Franco-Ontarian Elementary and Secondary Education [L'Éducation Franco-Ontarienne aux Niveaux Élémentaire et Secondaire]

The Franco-Ontarian curriculum was greatly strengthened in Ontario's elementary and secondary schools in the 1960s. However, these gains are now threatened by declining enrollment, assimilation in the home, economic pressures, population displacement, lack of accessible French institutions of higher education, and exogamy. Responses to a questionnaire sent to all school boards in the province reveal that Franco-Ontarian students do not enjoy the same broad course offerings as their anglophone counterparts and, where francophone students form a majority, they are often integrated with anglophone students and forced to study in English. This paper urges that declining enrollment not be used as a pretext for retrenchment in French education. The comprehensive recommendations are aimed at strengthening and preserving Ontario's French culture and curriculum. Charts, maps, and a copy of the questionnaire with analysis are appended. (Author/WD)