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level than Coquitlam students at
the Grade 4 level.’’* (Coquitlam
Instruction Is 100% In K-2, 80%
in 3, 50% In 4-7.)

In grades 3 and 5, no signifi-
cant differences were found be-
tween the English language a-
chievement levels of the total and
partial immersion students. By
grade 5, both groups were doing
as well as or better than non-
immersion Victoria students. In
mathematics, by grade 5 the total
immersion students were doing
better than their peers in both the
partial Immersion and non-im-
mersion programs. Tests of intel-
ligence showed no difference be-
tween the district's immersion
and non-immersion students.

Questionnaires to the students
revealed that those in the total
immersion program were more
confident of their ability to under-
stand and speak French. Over
half of the partial immersion
students wanted the amount of
French in school to increase.
Almost all wanted to remain in
immersion, and about half would
recommend It to a friend.

The Victoria Immersion parents
were generally positive about the
programs, while Indicating need
for improvements in specific
areas. For Instance, ‘‘one-quarter
of the partial immersion parents
wanted the amount of time for
French to Increase.’’** The need
for more school Iibrary holdings
in French and more extra-cur-
ricular activitives In French were
also Identified, and improve-
ments to the academic curriculum
were requested.

*

Kaufman, David and Boss-
hard, Beth, Evaluation of the
French Immersion Programs In
School District No. 61 [Victoria],
Final Report of Phase |, Van-
couver, B.C., November, 1979, p.
31.

** Shapson, Stan, and Bosshard,
Beth, Evaluation of the French
Immersion Program In School
District No. 61 [Victoria], Report
of Phase II, Simon Fraser Uni-
versity, Burnaby, B.C., June,
1980, p. 86.

BCPF ON PROVINCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

In response to petitions and
letters to the Minister of Educa-
tion regarding the Penticton
stalemate, a representative of
CPF—B.C. Chapter Is presently
participating In an Advisory Com-
mittee to the Minister. The com-
mittee has been asked to examine
the present status of the Pro-
gramme-Cadre de Francais and
French immersion programs and
to prepare recommendations re-
garding the future direction of
each.

If approved by Minister of
Education Brian Smith, the re-
commendations of this committee

could have a significant Impact on
the provision of effective French
language learning opportunities
for children throughout the pro-
vince.

Members of the committee are
Judy Gibson, BCPF President;
representatives of the new pro-
vincial Association des Parents du
Programme Cadre de Francais
(APPCF) and La Federation des
Franco-Columbiens; a French Co-
ordinator and a principal with ex-
perience with both programs; and
the Director of French Language
Services for the Ministry.