A New Vision for Quebec
The Globe and Mail this morning ran an Ingrid Peretz story about increased registration in Quebec English immersion schools, private schools that integrate English into the curriculum beginning in Kindergarten.
A chain of these private schools called Vision Schools is expanding rapidly to accomodate the demand, and instructing pupils not only in French and English but in Spanish too.
Nay sayers cited in the piece call the schools a threat to Quebec heritage, yet another plot to undermine the great history of la Nouvelle France.
Come on. Not only are these issues "passé", as the head of Vision school says, but they are so last century. And so the century prior, for that matter.
Besides, the truth is that learning a second (or third, or fourth) language in school doesn't usually alter the language spoken at home. A French mothertongue home will so remain even if the child's homework consists of reading "See Spot Run". Trust me, growing up in a school system that foisted FOUR compulsory languages on me for fifteen years, I know that you are likely to stick with your first language no matter how strongly fluent you become in others.
Taking issue with stronger English curricula is far more self-punitive than even banning apostrophes on commercial signs.
This isn't about shutting up a heritage; this is about allowing for more conversation. In both official languages.
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The Globe and Mail this morning ran an Ingrid Peretz story about increased registration in Quebec English immersion schools, private schools that integrate English into the curriculum beginning in Kindergarten.
A chain of these private schools called Vision Schools is expanding rapidly to accomodate the demand, and instructing pupils not only in French and English but in Spanish too.
Nay sayers cited in the piece call the schools a threat to Quebec heritage, yet another plot to undermine the great history of la Nouvelle France.
Come on. Not only are these issues "passé", as the head of Vision school says, but they are so last century. And so the century prior, for that matter.
Besides, the truth is that learning a second (or third, or fourth) language in school doesn't usually alter the language spoken at home. A French mothertongue home will so remain even if the child's homework consists of reading "See Spot Run". Trust me, growing up in a school system that foisted FOUR compulsory languages on me for fifteen years, I know that you are likely to stick with your first language no matter how strongly fluent you become in others.
Taking issue with stronger English curricula is far more self-punitive than even banning apostrophes on commercial signs.
This isn't about shutting up a heritage; this is about allowing for more conversation. In both official languages.
Overheard at the Conservative Policy Convention...
"What's with the rainbow windows here in the Convention Centre?"
"I dunno, but I have a feeling the gays have something to do with it!"
"I KNEW we shouldn't come to Montreal! Damn deviants!"
"Sin city!"
"Even the building's fruity!"
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"What's with the rainbow windows here in the Convention Centre?"
"I dunno, but I have a feeling the gays have something to do with it!"
"I KNEW we shouldn't come to Montreal! Damn deviants!"
"Sin city!"
"Even the building's fruity!"
West met East at the "Manif"
Noisily winding their way from the Roddick Gates past the Arts Building, the McGill delegation of protesters this afternoon was impressive... for a McGill protest. Two hundred or so strong, they had banners and drums, flyers and kazoos. They were loud. They were boisterous. They wanted the government to know that they disapprove of the $103 M worth of cuts to Quebec student bursaries.
Then they turned off campus, headed east on Sherbrooke Street. The destination to most of us tagalongs was unclear, especially since we were headed in the opposite direction from the Premier's office. But we moseyed. Dozens joined along the route. Traffic was halted. Fleurs de lys filled intersections.
"Mcgill on strike!"
"Students, united, will never be defeated!"
Intersection of Sherbrooke and St. Denis, and there was nothing to do but stop. Nowhere to go. Suddenly we were up against a wall, a wall of students stretching well beyond where we could see. They came from UQAM. They came from U de M. They came from CEGEP du Vieux Montréal. They were there by the thousands, and they were prepared. Floats, loud speakers, animators, Jean Charest masks.
This was the real deal.
The couple of hundred of us (mostly Anglos) from McGill were nothing by comparison. But our presence, insignificant in numbers alone, was not seen as insignificant at all. On the contrary; the excitement at having McGill join the frontlines was palpable.
And suddenly there were new battle cries.
"McGill en grève!"
"McGill hon strike!"
We joined in, turned around, and returned to where we had begun, on McGill College, to the sidewalk adjacent to the Premier's office.
Together.
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Noisily winding their way from the Roddick Gates past the Arts Building, the McGill delegation of protesters this afternoon was impressive... for a McGill protest. Two hundred or so strong, they had banners and drums, flyers and kazoos. They were loud. They were boisterous. They wanted the government to know that they disapprove of the $103 M worth of cuts to Quebec student bursaries.
Then they turned off campus, headed east on Sherbrooke Street. The destination to most of us tagalongs was unclear, especially since we were headed in the opposite direction from the Premier's office. But we moseyed. Dozens joined along the route. Traffic was halted. Fleurs de lys filled intersections.
"Mcgill on strike!"
"Students, united, will never be defeated!"
Intersection of Sherbrooke and St. Denis, and there was nothing to do but stop. Nowhere to go. Suddenly we were up against a wall, a wall of students stretching well beyond where we could see. They came from UQAM. They came from U de M. They came from CEGEP du Vieux Montréal. They were there by the thousands, and they were prepared. Floats, loud speakers, animators, Jean Charest masks.
This was the real deal.
The couple of hundred of us (mostly Anglos) from McGill were nothing by comparison. But our presence, insignificant in numbers alone, was not seen as insignificant at all. On the contrary; the excitement at having McGill join the frontlines was palpable.
And suddenly there were new battle cries.
"McGill en grève!"
"McGill hon strike!"
