In recent weeks there have been a number of reports saying that "Parents want local French Immersion." Of course they do.

A French Immersion Program includes very capable students, top quality teachers and often lower class numbers. The same French immersion program excludes students with any attention difficulties, students with behavioural problems, students with discipline issues and students with any other problems.

Obviously, parents with capable children who are frustrated with the regular school system and do not want to go the "Private School" route will go "French Immersion."

The French Immersion Program started in Ottawa and was a substitute for boarding and private schools. Opponents to the Program pointed out that a number of students entered in the program would become discouraged and have to leave the program. This fact happened as parents were unable to help their children and some of the children had little or no linguistic aptitude.

Many countries teach their young people languages. To my knowledge none of them have an "immersion program" to do this. For example, Norway requires that all students learn three languages with training to start at age six yet do not have an immersion program. Why not?

The Province of Quebec does not have an "English Immersion Program." Why not?

The Netherlands teaches many languages to their students yet no immersion program. Why not?

Having a second language is definitely an advantage and in Canada that means French. Ontario has a core French program and there are private resources available to augment public schooling. To set up more of these "elite programs" takes an above average amount of funds and resources from the education budget for these top-level students while reducing the resources for all other students.

In Ontario, the buildings and infrastructure are badly in need of refurbishing, with a "no fail policy" many students need extra help to receive any benefit from the system, and large classes means less time for each student.

Also, does it make sense to teach other subjects such as math or science to English speaking children in another language? Where do qualified teachers come from that would teach science, math and other subjects in French?

The bottom line is that an extension of the French Immersion Program benefits very few at the expense of many.

I urge school officials to resist the request and those parents who are being enticed to sign up to remember that many students do not do well in this situation and may have many education related problems as a result.

By the way, I am bilingual (English/French), my children are bilingual (more/less) and were raised in Ottawa but not in the French Immersion Program and they are teaching their children French as well.
Robert W. Anderson
Shelburne