This week, we chose to publish a testimonial by the Meunier family from Timmins. The Meunier family is an exogamous family, which is a two-parent family with children, in which only one of the spouses is Francophone.

In the Meunier family, Lori (the mother) is English-speaking, and Jay (the father) is Francophone. Jay attended French-language schools, which made it possible for Lori and Jay’s son, Owen, to attend a French school. Owen, who is currently in 5^th grade, has attended École catholique Anicet-Morin since Grade 1. Owen had unfortunately not been exposed to the French language before school. At home, English is predominantly spoken.

I have submitted a series of questions to the Meuniers on French-language education in Ontario. Here are their answers.

FLE

How did you choose a French-language school?

Jay

We chose a French-language school for our son Owen after many family discussions and after having registered Owen in a school with a francization program in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten (a program which helped Owen integrate the French education system). Lori had some concerns in relation to not being able to help Owen with his homework and not being able to understand or appreciate the school activities. Read more…

In the past few weeks, you have visited our Web site and read our blog. You have discovered that French-language education in Ontario has many advantages and considerable added value. You have gathered information and now you must make an informed decision.

Do you want to know who is entitled to French-language education in Ontario?

The short answer: all interested individuals.

That’s right! Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Education Act, very few people must eliminate the option of French-language schools when comes time to chose a school for their child.

Let me explain.
Read more…