But Daniel Cuerrier, the president of the Conseil Scolaire and the executive director of the Nunavut Francophone Association says Noah Genn simply doesn't speak French well enough to attend French school. He said the test was one used in the class Noah would have been placed in had he passed. Cuerrier said the conseil has not in fact closed the door to Genn's son, and is willing to let Noah into the course as long as Noah is able to keep up with the other students. But he said there is indeed a difference between a first language program and an immersion program. The goals and objectives are completely different.
Immersion focuses on the acquisition of a second language.
Ottawa makes distinction Cuerrier acknowledged that the charter is different in its wording than the enrollment form, but he said that funding programs from the federal government's heritage department make a distinction between French first language and French immersion programs. Lorne Levy, the assistant director of Baffin Divisional Education Council, said that federal funding programs through the Heritage department make a distinction between French immersion and French first language programs. And he said that a number of court decisions also support the idea that the two types of programs cannot be equated. But Genn said the only thing that matters is what the charter says and that the education authorities in Iqaluit have a responsibility to provide Noah with a French education. He said that if Noah can't keep up with his current Grade 5 class, the program should be changed to make sure his son can succeed.