On the eve of school registration, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is courting families who have the right to send their children to school in English. His message: we teach in French, too.
Throughout January, the EMSB is conducting a promotional campaign to “celebrate bilingualism and the excellence of French” which is taught in its elementary and secondary schools.
Advertisements are notably broadcast on French-speaking radio channels. “Being bilingual is a winner! “, we hear there.
The period in which this campaign is being conducted was not chosen at random. In January, it’s school registration time, and the school board wants to attract parents who are hesitating between a French or an English school.
The most recent census showed that in Quebec, more than 230,000 children were entitled to instruction in English. However, “a good proportion [de ces élèves] is either in a private school or in a French-language school,” said the president of this school board, Joe Ortona.
These are the young people we want to recruit.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The President of the English Montreal School Board, Joe Ortona
Parents wonder where to enroll their children for kindergarten. We want to show that at English-Montreal, it’s quality French education.
Joe Ortona, President of the English Montreal School Board
It is also an opportunity for some French-speaking children to learn English. Thursday morning, in a class of 5e year at École Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau, about half of the students raised their hands when asked which ones spoke French at home.
Sandy Lima teaches the 5e year in French. She observes that her class is “a mixture of children who speak French or English at home. Sometimes it’s both.” She shares her task with a colleague who teaches in English: the children do half of the lessons in one language, half in the other.
The principal of the school, Tanya Alvares, explains that many parents choose her school in the Villeray district “because it is bilingual”.
Sheyma, 10, is a good example. She explains that she arrived from France a year ago. “That’s why I speak French. »
“In 4e year, I did not understand anything in class [en anglais]but I find it easier now, ”continues the girl.
Next to her is Vincent. “My mother was born in English, but now she knows how to speak French,” said the boy.
“Reversing Perception”
The school board has not set a recruitment target for next year, but the majority of its schools are far from filling up with students. At École Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau, for example, there are 337 students this year for 486 places.
The promotion campaign organized this month therefore has the mandate of “reversing the perception that in English schools, only English is taught”, explains Joe Ortona, who cites himself as an example.
“I didn’t speak a word of French when I started kindergarten. I was in a French immersion program and that allowed me to continue my studies: I went to university in French, I work in French,” explains the lawyer.
For children with one parent who is English-speaking, this is a golden opportunity, argues the EMSB spokesperson. It’s about saying: “Hey, you have an opportunity for your child to be bilingual!” », Illustrates Michael Cohen.
“It’s not the same with school service centres, it’s only in French. That’s the advantage, ”he continues.
Thursday morning, the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire and deputy for Gouin, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, was at Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau school to talk to young people aged 5e year. The discussion took place entirely in French.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire and deputy for Gouin, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, at Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau school on Thursday morning
In Quebec, the Charter of the French language provides that children must attend French-language school until the end of their secondary studies.
A child can attend school in English if their father or mother received most of their primary education in English in Canada. Newcomers with a temporary residence permit are also allowed to send their children to English schools.