Letter to the editor

A7

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Speak Up

The politicians in New Brunswick boast about being the only officially bilingual province in Canada. In reality, New Brunswick is the only dual province in Canada. For New Brunswick to become truly bilingual, I believe over 95 per cent of the students receiving a diploma from high school would have to converse well in both English and French.

Over the summer, the province has chosen to continue the failing bilingual system of the past 40 years by delaying second language immersion in the English education system to a later starting point.

Common sense dictates that the best time to learn a language is around two to three years of age. Would this not suggest that the best time to learn a second language is as early as possible in the student's education?

A child put into second language immersion at the start of kindergarten would develop a proficiency in their second language. The student would continue a maintenance program throughout their schooling. In Grade 12, the students would all have an oral second language competency exam prepared by the province. The students would be required to pass this exam to receive a diploma. An employer looking for a bilingual employee would be able to use the second language exam competency results instead of a surname when hiring. The result of this bilingual program would be students graduating in New Brunswick would be much better prepared for the world than other students in Canada.

In conclusion, the people in New Brunswick would benefit both economically and socially by such a system. After a period of time, less duplication would be required as the two education systems merge helping to eliminate some of $6.9 billion net debt of this province. On a social level, instead of two linguistic groups in many communities of New Brunswick competing for limited resources, they will join together to work for the common good of their communities. It is time that our politicians resist the pressure exerted by special interest groups in New Brunswick and truly make New Brunswick the first bilingual province in Canada.

Reg Killoran

Bathurst