Media CPF Letters Letter to the French Programs and Language Initiatives Branch of the BC Ministry of Education
| Letter to the French Programs and Language Initiatives Branch of the BC Ministry of Education |
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February 2, 2011 Elizabeth McAuley Dear Ms. McAuley, I have read the draft Additional Languages Curriculum document. I deeply regret that the language of the draft does not adequately recognize the special status French holds as one of Canada's official languages. Although I realize that there is a Ministry rationale for classifying French as an additional language, I do not believe that it should be paired in such a mechanical fashion with what are generally considered to be transitional languages (in the Canadian context) like Spanish or Mandarin. CPF believes that official language bilingualism is the natural gateway for most BC schoolchildren to other world languages. We are concerned that this draft curriculum will contribute to the erosion of French second language instruction in British Columbia schools, and we urge the Ministry to revise the Additional Languages Curriculum document to reaffirm the status of French as an official language of Canada. Sincerely, Robert Rothon |
