From: steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter)
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: Access to English schools
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:45:58 GMT
Organization: Securiplex Technologies Inc., Montreal, Canada
X-Bytes: 4446

From article <Bu0DH7.4wI@ireq.hydro.qc.ca>, by beaurega@ireq.hydro.qc.ca (Denis Beauregard):
> In article <1992Sep2.215130.12179@spxtech.qc.ca> steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter) writes:
>>From article <BtywH3.8o@ireq.hydro.qc.ca>, by beaurega@ireq.hydro.qc.ca (Denis Beauregard):
>>>
>>> There is some trouble at the level of language.  Immigrant anglophones
>>> may feel discriminated in regards of natives anglophones, but since they
>>> choosed to come here, then they should not complain (i.e. they choosed
>>> their situation).
>>
>>NO! They did not! - They are not informed of the situation here before
>>they come!
>>
> 
> Why don't you tell us WHY they are not informed?
> 

A group of parents whose children are denied access to English schools
recently met with Quebec's Immigration Minister, Monique Gagnon-Tremblay.

We asked Mrs. Gagnon-Tremblay just exactly that question.

She did not have an answer but gave a vague assurance that steps would be
taken ...

The fact remains :-(


(and) We have right and reason to complain.

>>> I think what hurts most the anglophones are the fact that now a lot
>>> of them will have to learn French to keep social status.
>>
>>How does this hurt them?
> 
> Because changing from a privileged status to a non-privileged status.
> 

If I understand what Denis appears to be saying:

The social status of anglophones who learn French changes from privileged
to non-privileged.

Let's try it another way:

Anglophones who learn French are hurt because, by doing so, their social
status changes from privileged to non-privileged.

What a strange perspective.

Maybe I misunderstood.

>>
>>> .... school in French for immigrants
>>> results of a choice by the same immigrants.
>>
>>NO! It is not a choice!
> 
> Yes, it is a choice.  Your choice of Quebec among the complete
> earth as places to immigrate.
> 

Well, in that sense you are right.

I suppose the same logic might persuade anglo-phobic francophiles in
Canada that they might be happier in France?

> If some spanish thought all the south america is spanish speaking and
> immigrate to Brasil, will he have to blame the brasil for not
> allowing his child to go to spanish school?  No.  He shall blame
> himself for not being better informed, or he shall blame those who
> informed him.
> 

Are public Spanish schools available in Brazil?

Is Spanish an official language in Brazil?

I believed Quebec had a thriving English community before I came here.

I wouldn't have come if the Referendum had not indicated that the
people of Quebec had chosen to remain a part of Canada. (That was the
interpretation given on British TV at the time)

I believed Montreal was very cosmopolitain with the strongest cultures
being French and English.

I was inteviewed in English and all the correspondence I received was
in English or was in English and French.

I was not told that there was a "nationalist" movement in Quebec, bent on
the destruction of the English language in Quebec, with sufficient political
power to have the language banned on commercial signs, force the decline
of the English school system in the province, and generally make English
people unwelcome and unwanted, and attempt to kidnap (No, I'd better use
les inflammatory language: assimilate) their offspring.

> It is the responsability of an
> immigrant to learn something about where he is emigrating.  And if he
> is lied, he should blame those who lied, not things about which the
> other person lied.
> 

Attempting to place the blame is not very productive. 

The situation exists and must be dealt with.

Let me put it simply:-

There is an English community here with its own school system.

I am English.

I want to be accepted as English and have my children educated in their
own language schools.

I learned French (not perfectly) at school.

I want my children to learn French at school too.

I like Montreal. It is the most European city in North America and I
don't want to live anywhere else on the continent.

I DO NOT understand why people like Denis can not accomodate us.
People like us make up less than 1 percent of the Quebec population.



-- 
  ///==================================================================\\\
  ||| Steve Potter:         steven%spxtech@CAM.ORG                     |||
  ||| Expertise/Experience: Computer Systems Engineering / Real Ale /  |||
  |||                       Politics in Education in Quebec            |||