We joined in, turned around, and returned to where we had begun, on McGill College, to the sidewalk adjacent to the Premier's office.
Together.
Old McGill Says SO-SO-SO Not Buying into the Strike
Just got official word via email that McGill will remain open regardless of whether students vote to join the rest of the province and, well, strike. Not terribly shocking news, but still good to know. Not sure that I've completely formed an opinion on it all, but I will admit to being glad about not facing an interruption in the semester.
***
On behalf of Luc Vinet, Provost, McGill University:
Classes will continue as usual
Many students from Quebec CEGEPs and universities are currently staging a strike
to protest Quebec government policies and some students are planning a one-day
walkout on Wednesday, March 16, 2005.
We have learned that the Post-Graduate Student Society (PGSS) council has
elected to urge its members to join the protest on Wednesday. The Students'
Society of McGill University (SSMU) has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday,
where members will be called upon to vote on joining strike activities.
In the event of a strike, we would like to assure all students that classes and
other activities at the University will continue as usual. The University will
remain open and operate normally and exams will take place as scheduled.
Graduate students with teaching assistant positions are expected to fulfill
their obligations. Students who wish to attend classes must be able to do so.
We urge all students, irrespective of the choices they make, to respect the
wishes of fellow students and to contribute to ensuring a positive atmosphere
of mutual understanding.
The University is following the situation closely and will inform the community
of further developments.
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Just got official word via email that McGill will remain open regardless of whether students vote to join the rest of the province and, well, strike. Not terribly shocking news, but still good to know. Not sure that I've completely formed an opinion on it all, but I will admit to being glad about not facing an interruption in the semester.
***
On behalf of Luc Vinet, Provost, McGill University:
Classes will continue as usual
Many students from Quebec CEGEPs and universities are currently staging a strike
to protest Quebec government policies and some students are planning a one-day
walkout on Wednesday, March 16, 2005.
We have learned that the Post-Graduate Student Society (PGSS) council has
elected to urge its members to join the protest on Wednesday. The Students'
Society of McGill University (SSMU) has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday,
where members will be called upon to vote on joining strike activities.
In the event of a strike, we would like to assure all students that classes and
other activities at the University will continue as usual. The University will
remain open and operate normally and exams will take place as scheduled.
Graduate students with teaching assistant positions are expected to fulfill
their obligations. Students who wish to attend classes must be able to do so.
We urge all students, irrespective of the choices they make, to respect the
wishes of fellow students and to contribute to ensuring a positive atmosphere
of mutual understanding.
The University is following the situation closely and will inform the community
of further developments.
Goose Steppin'
Saw a clip on the news tonight of Syrian soldiers in a story about the pullout from Lebanon. The soldiers were goose stepping.
Ever notice that only the "bad guys" goose step? The Russians. The North Koreans. The Nazis. The Syrians. All goose steppin' fools!
The Allies? They never goose step. Nope, I've never seen footage of anyone in the Canadian Forces doin' the goose step.
Has anyone?
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Saw a clip on the news tonight of Syrian soldiers in a story about the pullout from Lebanon. The soldiers were goose stepping.
Ever notice that only the "bad guys" goose step? The Russians. The North Koreans. The Nazis. The Syrians. All goose steppin' fools!
The Allies? They never goose step. Nope, I've never seen footage of anyone in the Canadian Forces doin' the goose step.
Has anyone?
The Bloc on my Block
It's the first time I can recall having ever received Bloc Quebecois paraphenalia at the door, but this morning I got a pamphlet looking for a financial contribution to the party protecting my province's interests with regard to the federal budget!
"Paul Martin doit s'attaquer au déséquilibre fiscal!" Reads the headline. It then goes on to threaten, "Paul Martin doit poser des gestes concrets, sinon il en subira les conséquences."
All this in Irwin Cotler's riding, too! Pretty bold. I like it.
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It's the first time I can recall having ever received Bloc Quebecois paraphenalia at the door, but this morning I got a pamphlet looking for a financial contribution to the party protecting my province's interests with regard to the federal budget!
"Paul Martin doit s'attaquer au déséquilibre fiscal!" Reads the headline. It then goes on to threaten, "Paul Martin doit poser des gestes concrets, sinon il en subira les conséquences."
All this in Irwin Cotler's riding, too! Pretty bold. I like it.
The Way We Were
"A noisy city room with its battery of wooden phone booths, large metal waste baskets which caught fire at least once a day from someone's careless cigarette butt, the assignment book on the city editor's desk, and the many night assignments which meant carfare home and taxi slip only if you worked past midnight...
It was a world of linotype machines in the composing room and hand printed bulletins displayed on Sparks Street.
These were the days of the Ottawa Citizen in the 1940s..."
Betty Kennedy, former Citizen reporter and later CBC personality introducing "No Daughter of Mine: The Women and History of the Canadian Women's Press Club, 1904-1971" by Kay Rex.
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"A noisy city room with its battery of wooden phone booths, large metal waste baskets which caught fire at least once a day from someone's careless cigarette butt, the assignment book on the city editor's desk, and the many night assignments which meant carfare home and taxi slip only if you worked past midnight...
It was a world of linotype machines in the composing room and hand printed bulletins displayed on Sparks Street.
These were the days of the Ottawa Citizen in the 1940s..."
Betty Kennedy, former Citizen reporter and later CBC personality introducing "No Daughter of Mine: The Women and History of the Canadian Women's Press Club, 1904-1971" by Kay Rex.
![[Click for official biography]](http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/justices/photo-De.jpg?1299748013-0.1-974446364)