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5/11/1943 - French Canadian Schools by Marine Leland

SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON dASSACHUSETTS DEPArTMeNT OF FRENCH LA GUAGE AND LITERATURK Dear Mr Rogers One subject probably about which French Can adians unanimous several years educationvl reform The teaching Quebec beennotoriously Besides emphasis Classics expense Science produced several generations students could their place modern world Finally salaries cities villages ridicu Even today teacher French Canadian village little maximum salary It obvious cannot expect Ph D financial returns It important however educational reform French 0anadin thing English speaking Canadian American To latter improvement means quite unconsciously French Canadian schools should terned after English American schools To French Canadian reform means improvement present system system which based closely resembles Catholic education system France This especially higher education In lower grades trary ideas which found progressive schools adopted enthusiasm But again should borne these educational ideas originated Fr Switzerland I under impression French Canadians there rather English Csmadians Up public schools French Canad mystery Like every attended private school Montreal Quebec I existence Commission Scolaire EcOles Catholiques The Province Quebec peculiar public school arrangement As consequence Quebec Act I supvose taxpayers listed accor dance their religious affiliations Catholic Protestant In other words Catholic parents their children English public school either themselves Catholic This practically equivalent becoming apostate I instance English Protestant parents wished their children French Catholic public schools I think iortant emphasize French Catholic parents themselves removed Catholic taxpayers action intended symbolize break Church there could prevent sending their children either Protestant school paying extra simply English private school SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON IASSACHISETTS DEPARTfENT OF FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE In I visited schools several classes chosen random In spite these schools asses opportunity least lrench Canadian school system I beginning place pieces puzzle their proper position I found everywhere spirit boundless enthusiasm courage The French Canadians appear aware something happening French Canada I found fields For clarity I shall summarize briefly informa which I gathered oncerning cultural organization Province Quebec The field culture under direction provincial minister bears title Secretaire Province assisted deputy minister Sous Secretaire The present minister Honorable Hector Perrier authentic Liberal waged clergy thoroughly possible deeply Catholic region His deputy minister M Jean 5ruchesi other essentially reactionary person whose linked every organization suspected Democratlc With notable exceptions copyrights everything tains culture Province Quebec under supervision Secretaire Office The school system directed provincial superintendent schools village Commission Scolaire which directly responsible provincial super intendant In Montreal other localities where English French families found Commission includes Catholic schools whether French English In Montreal number French schools natur greater Er glish speaking Catholic schools The French public schools Montreal course numerous birthrate among French Canadians One parish alone number school children I obtained number parishes Montreal I opportunity relations between French English Catholic schools I propose future question important understanding school situation Ontario Csnadistu West New England where urrels between French English speaking Catholics ntunerous bitter There similar dissentions Michigan Wisconsin The years schooling divided following The first eight grades these correspond English school grades under general Ecole Primaire In accordance which passed passing which occasioned terrific battles Provincial Parliament every SI ITH COLLEGE NORTHAIIPTON IASSACHUSETTS DEPAITENT OF FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE child Province Quebec obliged attend school through eighth grade education point entirely The grades ninth tenth eleventh twelfth called Primaire Superieur The dollar The course divided parts Some students commercial others general course which normal school addition Unverslty provided student studied Ls Greek This school entirely The classes I visited following groups Two classes mentally retarded children private kindergarten norml children classes Ecole Primaire Superieure I shall discuss briefly The classes retarded Children differ those I It seems important aspect borne study French Cada since would indicate those developments educational system which which being adopted intelligently cessfully French Canada whereas traditional aspects schools steadily rejected French Canadians naturally prefer their traditions Another point which I should bring connection lower classes emphasis making abstract material concrete manual dexterity features which characteristic English speaking progressive schOols French Canadian racial tendencies aptitudes Perhaps unexpected interesting application progressive method which I observe Mass This service everyone knows which faithful passive Now passivity something which progressive educators condemn effort children collaborate Priest active service In order progressive young Priest discovered ndeed found Again accordance ogrgssive methods children their praysr books color pictures One interesting point singing particular school Gregorian welcome relief sentimental ditties operatic arias which Catholic service often sinks As matter there great revival scholarship field Gregoriu music Province Quebec SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON MAS ACHUSETTS DEPARTMr OF FRENCHI GUAGE AND LITERATIY In avanced grades I Just observed foreign fluence except France absent In eleventh twelfth graes which I visited I ecied improvement struck going Th teachers these classes almost French public schools Intellectually speaking majority thoroughly unprepared their They little their labor This situation appears changing better For insta there ecided movement favor teachers These being rained rpily A years everything always priests uebec again change hoped relatively future Congregation Notre Dame founded normal school pedagogical school college girls where teachers being prepared public schools I