The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

"Reader's comments Dear Editor: I would like to make a few comments regarding the presentation circulated by PROB aE to: the S.C.B.E. on March 3, 1987. I presume that even the author will agree that her Dear Editor: This letter is in response to the many letters we have received expressing views concerning the recent deci- sion of the F.L.E.C. to ter- minate the French-langu- age Instructional Units at Bio.Pow- Thank you for your time and the effort you have made to inform the trustees of the Simcoe County Board of Education and especially the F.L.E.C. trustees of your opinions. We share your concerns Dear Editor: On February 23, 1987, the Simcoe County French Language Education Coun- cil announced its decision to phase out French language instruction at the mixed secondary school in Penetanguishene, Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secon- dary School. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, District 27, Simcoe Divi- sion, is strongly opposed to this decision. As educators ( and as taxpayers, we sup- | port the continued ex- istence of the bilingual pro- gram at Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secon- dary School. We believe that this program offers a unique opportunity for students in a_ bilingual community to receive their education in a setting which fosters mutual understanding, and which realistically reflects a desirable spirit of co- operation and tolerance in fi a democratic society. ESPSS students have stated that they do not wish | to be separated on the basis of language, and their families are actively involv- \ ed in efforts to preserve their school. We applaud and support their stance; we defend their freedom of choice. neccne meee © OSSTF questions the right of elected French Language Education Coun- cil members to make a unilateral decision of this magnitude without con- sulting those who are Dance a Dear Editor: Thank you very much for your help in making known our Sweetheart Dance which took place at the Baxter Community Centre on Feb. 21. We all appreciate it. statement, in her first sentence, is absolutely in- correct. She claims to "speak on_behalf of the students and parents of the community of Penetangui- shene (sic) area." She ob- viously does not speak for Trustees share residents' concerns and have urged the members of F.L.E.C. to reconsider their decision. We support maintaining a program of studies which will allow students atten- ding | SEyS=Pro:;S. © the freedom of choice to receive class instruction in the French and/or English language. Yours truly Joan Jensen Roy Edwards Trustees S.C.B.E. _ Teachers support _ parents fight directly involved, disregar- ding the rights of the com- munity which they pur- portedly represent. The French Language Educa- tion Council's legal man- date is to protect and pro- mote French language education. Its resolution to eliminate the French Language Instructional Unit (which currently serves more students than the unilingual French secondary school, Le Caron) is surely inconsis- tent with these objectives. We believe that established democratic procedure was not followed in making this resolution, and that its ef- fects on the community of Penetanguishene are clear- ly divisive. OSSTF supports the educational and societal goals of the bilingual pro- gram at ESPSS in a bil- ingual community, and ad- vocates freedom of educa- tional choice for French- speaking students and their parents. We ask that the French Language Education Council repre- sent all of its constituents fairly by supporting French language education at the mixed language school, and reverse its pre- sent decision to phase out French language education at Ecole Secondaire Penetanguishene Secon- dary School. The Executive District 27, Simcoe Division Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation SUCCESS Almost two hundred people were at the dance and close to $2,000 was raised for the school. The evening itself was a great success. Thanks again. Yours sincerely (Mrs. Dale Duffy) many in this area. And before she tells anyone that she speaks for the majority, let me quick- ly grant her that. We know that we are the minority. That is exactly the essence of Bill 75. This law, enacted to try to comply with article 23 of the Con- stitution, is to protect the language rights of the minority. To claim that the anglophone element of Simcoe has made the < Fe iW ? ' ° % . t OF LA ut AA @, J : f ' PLT Le eau T Raraalae To ul Vt apn en elllc (ec ld Meee By ya "3 fe HT tall cu lela sacrifices for French education is surely a distor- tion that deserves a reply. According to the 1981 cen- sus, there are over 7,500 francophones in Simcoe. They also happen to be tax- payers. One could certain- ly argue that their taxes, over the years, have been used to pay some English teachers. It could even be suggested that their taxes have been used in a system which effectively assimilat- ed them at an alarming rate. I am particularly happy that she quotes the MacLeans article of July 1983, giving the virtues of bilingualism. What she fails to say is that, at the so called "all French school', all the students, without ex- ception, can speak, read and write in both official languages. She says: "We value honesty". Let's be honest and say that it is impossi- ble to graduate from Le Caron and not be fluently _ French rights protected by decision bilingual. Let's be honest; it is not the English language which is threatened. It is not the knowledge and the use of English which is a problem with our youngsters in our French schools; it is the knowledge and use of French. And anyone who doubts this should visit the playgrounds and hallways of any of our French schools. To suggest that a student risks to lose his fluency in English by atten- ding a French school in Art Show this region of Ontario is a gross mistatement of the facts. Yes, let us be honest and tolerant. FLEC was elected to represent the fran- cophones. this, they are do- ing, and at the same time, they are providing the on- ly vehicle which guarantees that every graduate of the French system of education will be bilingual. Yours sincerely, J. Marchand -- if (Uae i MARCH 18-21 '| Mountainview Mall Everything for your home Aluminum windows, siding and doors =4| Housewares Carpeting Unbreakable China Nic Nacs A|Weed Man Wooden Decks "a Arts and Crafts display All at... SA. MOUNTAINVIEW SRA _ Mat Hwy. 93 & Hugel Ave. MIDLAND =k