French immersion in English schools as good as studying in a French school? I think not!

An Ottawa area English language school board is offended and the Ontario Education Minister seems irritated by a local French board advertising that to get a REAL chance at getting a quality education in French is to go to a REAL French school.

What's there to be offended about? It's true - I've lived it!

I spent my first ten years of schooling in French Catholic schools before switching gears and finishing my last four years of high school in an Ottawa Board of Education public high school. By the time I graduated in 1994 and having had the opportunity to observe the abilities of those who studied all their lives in an "immersion" environment, there's simply no comparison. Sure, there were a few (less than 20%, perhaps?) who were likely on par with their French school board cohorts, but it seemed to me that they also lived in households where French was one of the languages spoken on a regular basis.

Back a number of years ago as I discussed children with my then-fiancee, I strongly suggested that our future kids would go to French schools to make sure they were truly functionally bilingual at the end of their schooling - she agreed.

In an era of political correctness and a time where kids are taught that "there are no winners and losers", it's impossible to fail a class or be held back a year, I am not surprised that the English boards would get their noses out of joint... but sometimes it's entirely appropriate to call a spade a spade. As such, any ads marketing the merits of schooling in French schools, claiming that they're clearly superior to English schools with 'core French' or 'immersion' programs should be acceptable and not subject to abusive complaints from competitors or education ministers.

Perhaps things have changed in the last sixteen years... I doubt it... and the best way to defend libel or slander suits is the truth - and in this case, the truth is in the end product. Try to interview English speaking individuals who studied in English schools and others who studied in French schools - in both languages, switching back and forth. You'll see that the French board "claims" are very accurate.

I'm the last person to stand up screaming from the language rights soap box... but if the Ontario Education Minister forces the local board to change its advertising strategy, it will simply be covering up something that cannot be disputed. Let each board toot its horn about what it does best and forget about what the other one says... as long as everyone is being TRUTHFUL. Let those who matter most make their own decisions: the parents.