THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN THE FRANCOPHONE

COMMUNITY, IN A MINORITY ENVIRON

We have heard many times members of the community and parents say that they would like the teaching staff of their schools to get more deeply involved with the community.. Even though we can understand that frustration we firmly believe that the teaching staff's main re- sponsibility towards the development of the Francophone community resides in offering an education in French, recognized for its excel- lence. It is certain that if the qua-lity of education is lacking parents will take their children out of their schools to place them in the Eng- lish school of their neighbourhoods. Consequences for the Francophone community would be extremely negative, because if children do not go to Francophone schools, research shows that it is quite unlikely that those children would retain their language and cul- ture.

Such statements show a certain lack of knowledge of the teaching staff's timetables after class hours. In addition to class preparation and corrections, most schools have several committees, which meet regularly and on which teachers serve, i.e. Career Development, natu- ral sciences, technology committees, etc. There are also the com- mittees of the Ministry of Education, the CSF, and the teachers union, without forgetting the organization of a variety of extramural activi- ties.

To teach in a minority environment requires also additional duties to those performed by our Anglophone colleagues. As there are few educational resources in French, we are forced to look more thor- oughly for material, translations, and adaptations. Moreover, many

among us teach multilevel classes or several subjects, or both, which involve much longer preparations. We must also add that several teachers are new in the province, and have to learn rapidly here. Allthose factors require that teaching in a Francophone class in British Co- lumbia is a considerable investment of time.

One must not be astonished that after finish- ing their duties several teachers seem to get

INFO-P ARENTS COLOMBIE-BRITANMIOUETL MARS 2000

eee eR ERE OHH ORO EOE HEE TET ESSER TEST Hee OF

Sep TeENBER 2000

OPENING OF A FRANCOPHONE PROGRAM IN KAMLOOPS

POSSIBLE LOCATION: IN AVAILABLE CLASSROOMS OF Pineripgs ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DOES YOUR CHILD ATTEND A FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL ?

Would you like to improve your French ? Would you like to participate more in your child’s education in French ? The Francisation Familiale program is for you ! Through a series of workshops, you will be given the opportunity to improve your linguistic and cultural child’s curriculum as a starting point. Workshops have started for the winter session in Vancou- ver, Victoria, Langley, Squamish, Sechelt, Whistler and Terrace. The spring session will start in April anywhere in the pro- vince where there is a small group of inte- rested parents. For more information, please contact Francoise Jomphe a la Fédération des parents francophones (604) 736-5056 / 1-800-905-5056 or Héléne Sahler Lee at Educacentre (604- 708-5100 / 1-800-747-4825.

Information : 1-250-828-5239

involved maybe less than other members of the community. Despite all those challenges we are fully conscious of the importance of the work done at the level of community development. We intend to continue to support that work, while making sure the teaching offered the stu- dents is of high calibre.

Le comité exécutif de l'Association des enseignantes et enseignants francophones (le syndicat du per- sonnel enseignant du CSF) (Executive Committee of the Association of Francophone Teachers — Union of the teaching staff of the CSF)

A publicly funded education program that offers your

© a French-language program from kindergarten through grade 3 that will grow with your child:

® a full-day Francophone kindergarten (gradual introduction to full-day):

® —asafe transportatian system:

© — specialized services in Special Education (learning assistance, speech therapy, etc...) and support services for the teaching staff,

© —anetwork of computers at the leading edge of the educational technology:

® a language acquisition program for the student:

® «English Language Arts» taught from grade 4:

© an environment that contributes to the full development and cultural identity of Francophone students.