New Brunswick: Graham stands by French language education plans

[Harold Schiffman]

Graham stands by French language education plans
 Issue likely destined to play major role in next election, says political
scientist
 Last Updated: Friday, April 4, 2008 | 3:53 PM

 After weeks of criticism from the Opposition, New Brunswick Premier Shawn
Graham has stated his position on his government's decision to eliminate
early French immersion in the province. "This decision is right and I stand
by it and our government stands by it today," Graham told the legislature on
Friday. Beginning in September, students in New Brunswick's English schools
will not receive French language education until Grade 5, at which point
they will go through a mandatory intensive five-month program. In Grade 6,
the students will then have the option of continuing with an immersion
program or taking French as a separate subject that would be mandatory until
high school graduation. Graham had been criticized for not stating his
opinion on the plan, which was announced by Education Minister Kelly Lamrock
in March.

 Lamrock brushed off the questions in the legislature directed at Graham
earlier this week. "Once again we see an Opposition that's focused on the
premier. We're focused on the kids," Lamrock told the house. After the
ongoing criticisms, Graham on Friday stood in support of the new language
policy. "While I respect and applaud the passion parents are expressing for
their children's education, our government, our minister and I, as premier,
did not and will not make decisions about education based on pressure from
some while the needs of so many are overwhelming," Graham said.

 It's unacceptable that under the current system, only 20 per cent of
students are bilingual when they graduate high school, said the premier. The
changes will give all students eight years of effective instruction in the
second language, he said. But Geoff Martin, a political science professor at
Mount Allison University, said the decision to cut early immersion may turn
into a mistake for the Liberal government. "The opposition the government's
facing … they're well educated and they have a strong sense of efficacy,"
Martin said. "They believe they should be able to have an effect on
government or they're accustomed to having an effect on government. They're
not accustomed to being ignored." The many critics of the changes to the
English education system aren't likely to stand down, Martin said. If the
Graham government does continue to move forward with its plan to cut early
immersion, it could easily become a major issue in the next election, he
said.


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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/04/04/graham-immersion.html
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