Bilingualism: Address delivered before the Quebec Canadian Club: At Quebec, Tuesday, March 28th, 1916Belcourt, N. A. (Napoléon-Antoine)
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Bilingualism: Address delivered before the Quebec Canadian Club: At Quebec, Tuesday, March 28th, 1916
Belcourt, N. A. (Napoléon-Antoine)
Bilingualism; Education, Bilingual -- Ontario; Language policy -- Ontario; Speeches, addresses, etc.
Now, as a means of instruction, that is, as a medium of communication
between the teacher and the pupil, the use of that language in all
schools, in all classes, at all stages, and on every subject is limited
to where, in the opinion of the Chief Inspector of the Province, IT IS
NECESSARY. In other words, as a medium between the teacher and the
pupil, the French language cannot be used with French-speaking children
to impart to them any information on any subject whatsoever, unless the
Chief Inspector has previously decided that in the case of each
particular child the use of the French language is absolutely necessary
because the child does not understand enough English to receive
instruction in that language. I say without hesitation that if anyone of
you will read regulation No. 17 you will come to no other conclusion
than that.
And you can imagine how impracticable and impossible it would be for the
Chief Inspector, with all his other duties, to examine each individual
child in the hundreds of schools in the Province of Ontario to ascertain
if such child understands the English language well enough to receive
instruction in English.
Now, as a subject of study. As a subject of study there is a distinction
to be made between the schools which were in existence prior to the
enactment of the regulation, and the schools subsequently established.
That is, prior to the month of June, 1912, the use of the French
language as a subject of study was confined to begin with to the
elementary subjects of reading, composition and grammar. In the schools
then in existence, subject to the approval again of the Chief Inspector,
these subjects may be taught to the French Canadian children whose
parents demand that they shall be taught those subjects. The maximum
time fixed is one hour, but the Chief Inspector may increase that by
special order given by himself. But in all cases, let me repeat, these
subjects cannot be taught for one hour or one minute to any
French-speaking child in any class, in any school in Ontario, unless the
Chief Inspector has pronounced upon each individual case. I said a
moment ago that the time is limited to one hour, but he may make one
minute if chooses. With reference to the use of the French language,
whether as a means of instruction and communication, or as a subject of
study, the decision of the Chief Inspector is in every case final and
conclusive. There is no appeal.
I told you a moment ago that I would endeavor to give you concrete
evidence of what I say.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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