The Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy A Societal Project for the French Education System On the cover: Mario Cyr, Construire l’identité, 2010. Work created as part of the 2010 principals’ institute with the theme Être leadeur en construction identitaire… un engagement prioritaire (Being a leader in identity building… a priority commitment). Edmundston, New Brunswick, August 2010. 3 Premier’s message As Premier of New Brunswick, I would like to congratulate the members of the Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools (AGCFS) and the hundreds of individuals who have fully committed to carrying out one of the most significant Acadian and Francophone educational projects in New Brunswick’s history, i.e. the Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy for the French Education System. I am very proud of the exemplary collaboration that has taken place between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the community. This solid partnership has led to the development of a policy that will draw attention and serve as an example across Canada and around the world. With the adoption of the Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy for the French Education System, New Brunswick now has a plan to support the Acadian and Francophone community in meeting the challenges of the linguistic minority context. By helping our chil- dren to excel and to develop their identity from a very early age, we are building a solid foun- dation for the growth and prosperity of New Brunswick society as a whole. To all those who participated in this project and will see to its implementation, I thank you for your ongoing commitment. I am convinced that by working together we will ensure that this policy generates all of the desired outcomes. David Alward Premier 5 Marie-Claude Blais Gérard Mcken Message from the Co-Chairs of the Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools (AGCFS) Ladies and Gentlemen, As co-chairs of the Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools (AGCFS), we are very pleased to present the Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy for the French Education System which is the result of a consultation and collaboration process unlike any other between the Acadian and Francophone community and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. New Brunswick’s Acadian and Francophone education system has the dual mission of ensuring the academic success of learners and contributing to the transmission of the French language and appropriation of the Acadian and Francophone culture. In other words, the education system promotes the overall development of children and young people. The Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy represents a collective vision, a strategy, and a fusion of approaches that an entire community wishes to acquire in order to ensure the growth and sustainability of the Acadian and Francophone culture. This Policy recognizes the unique characteristics of education in a minority setting and the major role of the education system as a whole in cultural and identity development. We are proud to present this Policy which, in addition to valuing the contributions of many cultural groups, recognizes the role of the community and all education partners in fulfilling the dual mission of the Acadian and Francophone education system. To the members of the AGCFS and the hundreds of individuals, researchers, and organi- zations who participated in this societal project and who believed and continue to believe in the importance of its existence, we applaud your efforts and your perseverance. We would like to offer our sincere thanks for this generous gift that will benefit all New Brunswickers for generations to come. The Honourable Marie-Claude Blais, Q.C. Gérard Mcken Minister of Education and President of the Fédération des conseils Early Childhood Development d’éducation du Nouveau-Brunswick and AGCFS co-chair and AGCFS co-chair We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada- New Brunswick Agreement on French First-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction 2009-2010 to 2012-2013. ISBN 978-1-4605-0347-8 (english version) © Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2014, 2017 P.O. Box 6000 Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5H1 Canada Phone: 506-453-3678 Fax: 506-457-4810 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gnb.ca/0000/index-e.asp 7 Table of Contents Acknowledgments .................................................. 9 Preamble ..................................................................... 11 1. Policy Statement ....................................... 19 2. Framework for the Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy .......... 21 3. Background of French Education in New Brunswick ...................................... 27 History ................................................................. 27 Legal Context ..................................................... 32 Demolinguistic Situation ................................ 34 T 4. The Focus Areas of the Policy: ic TR dis Synergy and Complementarity .............. 37 L OO School-Family-Community Partnership sch T T es Transversal Focus Area ............................... 39 U O - Vitality of the Education System D NOR Focus Area .................................................... 43 ne O ph Identity Building Focus Area ..................... 69 O anc Early Childhood Focus Area ...................... 99 FR Educational Success Focus Area .............. 119 5. Implementation Mechanisms and Monitoring of Progress .................... 161 6. Roles and Responsibilities ....................... 163 7. Conclusion .................................................. 165 Glossary ....................................................................... 167 Bibliography .............................................................. 171 9 Acknowledgments The Government of New Brunswick and the Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools (AGCFS) would like to thank all of the education partners who contributed to the development of New Brunswick’s Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy. More than 200 Acadian and Francophone1 leaders were involved in this major undertaking to devise and design a collective educational project. The Government of New Brunswick and the AGCFS would also like to extend their sin- cere thanks to the support staff who put a lot of time and effort into the preparation of a document that reflects the latest research trends in education in a minority setting, as well as the needs and aspirations of the Acadian and Francophone community. The Province and the AGCFS thank them for their expertise and their involvement: Sophie Lacroix Project coordinator, senior writer, co-coordinator of the Identity building sectoral committee Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Marcel Lavoie Project supervisor Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Mireille Fontaine Vautour Senior writer, linguistic reviser, assistant writing coordinator Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Hélène Devarennes Senior writer Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Chantal Abord-Hugon Coordinator of the Early childhood sectoral committee, writing assistant, consultation coordinator and reviser of the English-language policy Solange Haché Coordinator of the School-family-community partnership committee Gisèle St-Amand Coordinator of the Educational success sectoral committee 1. The lists of individuals and organizations that participated in the development of the policy are found on pages 14 to 17 of this document. 10 Acknowledgments Anne-Marie Leblanc Coordinator of the Vitality of the education system sectoral committee Monique Gauvin Co-coordinator of the Identity building sectoral committee Anne Robineau Head of the research team Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities Mathieu Lang Resource person Université de Moncton Nichol Snook Administrative Assistant Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Jacinthe Lanteigne Administrative Assistant Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Patricia Bonneau Writing assistant Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Jacques Cool Writing assistant Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Rachel Dion Policy analyst Maryse Grondin Linguistic reviser Raymond Thériault Graphic designer Translation Bureau (Branch) Translation Government Services 11 Preamble “The entire Acadian and Francophone community, including parents2, school staff, community organizations, the business community and the media, have a duty to become involved in and promote the collective education project.” Report of the Commission on Francophone Schools, p. 51 The policy — a genuine societal project Minister of Education announced the estab- lishment of the Commission on Francophone The Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy Schools, whose mandate was to undertake a is much more than just a document. It is the major consultation with the entire Acadian and realization of a dream and a vision of a com- Francophone community and various stake- munity that has mobilized its strengths to adopt holders in the education system for the pur- a strategy that will contribute not only to the pose of identifying issues and finding solu- development of current and future generations, tions to the challenges of Francophone schools. but also to its own vitality as well as the vitality