GraceK - long

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Home : 2008 : March : 9

GraceK - long - sorry
By Ontteacher

In Ontario, the provincial government fully funds all four school Boards that I mentioned earlier - English Public, English Catholic, French Public and French Catholic. To attend one of the Catholic schools, originally you
had to be Catholic or at least one of parents had to be. However, in recent years, at least in my region, anyone can attend, provided that they participate in all aspects of the school (i.e., they cannot opt out of any of the religious classes, prayers, celebrations, etc). To apply to teach at one of these schools you need a letter from your parish priest (so basically you must be

Catholic).

To attend one of the French school boards, again originally, you had to have French language rights (i.e., at least one of your parents had to have French as their first language). Now however, anyone can attend, even with no French background. This would be difficult for chidren with parents who speak no French as EVERYTHING is in French, and English is not taught until grade 4.

Needless to say this causes a lot of debate. I know of cases where a French Catholic high school and a French Public High School joined forces and agreed to work together because neither of them had enough students to support their own school. They were housed in an English Public high school building, - so essentially there were students from 3 boards in one building. Now the French Catholic Board has decided that this isn't working for them and are building a brand new school - even though enrollment is less than what is was when the 2 boards go together. At most there will be 100 students from grades 9 to 12. French Catholic students need to have their own buses, whereas previously busing was shared by all boards to reduce cost. The thinking here is that the English students are "contaminating" (for lack of a better word) the French students' language - French students are more likely to speak English when English students are around. They speak Enlish all the time anyway!!! This has created a lot of hard feelings and I feel is taking serious steps backwards.