STOP the proposed changes to Kindergarten & EFI at OCDSB
213 Comments
L
Lisa Paterick
10 years ago
I am very opposed to 50/50 French/English in JK. JK should have an option of 100% English. Many children in JK are learning English as a second language, or have limited language skills and will be extremely disadvantaged in this program. How could you possibly evaluate their language skills, or identify a language (or other) disability in a 50/50 program?
H
Holly Stardom
10 years ago
I have seen the positive impact of FULL EFI on my son's French skills. He is now in Grade 3 and already able to read and converse in French. I want my two younger sons to have the same opportunity for exponential language growth. This young age is THE time to reach them. Please vote NO and put our kids first rather than budget and staffing considerations.
L
Lindsey Barr
10 years ago
I signed this petition because our students in French Immersion are already receiving fewer hours of French language instruction than students in Toronto, Halifax, Regina, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Calgary. This is an officially bilingual country with an officially bilingual public service. What a disservice to Ottawa students to not receive the language training they will need to compete for nearly any position in the National Capital Region. It is shameful. Please sign the petition so that the trustees understand that you oppose these changes.
C
Colin Harris
10 years ago
Featured
Given the one-sided information, no other options discussed, public consultations not being accessible (i.e. on weekend, providing child-care, etc.), very short timelines, I can only say no to these changes.
D
Dan Clavel
10 years ago
The proposed changes are supported by non-existent research and hearsay. Approving them will result in less bilingual students and overall poorer academic performance.
J
Janice Chamberlain
10 years ago
This OCDSB proposal is driven by funding and staffing issues not by the desire to improve student learning.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
This will not help our children learn French. It defeats the purpose of immersion.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
My daughter is enrolled in french immersion at Mutchmor, and I intend to enroll my younger daughter when she is school age. Je suis bilingue, et je crois fortement que le changement proposer n'est pas un bonne idee. Les enfants parlent deja beaucoup en anglais, donc pourquoi en ajouter plus a leur programme d'immersion?
N
Nora Kennedy
10 years ago
My older children feel strongly that there will be a gap in knowledge if you take away math in French in the early years. How will they teach science and geography in French to middle and high school students who don't know numeracy and math vocabulary in French? Our immersion students need more French, not less! A solid, comprehensive start to a new language at an early age has been proven the best way for the average child to be immersed in that new language.
L
Lesley Kiely
10 years ago
Please keep the 'immersion' in French immersion.
N
Nancy Wise
10 years ago
To see my LinkedIn post on this important issue, Google: French Immersion at a Crossroads (or simply follow me on Twitter).
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Our children need more French not LESS!!
S
Scott Chamberlain
10 years ago
Father of four boys at ALTA Vista PS in Early French Emmersion stream. Very disappointed in the OCDSB lack of transparency on the evidence used to justify this poor recommendation.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
This would adversely affect the students opportunity to spend time developing their mastery of French.
M
Marthita Pennefather
10 years ago
The ocdsb has established an amazing EFI program with a strong reputation and proven track record. It has allowed thousands of students to acquire a solid foundation in French. As an EFI primary teacher, I have seen a difference in the French proficiency of our students when compared to students from other boards who offer less French instruction. Why water down a program that is working for our students, their families and our communities? Research has proven that young children also need a strong foundation in their first language and introducing a second /third language at this age would add to the confusion. Please vote no to the proposed changes and preserve our French Immersion program as it is.
M
Michel Paquin
10 years ago
That's the end of FI as we know it ...
A
Ashley saikaley
10 years ago
No
K
kyle ahluwalia
10 years ago
Étant un (ancien) étudiant des programmes immersions, je pense que c'est important de garder le français dans les salles.
D
Dawn Decarie
10 years ago
Please reconsider. There are already way too many teachers in and out of out SK classrooms, it's exhausting and confusing for the children, they never get the chance to build true relationships with their teachers. Also, where on earth are you going to find that many French ECEs? Finally, there should be no English in 1-3 if we really want a chance at bilingualism.
J
Jocelyne Chevalier, Ottawa Canada
10 years ago
The French Immersion Program is working well to support the development of bilingual students. Why change things that work well?Students need the greatest amount of exposure to acquire a new language, not less exposure.
I am very opposed to 50/50 French/English in JK. JK should have an option of 100% English. Many children in JK are learning English as a second language, or have limited language skills and will be extremely disadvantaged in this program. How could you possibly evaluate their language skills, or identify a language (or other) disability in a 50/50 program?
I have seen the positive impact of FULL EFI on my son's French skills. He is now in Grade 3 and already able to read and converse in French. I want my two younger sons to have the same opportunity for exponential language growth. This young age is THE time to reach them. Please vote NO and put our kids first rather than budget and staffing considerations.
I signed this petition because our students in French Immersion are already receiving fewer hours of French language instruction than students in Toronto, Halifax, Regina, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Calgary. This is an officially bilingual country with an officially bilingual public service. What a disservice to Ottawa students to not receive the language training they will need to compete for nearly any position in the National Capital Region. It is shameful. Please sign the petition so that the trustees understand that you oppose these changes.
Given the one-sided information, no other options discussed, public consultations not being accessible (i.e. on weekend, providing child-care, etc.), very short timelines, I can only say no to these changes.
The proposed changes are supported by non-existent research and hearsay. Approving them will result in less bilingual students and overall poorer academic performance.
This OCDSB proposal is driven by funding and staffing issues not by the desire to improve student learning.
This will not help our children learn French. It defeats the purpose of immersion.
My daughter is enrolled in french immersion at Mutchmor, and I intend to enroll my younger daughter when she is school age. Je suis bilingue, et je crois fortement que le changement proposer n'est pas un bonne idee. Les enfants parlent deja beaucoup en anglais, donc pourquoi en ajouter plus a leur programme d'immersion?
My older children feel strongly that there will be a gap in knowledge if you take away math in French in the early years. How will they teach science and geography in French to middle and high school students who don't know numeracy and math vocabulary in French? Our immersion students need more French, not less! A solid, comprehensive start to a new language at an early age has been proven the best way for the average child to be immersed in that new language.
Please keep the 'immersion' in French immersion.
To see my LinkedIn post on this important issue, Google: French Immersion at a Crossroads (or simply follow me on Twitter).
Our children need more French not LESS!!
Father of four boys at ALTA Vista PS in Early French Emmersion stream. Very disappointed in the OCDSB lack of transparency on the evidence used to justify this poor recommendation.
This would adversely affect the students opportunity to spend time developing their mastery of French.
The ocdsb has established an amazing EFI program with a strong reputation and proven track record. It has allowed thousands of students to acquire a solid foundation in French. As an EFI primary teacher, I have seen a difference in the French proficiency of our students when compared to students from other boards who offer less French instruction. Why water down a program that is working for our students, their families and our communities? Research has proven that young children also need a strong foundation in their first language and introducing a second /third language at this age would add to the confusion. Please vote no to the proposed changes and preserve our French Immersion program as it is.
That's the end of FI as we know it ...
No
Étant un (ancien) étudiant des programmes immersions, je pense que c'est important de garder le français dans les salles.
Please reconsider. There are already way too many teachers in and out of out SK classrooms, it's exhausting and confusing for the children, they never get the chance to build true relationships with their teachers. Also, where on earth are you going to find that many French ECEs? Finally, there should be no English in 1-3 if we really want a chance at bilingualism.
The French Immersion Program is working well to support the development of bilingual students. Why change things that work well?Students need the greatest amount of exposure to acquire a new language, not less exposure.