visited these institutions previous I believe despite conventual atmosphere which still found nevertheless there attempt towards modernization The first class I visited twelfth grade which dealt subject which French French Canadians morale m6res This combination psychology philosophy social theory The students asked subject wished recite immediately volunteered discuss chapter Society while another wished Feminism The chief riticism lways leveled against French Canadian schools students really asked think The believe Churchhall answers attitude conducive discussion which Smith College instance Moreover students learn great without having their minds These features still present modernized school On other I inclined believe outsiders really understood exact nature either French French 0anadian teaching It positive qualities For instance students learn decided effect languse least classroom I believe method learning explains almost entirely survival French language Canada language patois often believed It accounts steady development French Gansiisn literature Not class wherever I I found powerful effort instill students modern French vocabulary This vocabulary deals mainly concrete objects tools utensils parts machinery modern inventions The French Canadiaus appear determined invasion English words which French endings which naturally constitute grave danger language found drivers technical French terms instead Frenchified English I curious learn whether improvement teaching French grammar This always SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTM1 T OF FRENCH LANGUAGEADLITERATUIE point teaching French Canadian schools The result French spoken Canada although relatively correct agile spoken France I visited class where students studying English Here I found improvement I The method followed entirely intelligent conversation which prepared beforehand centered subjects immediate interest students The girls tried exprees themselves English They lively showed great initiative asking questions answering offering modifications answers which given It rather noticeable girls class excellent English vocabulary This course French words which English forms produce general effect distinction I think important despite every thing salsa contrary strict discipline convent schools deprived girls personality On contrary I found highly individualized Moreover classes which I visited includes mentally retarded slums I found genuine uisite courtesy great poise something which always found schools The general impression which I carried these isits schools invstigation other domains renaissance I never people worked enthusiastically intelligently little money I shall other examples letters which follow The reasons renaissance numerous I shall mention years which preceded rench Canadians abroad study greater numbers before course their whole history Among these great young priests ambition The their return coincided period which marked terrific indignation population regard state schools resulted higher clergy encouraging younger members educational reform The Catholic Church practice tsing movement which fought uneuccessfully Another perhaps important reaso present improve educational affairs modern world offers intellectual fields endeavor The development physical social sciences notably presents advantages French Canadians without encountering religious arrier temperamentally French Canadians appear peculiarly endowed intellectual qualities which success these fields I shall illustrate briefly Although French Canadians primarily intellectual SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS DEPARN OF FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITEPATUI people literary Up short seriously handicappedb nature their education which based study Latin Greek which usively liberal professions literature As result Province Quebec overcrowded lawyers clients therefore turne their attention politics octors whohreceive insuf ficient scientific training therefore shoul clients withlitrateurswho nothing write about The French Oanaians natural talents becoming apparent scientific research poetry instance It perhaps owing their strugglei nature their peasant ancestry racted concrete They everything involves manual exterity eveloping rapidly excellent scientific observers I intereste minde intelligent among yottuger generation French Cansilan I scientists The fashione yotmg almost without exception novelist T every every novelist fashlone In respect I incllne believe sociolog great Sociology teaches teach objectively concrete human situtlons This French Canadian novelist never He replace facts imaginings Finally I convinced political situtlon solution direct atempts national unity attempts which being completely unsuccessful rather great current education opening fields iscovery French Canadiaus themselves It seems French Canadians desire further their group stimulus unity naturally arrived There trying lrench Csmadiaus bursas someone One Sincerely yours SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS DzePAITMENT OF FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATJRE Fro Walter S Rogers Director Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York City Dear Na Rogers It occurred might along topical letter rapid diary various appointments This impression things Montreal moreover enable indicate passing fields which I chance investigate which would interesting about I hoped several reports letter notably political situation I beginning I realize however I better material simmer while I enclosing recent Gallup Poll Canada which Editor Chief L_e C_an It confirms impressions I gathgred three especially during I think I mentioned letter I received three interesting invitations In surpassed anything I hoped Abbe Tessier Director Inspector Home Economics Schools Province Quebec going inspection early This remote villages which would impossible visit without which would probably meaningless without guide Early June assistant wishes drive Murray Bay again driving through villages Finally sometime June Abbe Tessier going Abitlbi Mr Corbett Director Adult Education Canada asked Join I writing Mr Brodie concerning money involved these I pleased learn yesterday French Canadian course registration The which I after three years experience removing course field French putting American Major seems sound SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAIPTON IASSACHUSETTS DEPArTmeNT OFFENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATIRE Mr