Is Trudeau's statist legacy dying?
I have run into a few folks in my neck of the woods that are fuming mad about the Education Minister's decision to cut early immersion in the public school system (you should see the editorials in the local paper).Now I won't get into a divisive debate on social policy as it definitely isn't my strong point. But the recent decision by our provincial "Liberal" government to cut this program does raise one important question: Is Trudeau's statist legacy dying?
To answer my own question, I'm not certain it is dying. Although, after witnessing his own son Justin, a staunch left-wing Liberal himself, question the outcomes of some of his father's policies last year, plus the recent immersion announcement (not by a right-wing government but by a Liberal government), it definitely doesn't bode well for the Trudeau legacy.
Furthermore, is this a sign that libertarian and conservative ideals are on the rise in Canada? My friend Gerry Nichols not only believes it is, but he sees it as an opportunity for the Canadian conservative movement to win the War of Ideas.
Today's announcement in Fredericton can't be going over well with left-of-centre Liberals as it must be like a funeral all over again for their beloved hero . But look on the bright side my socialist friends, you will always have PET day (in the mind of Mario Silva).
Related: Are failing bilingual programs wasteful to taxpayers?, New Brunswick's obsession with dualism.
6 Comments:
I actually see the move to end Early French Immersion as a statist move. The government has removed parental choice from the equation, and stated that ALL English children will follow a single stream of education.
The only hope I see coming from this action is that the Canadian Parents for French have already begun speaking of a system of independent French Immersion schools in New Brunswick. In a perfect world, parents would receive vouchers, and be able to choose the system where their child is educated. I don't put much faith in this outcome, however.
The government has put all their eggs in one basket, assuming their model of education will produce the best results. Is there anything more statist than that?
I actually see the move to end Early French Immersion as a statist move.
I don't. The current policy is statist, in that, its residual effects end up spilling over into our economic affairs (typical of any social engineering policy). So this goes much further then just the classroom.
More specifically, the state begins to not only intervene into the hiring practices of its citizens, but it also interferes with the free market as the state sets bureaucratic rules to the way NBers do business. Just check out the forced quotas on language policy in Business New Brunswick. Not exactly a freedom promoting policy.
Plus, some of these unfair policies have a negative effect on the bottom line as those businesses that have no other option but to engage in corporate welfare have to abide by the rules of the loans. I know that a book store in my neck of the woods had to sell a certain number french books if they accepted the BNB loan. From what I have seen, those books are not moving off the shelves at all since they are being sold in areas where there is a high concentration of english speaking citizens. Which, in turn, has hurt their bottom line somewhat. They are a business after all.
Furthermore, with five less grades engaging in the french in english regions, will that number get even worse for that book store? I'd have to think it would.
I know: "if wishes were horses...", but I wish the authors of the study had truly considered and addressed the not-so-secret secret reasons why some parents choose Early French Immersion: small class size and the rarely-spoken hope for a classroom with exposure to fewer behaviour challenges (which is a myth).
Perhaps if all classes were smaller (much smaller), and perhaps if teachers had more help for our children who need more help living "classroom" life... Then perhaps we could give our little ones who need to jump and explore and wiggle as they learn the chance to jump and explore and wiggle... and perhaps the group would be small enough that it would be less disruptive to those who need quiet to sit and think and learn... Perhaps then we would see things improve, and really experience the equality with which the Minister is so rightly concerned.
Would not a solution be to offer Early Immersion at a French school?
If I want my child to take French starting at grade one or even KG, why can I not choose to send him to the government funded (tax payer funded - my taxes!)institution that is best suited and equipped to teach it?
I think this is the real debate. If the half measures of EFI in an English school were insufficient, a truly bold and innovative and FAIR solution would have been to not only scrap the EFI in English schools but to also open up the French schools to all New Brunswickers who wish their children to get a solid French education.
kit said; "[...]but to also open up the French schools to all New Brunswickers who wish their children to get a solid French education."
Good point, kit. Spinks was the first one (as I remember) that raised this issue on the blogosphere. I've always thought that this denial (of english speaking citizens to a french school), especially since they are publically funded, bordered on being unconstitutonal. In other words, isn't denying somebody an education due to their heritage a violation of their charter rights???
But for sure, the much larger issue is holding a debate on the matter and seeing if common ground, and reason, can be met.
Jayjayy: I never looked at it from a "class size" point of view, but you raise an interesting point.
Thanks for both your comments btw.
Options are always expensive. If we consider cutting options as Statist to save money and lower taxes than I am all for it. Was Premier McKenna Statist because he cut healthcare, education and everything else but he forgot to cut taxes in this province. If we cut options because we cannot afford them to lower our taxes that is not Statist.
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