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Huron Expositor, 2015-03-18, Page 88 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March 18, 2015 Local residents demand French immersion in Huron County public schools Tara Ostner Huron Expositor There are currently 31 English public school boards in Ontario and almost all of them ensure that French immersion is available in all parts of their respective dis- tricts and to as many stu- dents as possible. According to the organiza- tion, Huron County Parents for French Immersion (HCPFFI), the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) is one Ontario school board that does not ensure this. As HCPFFI lead organiz- ers, Dana Morgenroth and Loni Vanderburgh, explain, currently the AMDSB offers French immersion in only three of its 41 schools. Fur- thermore, these three schools are all located in one small section of the school board's widespread district, namely, Stratford. According to them, this is unreasonable and, ulti- mately, unjustifiable. Above all, HCPFFI wants French immersion in Huron County public schools. As the organization asks, "why, in such a wide-ranging board with a total of 41 schools, is French immer- sion only offered at three schools that are a few streets away from each other? What about all of those students in Huron County who live a distance from Stratford? The fact that parents for so many years have had to drive a 2 hour round trip to Stratford is unacceptable." HCPFFI is also careful to point out how the AMDSB differs so much from other nearby, rural public school boards. For example, the Bluewa- ter District School Board (BWDSB) offers the French immersion program in 13 of its 53 schools and, like most Ontario school boards, offers it in diverse areas all across its district. "Why does the BWDSB offer French immersion to 13 of its schools all over its district and yet the AMDSB offers it to only three schools in a small section?" Morgen- roth asks. HCPFFI also points out how the Avon Maitland School Board differs from the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB). A lack of a French immer- sion program, for instance, is no problem for Huron County residents who wish to receive a Catholic educa- tion. For example, the HPCDSB offers French immersion in five of its 18 schools and, similar to the BWDSB and most other school boards, offers it in dif- ferent areas of its district including Clinton, Goderich and Stratford. Surely if the Catholic board can offer the French immersion program to Huron County students then the public board can as well, HCPFFI states. When asked about the fact that there is no French WEST COAST KITCHENS Linda Reaume Designer And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities • Entertainment Units • Home Offices PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATIONS CUSTOM DESIGNS & COUNTERTOPS Visit Our Showroom 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352 www.westcoastkitchens.net Email: westcoastkit@hurontel.on.ca immersion in Huron County, Ted Doherty, the director of education, stated that, "Our board is very proud of the work that we are doing to sup- port French Language learning which is available to all students. We have an outstanding group of French teachers who meet regularly to enhance the program and provide won- derful opportunities for all our students." HCPFFI agree that French language learning is availa- ble to all students within the AMDSB. What the organization refutes, however, is that the same French language learning is available to all students within the AMDSB. Indeed, Huron County students have access to core French and extended French. However, Perth County students have access to core French, extended French and French immer- sion. Therefore, the same French language learning is in fact not available to all students within the AMDSB, the organization states. Doherty also describes how the AMDSB is "extremely focused" on its strategic plan. "When we examine possible changes to the program," he states, "we must ensure that they are consistent with our two pri- orities which are to maxi- mize students outcomes and to create positive, inclusive learning environments." However, according to HCPFFI, the AMDSB has in fact not created an inclusive Tara Ostner, Huron Expositor Pictured here are Huron County Parents for French Immersion representative, Dana Morgenroth, parent of two children, Liesa Switzer, Huron County Parents for French Immersion representative, Loni Vanderburgh, and parent of two children, Jordan Hussey. All four individuals are concerned by the fact that there is no French immersion in Huron County public schools and have joined the fight to bring the program to our region. learning environment. Instead, it has created an exclusive one, the group says. As Vanderburgh states, "over the past number of months we have collabo- rated with families and com- munity members rallying together to address the issue of inequity that currently exists. We should not have to send our children to Perth County or a different school board, such as, Bluewater District School Board to attain a French Immersion education. This does not constitute equity in the edu- cation system. Our children are a part of this community so lets keep them here and not push them out:' Despite AMDSB's current stance on the issue, however, HCPFFI is gaining in popularity and parents and community members have been contacting the organi- zation expressing their inter- est in bringing French immersion to Huron County. As of this month, the organi- zation has 130 members, a number which continues to grow everyday. "As a parent I obviously want to provide every oppor- tunity for my child and French immersion is one that I strongly believe we should have access to. I want to give him every advantage for later in life," Morgenroth says. "It is truly hard to believe that we don't have any options in Huron County," she states. As another concerned parent, Jordan Hussey, explains, "I think the MARCH BOWLING' March 13 - 22 • Open EVERY DAY at 10 am Visit our NEW, EXCITING website uww.littlebowl.ca Daily March Break Specials! 579 -524 -BOWL (2695) 11 ' STRETCH VOUR DOLLARS WITH! THE CLASSIFIEDS benefits of immersion in a second language are not exclusive to French alone but can improve a child's overall skills in other sub- jects as well. Having true proficiency in another lan- guage can open doors in education, business and travel which in my opinion can be valuable in a glo- balized world, let alone an officially bi-lingual nation like Canada." Currently, people may express their interest in bringing French immersion to Huron County public schools in four different ways: - sign the online petition at www.ipetitions.com/peti- tion/HuronFrench - complete a "French Immersion in Huron County" form which HCPFFI will send directly to the Avon Maitland District School Board - email HCPFFI at huron- french@gmail.com - join HCPFFI's Facebook page, Huron County Parents for French Immersion People who wish to voice their concerns may also choose to contact the Avon Maitland District School Board at 1-800-592-5437. The HCPFFI aims to have French immersion in Huron County public schools by September 2016.