Walter S Rogers Letters asking information concerniv French Cs coming I received Washington Boston yesterday I received letter Mr John Marshall asking opinion regard French Canadiau novelist critic Harry Bernard intens grant three months fellowhip which enable complete which began several years American literature I discovered Mr Bernard three years recall I account interview which I during first Cnada Isst December I I supporting Hrry Bernard candidacy Even especially I believe imagination thivk studying American literature enough initiative carry whatsoever enoch should encouraged I short subjects which I should opinion I think these things settled uickly satisfactorily I letter I arrive New York Friday I shall office Saturday morning I moments before meeting I realize however retty I shall arrange whatever convenient I Dean yesterday looking forward seeing again meeting Trustees Most cordially ML N The School uestion Prairie Provinces The French Canadians minority Western Canada In Manitob there perhaps French Oanaiians Sas katchewan Alberta British Columbia Many those cities absorbed The strength French Canadian population found villages especially Manitoba Alberta where whole regions colonized entirely French where tlements fairly close other Because French minority obvious special their children should receive early French cation A child thoroughly grounded French school loses lanonage All explains tremendous importance which school question assumed Canada Moreover English Canadians convinced there national unity unless entire country speaks language language At present moment because present conscription issue feelings running tends school question acute But whole situation Manitoba passed certain intended deprive French Canadians consider their national rights Canadians Here briefly background present situation In Confederation Quebec joined other provinces understanding Federation would lingual provincial organizations existed already mould subject change Federal action In other words Quebec would organiza which French Catholic Ontario would organization which English Protestant At there provinces West Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta sparsely settled terri torles under control trading interests Because consider number French speaking whites breeds these companies found practical allow French language status equal English Around there considerable immigration English speaking people Ontario western territory prepared enter Oonfederation English uebec system which allows really triple public school system Protestant French Catholic English Catholic should established provinces As I English Westerners inclined tmerican school system which allowances Catholic papers exceptional cases adopt Ontario system which Catholic Protestant public schools The provinces however tmericn system grudgingly adopted Ontario organization The English argue since provinces exist Confederation their legislators bound contract entered older provinces The French other argue since races equal status Ottawa since equal status basis Confederation provinces bound entered Confederation French population equal rights They finally argue there reason Ontario Rogers system which recognizes official language should allowed sister Province Quebec which recognizes This complicated situation difficult inter several other elomentso The Irish instance interested language aspect question They interested religious supporting French opposed every order possible power their Whereas early bishops French today important Finally recent migrants Neo Cnaians Ruthnians Lran occasionally inclined adopt troublesome attitudes regard school question history Canada fanatical English prefer ignore rench consider foreign language people themselves should privileges Sometimes demand schools where their language tught other times demand rench rlghts vhich privileges abolishe In order protect their lngugentheir educational system against these attacks French Canadians Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta formed As0c_at2 Edca All provinces independent other needs naturally resulted system defense These organizations produce concerted action moments crisis Through voters reached their known legislature The Associations several organization within themselves which affect rural population These teachers assigned various communities choose French books schools every organize competitive examinations which II French children Their papers graded central committee people hours which spend correcting examina tions Prizes awarded papers students teachers outside school hours judging reports I great enthusiasm The problem obviously difficult There question French Cnadians West pleased lingualo It difficult understand lamguage There ironical aspect situation namely master educated minority To outsider seems strange French Cnadians Cnd longer anyone should compelled study their lnguage lmost The question sides ready I definite stand If French Canadians dissatisfied present system could emotional about But contrary delighted their mastery langugeso In Manitoba perhaps severe other provinces there aspect which displeases French Cnadians quite justifiably It ruling whereby children allowed begin studv their language before fourth grade I under impression other passed similar ruling Puerto Rico I believe stupid changed Mr Rogers S What almost deplorable point tolerance mention faSrness school legislation situation nection radio The French language which official languages Canada allowel radio provinces placed either children school after There peculiar atmosphere nrrowness fanaticism which breathing exhiaration In minds people I lingual question become obsession believe honest person shoull languages It promises little international under standing after needn mention these circles Churchill speech basic English accepted joyfully perfect solution while among certain French Canadians considered manifestation perfidious Albion character All rough account situation nature comple problems vhich present I might religious aspect French Canadian question plays important There slightest doubt French language could divorced Catholic religion fewer obstacles would placed French Candians On other Irish although Catholic arouse suspicion because speak language majority In other words clear French Canadians carry double burden They third completely sympathy educational ideas clergy priests usually spokesmen group group often saddled accusation being unprogressive spokesmen Marine Leland