STOP the proposed changes to Kindergarten & EFI at OCDSB

As an EFI primary teacher for the past 10 years, I believe that the OCDSB's French Immersion program is giving its students the necessary foundation in French to become lifelong communicators in the French language. The more exposure they get at a young age the better.

I have been a French immersion teacher for the last 25 years and I strongly beleve in the French program as it is. It will be a mistake to cut this program that has proved it's value

What is most concerning is the fact that proper consultation was not done. Yes, meetings were held but it was obvious that they were not interested in really hearing concerns.

I believe that the proposed changes are intended to improve the OCDSBs competitive advantage in trying to get new students. It is directly in response to the Ottawa English Catholic board's French language programs and has nothing to do with the massive body of second language research which does not justify this change. This has everything to do with the OCDSB getting more money by convincing parents to send them their children. It is yet another example of why we should not be funding our education system such that it creates a competitive environment where schools and school boards are spending tax dollars on advertising and initiatives such as this instead of spending that money to affect student learning and student wellbeing. I say no to these irresponsible changes and not to multiple publicly funded school boards wasting our money on competition.

At least three reasons to vote "no": 1. These changes do NOT reflect the professional consensus of second-language learning/teaching research. 2. These changes are NOT in the best interest of our children and students. 3. These changes have NOT received anything close to adequate consultation.

I oppose compulsory French for Junior Kindergarten.

These changes are not in the best interest of the students proving once again that the school board is putting money ahead of student learning.

We cannot allow cost saving or staffing difficulties direct programming decisions. These changes do not reflect best practice or what the research tells us. Please stop.

All 4 of my children went through a full French immersion program and benefited immensely from it. Please do not change this highly valuable educational opportunity.

It's called immersion. Students should be immersed in French.

This is a step in the wrong direction!

Vote No

Strongly oppose! Let's not forget our French board teachers who constantly complain that their students don't speak enough French because they are surrounded by English. If bilingualism is our goal, let's immerse! Perhaps a full review of FSL programs before proposing drastic changes?

A truly immersion programs immerses children in as much French and as early as possible. Don't water down the immersion program anymore than it already is. If you don't want a truly immersion program don't enrol your child but ruin it for those of us who want this experience for or children.

Why change a perfectly good program? If anything...we should be adding more French to the program, NOT taking it away!!

Please maintain a true French 'immersion' program and not a partial French program. In the National Capital Region children should be able to access a full French immersion program.

All of my children successfully completed full immersion and are able to converse and even work in french. One has even moved to Europe where it is normal for people to be fluent in at least two languages. Do not americanize our french immersion program. Maintain a program that develops fluency in both languages.

Keep the immersion in French IMMERSION!

keep French immersion and implementation as is- do not change anything and certainly not into a partial program.

Cutting hours of French instruction is not the answer.