SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Gambling with children’s lives

French immersion has become very popular these days, mostly because it allows parents to put their kids in schools with fewer students with learning problems, for example English-as-a-second language students. French immersion has become so popular that now the Peel school board is considering a lottery, since it can’t cater to all of the parents who want it. more The main problem seems to be a lack of French-speaking teachers.

Parents are up in arms, as well they might be, at having their children’s future subject to chance. 

Instituting a lottery is taking a blunt instrument to this problem IMHO. I can think of several creative solutions that the Peel board might explore. 

They might consider:

• Paying French-speaking teachers extra;
• Creating other élite programs, for example Chinese immersion or Montessori or intensive academic, to reduce the number of French immersion seekers;
• Working with the Alliance Française and/or Canadian Parents for French to find solutions;
• Using non big-box schools, for example church basements or retail space or public libraries, to house some of the programs; and 
• Improving the experience for all students by offering better service to students with learning problems.

I’m sure you can come up with additional ideas….