Protesting = Progress?

Maybe.  So last Thursday, hubby took a vacation day and we took the kids to Fredericton to the legislature.  We were there to protest the new education plan for New Brunswick.  Our Minister of Education has decided to eliminated the early immersion program (in the only bilingual province) and implement a new intensive french program in place of core french.  On the drive home we were discussing the day, wondering if our protest, this was our second, had made a difference.  We decided that it would be an injustice to our kids if we just sat back and did nothing.  What would that say to them?  So even if the protest didn't accomplish anything politiaclaly, it would show the kids that we care about them. 

Today, the Telegraph Journal published this article.    http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/256396#

Grit turning against Grit in language battle

MEGAN O'TOOLE
TELEGRAPH JOURNAL

Published Wednesday April 2nd, 2008

Appeared on page A1

The Tantramar Liberal riding association in Sackville is joining a growing chorus calling for the province to re-examine its decision to axe early French immersion.

The association has passed a motion condemning the province's move and asking Premier Shawn Graham and Education Minister Kelly Lamrock to reconsider.

The organization will be meeting with Lamrock to discuss the matter, possibly as early as next week, confirmed president Janet Fotheringham.

She was tight-lipped about what specific concerns would be brought to the table, but said the meeting would provide a good platform for discussion.

"In Tantramar we're very strongly in favour of French immersion," Fotheringham said Tuesday. "We certainly don't like to see it go. If there's a way out of (this decision), then we'd like to find it."

The Tantramar association is not alone in its lack of support for the Liberal government's changes to the French second language system.

Last week, Bob Bernier of Millbrook, near Sussex, resigned as president of the Kings East Liberal Association, saying the decision on early immersion drastically changed his view of the provincial government.

"I no longer want to be affiliated with a party which will go down in history as the party responsible for the demise of French immersion in the province," Bernier wrote in a statement explaining his decision.

Conrad Pitre, president of the Nigadoo-Chaleur riding association in Beresford, also blasted the move to kill early immersion, calling it unfair.

"We're certainly not satisfied with the decision that was made," Pitre said. "We support total French immersion."

Members of his riding association have broached these concerns with their local MLA, he added.

Since it was announced in the legislature last month, the elimination of early immersion has spurred protests across the province, and complaints have been pouring in to the Ombudsman's office.

Lamrock has refused to back down on the controversial decision, maintaining the current system has been failing students and bogging down literacy rates.

Starting in September, all early French immersion programs in the province will be scrapped. Students will begin an intensive French program in Grade 5, with an option the following year to enter late immersion or post intensive French.

Those currently enrolled in early immersion and core French in Grades 1 through 4, however, will be able to continue in those programs under a grandfather clause.