Bill 101 hits home

>> Quebec orders unilingual anglophone to home-school her child in French

by NOEMI LOPINTO

When Tina first emigrated from the States with her four-year-old daughter, she was delighted with the prospects of bilingualism and cultural integration. Three years and two schools later, she has withdrawn her child from school altogether, and fears the wrath of youth protection authorities for home-schooling her daughter in her native English.

"I don't believe that Quebec's education policies are in place to broaden a child's horizons," says Tina, who has asked to keep her last name confidential. "I think they serve the purposes of a political agenda. For a government to manipulate the lives of children against their parents' wishes is just disgusting."

Tina was disappointed to discover that, as the daughter of two immigrants, her child's education options were limited to schools under the jurisdiction of the French school board. After her daughter Melissa spent one year in a French school in St-Henri, Tina moved to the Plateau and enrolled her daughter at Ecole St-Enfant Gesu on Villeneuve.

The trouble began a month ago when Melissa, now seven, came home with a 25-page packet of information written entirely in French. Tina requested an English translation but was told none were available. "I felt like the educational process was alienating me from my own child and not letting me participate."

Lonely at lunch

After Tina meticulously translated and returned what she thought was the correct information, Melissa reported to her mother that she had been taken aside at lunchtime and separated from all other children.

Tina had misunderstood one of the forms and had neglected to pay a lunch-service fee. The fee was then paid, but the next day Melissa was isolated at lunchtime again. And again the next. "She's the new kid in the school," says Tina. "She doesn't speak the language that well and she's being made to sit separately from all the other children. I was furious."

Tina stormed to the principal's office to complain but could not communicate with the staff. "My daughter has to be bilingual but apparently the teachers and the principal of the school don't have to be bilingual." Tina had had enough. She took Melissa home. On September 18, Tina received a letter from Ginette Plante, principal of St-Enfant Gesu. "You have informed me of your desire to home-school your child. It goes without saying, the instruction received must take place in French."

Custody threatened

According to Sam Ephraim, education consultant for Alliance Quebec, Tina could face prosecution. "If the child is under the jurisdiction of the French school board, she has to follow the course of studies prescribed by that board. Legally it could be construed as negligence because school attendance is compulsory. The school may involve the agencies for youth protection."

Ginette Plante, principal of St-Enfant Gesu, says this is a first for her. "I have no choice but to obey the law. I am an administrator. The law says that this child is supposed to be registered in French school and therefore the instruction must take place in French. The law doesn't say who teaches that course, it could be a neighbour or a friend."

When asked what would happen if Tina fails to home-school her daughter in French, Plante says, "I will go to the authorities on top of me and ask them what path to follow. I have no intention of calling youth protection. I have that power but that doesn't mean I'm going to do it."

Down the 401

Quebec law requires that the governing school board approve a parent's decision to home school and that the child submits to examinations to assess his progress. Louise Richard, director of communications for the Commission Scolaire de Montreal, says the board has an obligation to assure the child passes examinations. "In order to do this she must be supervised. The CSDM is obliged to follow the law. Questions of civil rights are above its jurisdiction."

Tina is preparing to move to Toronto as soon as possible. "I am not going to educate her in French, I am going to leave Quebec. I am not bothering anybody. I came here to live a peaceful life. I just want to educate my daughter in her own language." :

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