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59 comment(s)

Tolerance in debate needed

To the Editor:

I would like to thank S. Cyr for proving my point about expressing opinions supporting English language education in N.B. Your letter published March 17 described my point of view as 'absurd', 'ridiculous' and 'sickening'-- such contempt in reaction to my assertion that French students do not have to learn English in school? No wonder so many English speaking New Brunswickers are terrified to speak out about their own concerns. It is disappointing to see such a lack of tolerance and understanding.

I have many French-speaking friends who worry that their children do -- contrary to your assertion that they do not -- learn English from television, music, and all the other media that inundates their world on a daily basis. They would like them to learn how to read and write correct English, but -- I reiterate from my earlier letter -- English is not permitted in many French schools in this province. As of last Friday, all English children will learn to speak French in N.B. schools, and this language training will be inclusive. My question remains -- why are French children not provided with English Immersion or Intensive English -- mandated to all French children starting in Grade 5?

This week is French Language Week in our schools -- is there an English Language Week in the French system? (There is not). The French version of our national anthem was played today at our school -- as it frequently is -- but I have my doubts that even one French school listened to the English version.

I would like to see every child in this province taught two languages -- that would be wonderful, but it should be equal in all senses, with all schools provided with the same resources and with second language training given the same priority in each system. We now have a French school system and a bilingual school system . . . there is no longer an English school system in N.B.

I am concerned about English literacy and will continue to be worried, but I also worry that honest, open dialogue about equal opportunity is being discouraged. Nothing impedes progress more than intolerance, and that, S. Cyr, is a two-way street.

Nancy Pipes,

Riverview

(via e-mail)

Lamrock showed true courage

To The Editor:

I want to thank Kelly Lamrock and his fellow members for having the courage and integrity to do what you have done for our children and the education system in N.B.

Early French Immersion has not been working for a long time. Until now no one had the fortitude to fix it. Thank you!

French is just a language, one that is needed to apply for a job in N.B but just a language. It is not a requirement to get into our top universities. This requires good sound academic requirements in the English language. Our children lacked in this regard. Now maybe we can get on with educating our students for the world. Our world has become so much smaller now with the advancement of travel and communication that we have to see beyond our borders and train our children to be prepared not just for New Brunswick but for the rest of their lives in the world market.

I know it is wonderful to know many languages and our children should be given every opportunity to do so BUT at what cost? As I have said before, we are a small population here in N.B. with small tax base. We as New Brunswickers should think as a family and live within our means. We can not afford the same systems as some other provinces.

That does not mean we are second class citizens but we should be good citizens and spend the dollars we have to get the most for our education dollars and I feel thankful that your government has seen fit to charge ahead and do something POSITIVE that will be welcomed for the new generation that is being educated in our systems now.

Thank you again.

Margaret Mayes,

Ammon

(via e-mail)

Decision a N.B. embarrassment

To The Editor:

I must congratulate Kelly Lamrock for bringing that neo-con tenet: "If I don't use it, you don't need it" to provincial Liberal political thought. This deliniation will assist me in furthering my distance from the provincial party in future.

It is embarrassing to hear Premier Graham proudly touting "Canada's only bilingual province" in execrable French, while simultaneously gutting its most effective early French immersion programs as if they were so much fish offal.

There's a kind of stench to this whole thing, no doubt the partially-cooked statistics from a biased study purpose-built to destroy Early French Immersion programs in New Brunswick. None of the occurring changes make any sense if a higher degree of bilingualism is sought in New Brunswick.

Only if one looks at the political advantages does such a meaningless and ill-thought out plan begin to make sense. Poor New Brunswick. Poor Dick Hatfield and Louis Robichaud, their achievements trashed by political bunglers. Welcome to the Endarkenment.

Graham Watt,

Sackville

(via e-mail)

Silent majority cheers decision

To The Editor:

Congratulations to Kelly Lamrock, Jim Croll, Patricia Lee, Wayne MacKay, and Nancy Pipes for fostering changes in the N.B. educational system that will improve learning for ALL students.

The findings and recommendations of the Croll-Lee Commission are very similar to those of the

District 2 Board of School Trustees in the not too distant past.

I would urge Kelly Lamrock to stay the course. Vocal and emotional special interest groups tend to have purposes not in the best interests of the total population. Listen to the silent majority!

We must remember too, that, as emotions rise in protest, the level of reason is diminished.

Tom Trafford,

Murray Corner

Will never vote Liberal again

To The Editor:

I would like to say that Alison Menard's letter on March 18 took the words right out of my mouth, I could not have said it any better! I too have been a life-long supporter of the Liberal government and have always, always voted Liberal.

BUT, I guarantee you I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, vote Liberal again and I will also campaign tirelessly to convince others not to as well.

I have two children in the Early Immersion program and they are doing great. I have a third child who will be robbed of this gift (Early Immersion). I read that the courses will be replaced with arts and crafts and some other nonsense.

I guess it is far better that our children learn how to make a "pottery dish" than to learn a second language. Just wondering if a similar study was done on Late Immersion and if so what were those results since we have been forced to go this route?

We are supposed to be the ONLY bilingual province of this country and this is something we should be proud of and not trying to eliminate!

Charlene Bourgeois,

Shediac

(via e-mail)