From: steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter)
Subject: Re: Americans on English schools in Quebec (Was: Quebec)
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1992 16:56:14 GMT
Organization: Securiplex Technologies Inc., Montreal, Canada
X-Bytes: 3275

From article <1992Nov3.140728.19845@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu>, by mousseau@paun01.pa.msu.edu (Normand Mousseau):
> 
> In article <1992Nov2.105342.20558@spxtech.qc.ca>, steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter) writes:
> 
> |> 
> |> From article <1992Nov1.195858.29242@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu>, by mousseau@paun01.pa.msu.edu (Normand Mousseau):
> |> >
> |> > .....
> |> >
> |> > 	Finally, there is not *arbitrary* denial of English language
> |> > instruction as I explain in another post on the same thread.  AN if you were
> |> > an Enlish seakig Quebbec resident (Canadian) you would not have to resist
> |> > the system since nothing prevent you to send your children to the school
> |> > of your choice.
> |> >
> |> 
> |> FALSE! (Again. don't blame him for not knowing the truth)
> |> 
> |> An "English-speaking Quebec resident (Canadian)" has Bill 101 to "prevent 
> |> [them from sending their] children to the school of [their] choice".
> |> 
> |> There are 12,000 English-speaking children in Quebec who are declared
> |> "ineligible for instuction in English" - many of their parents are "English-
> |> speaking Quebec residents (Canadian)".
> |>  
> 
> 	Ok, I agree that my statement above was not exact.  Any Canadian
> educated in English can send his/her children to English schools in Quebec.

Wrong again (perhaps it was a typographical error :-) ) Canadians educated in
English who received that education in a country other than Canada or who
landed her after 26th august, 1977 CAN NOT send his/her children to English
schools in Quebec.

> However, the 12 000 children  mentionned here are from parents who
> emigrated to Canada in their adult life from English speaking country and
> are now Canadian citizens.

That's more accurate.

>  These Canadians do not have a historical right to go
> in schools financed publically in the language of their choice. No more
> than you would give the right to a Chinese the right to  be educated in 
> a Chinese school financed by the government.

First, I was not aware that chinese was an official language of Canada.

Second, how many publicly funded chinese schools are there in Quebec?

Third, what is a "historical right"?

>  I realize that this statement
> is a bit strong and I apologize, I could not find anything smoother this
> morning.  You have to recognize that the appeal of English is extremelly
> strong for immigrants

Not least for English families!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not least for English families expecting to be accepted as legitimate members
of their own linguistic community in Quebec!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> and if we must try to preserve our culture, there are
> some step that need to be taken.

First, french can be learned in immersion programs in English schools.

Second, how does preventing English families in Quebec from sending their
children to their own language community schools help to "preserve [your]
culture"?

Is it your belief that English must be suppressed in Quebec or French
will die?

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