I +0 050689 CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH The British Columbia Chapter Issue No.9 May, 1980 B.C.BR.F. Presents Brief to Education Ministry a Despite heavy legislative obligations, Education Minister Brian Smith met with three representatives of the British Columbia Chapter of Canadian Parents for French for 40 minutes on March 10th, 1980. The Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister Jim Carter, and Director of French Language Services Dr. Nick Ardanaz discussed with the parents high- lights of 28 recommendations which had been made in a CPF brief on French immersion education. - ‘ The parents were assured of continued assistance to those school districts which choose to offer immersion programs. Dr. Ardanaz explained that long-range planning is underwey with curriculum development parallel- ing the Inglish program taking priority. Various information and resource books for teachers and administrators ere being developed. The CPF members expressed concern thet the stendards of French fluency for immersion teachers must remain very high so that the program will continue to produce functionally bilingual students who experience no losses in other arees of their education. They were told thet the Ministry is identifying teachers alreedy within the province who meet tne necessary qualifications and that requests from teachers wanting to move to B.O. are being received regularly. School districts wishing assistance in ident- ifying native-like speakers mey receive this through Dr. Ardanaz''s Richmond office. In answer to another concern, the Minister expressed optimism that a new federal-provincial 5-year agreement for financial assistence to French programs will be completed soon. Canadian Parents for French was congratulated on the work it is doing to assist parents who want for their children the best possible opportun- ities to learn French as a second language. Other items of discussion included the possibility of a special graduetion certificate for students who had attained a high degree of fluency in French end the need for secondary school counselors to be able to assist bilingual students in recognizing the job and educational opportunities which will be open to tnem. The brief had been in preparation since October at meetings of 13 representatives from various school districts. It was presented by Peggy Robertson of Richmcnad, B.C. President Judy Gibson of Port Coquitlan, and Gerrie Turner of Victoria. During the coming year, CPF will be conducting e study throughout the country to ascertain the attitudes and aspirztions of parents regard- ing French second language learning. The Ministry will be provided with the results from British Columbia in the spring of 1981.