gyffredinol gan arwain at lefydd gwag yn yr ysgolion
Saesneg eu hiaith. Tra yng Nghasnewydd mae safbwynt RHAG yn cael ei
chefnogi gan arolwg sy'n dangos bod 31% o rhieni yn debygol o ddewis
ysgol Gymraeg i'w plant petai 'na Ysgol Cymraeg o fewn 2 filltir i'w
cartref.</div><br><div>Mae'r ystagegau cenedlaethol yn dangos bod
52,867 o ddisgyblion mewn 458 o Ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg yn 2006. Mae
canran o blant cynradd mewn dosbarthiadau ble mae'r Gymraeg yn brif
gyfrwng wedi cynyddu o 19.8% yn 2005 i 20.1 ym 2006. Mae lefel uwchradd
wedi gweld cynydd o14.8% i 15.2%. </div><br><div>Mae Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru am weld 26% o blant yn siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2011. (Eurolang 2007)</div><br><div><br>TES Magazine (Saesneg) <br><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/2332754">
http://www.tes.co.uk/2332754</a></div><br><div>Rhieni Dros Addysg Cymraeg: <a href="http://www.rhag.net/">www.rhag.net/</a> </div><br>