About bilingual education
It is necessary to recognize, from the historic and cultural point of view, that our country is primarily formed of two peoples and that these two peoples must have equal rights and an equal opportunity in the expansion and also the direction of their economy. But we must also recognize that it just so happens that the Canadian nation is a combination of these two peoples who founded and made our country grow. When the day comes when we will no longer be able to speak of Canadian unity in our country, Canada will have ceased to exist and then our two cultures will be in grave danger.
- Lester B. Pearson, 1963, as cited on Prime Ministers of Canada, Speeches: <http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/primeministers/h4-4030-e.html>6.3.2 g
Essential Questions
What does it mean to provide bilingual education in Ontario?
Who does bilingualism affect? What types of bilingual education does Ontario offer its students? |
Bilingualism unites people; dualism divides them. Bilingualism means you can speak to the other; duality means you live in one language and the rest of Canada will live in another language. |
These are all questions that we have examined in a desire to determine if schools should offer bilingual education in Ontario. In an effort to answer these questions we have researched the history and legal aspects of bilingual and second language instruction in Ontario (and Canada), the “pros and cons” of this type of instruction, the people who are involved in providing and promoting instruction, and the different ways in which the Ministry of Education in Ontario meets the needs of students who want to pursue second language studies. We have chosen to look at French as a second language instruction, and Native as a second language instruction. We have also taken a brief look at other types of second language instruction offered in select school boards in Ontario. Overall the availability of different programming depends on the needs and demands in different communities, and is not always available in all geographic areas.
We encourage you to look over all of the research we have provided and form your own opinion on this topic. We believe that we have provided an unbiased view on this issue, and feel that the information provided will answer the questions posed above.
We encourage you to look over all of the research we have provided and form your own opinion on this topic. We believe that we have provided an unbiased view on this issue, and feel that the information provided will answer the questions posed above.