I can’t believe that my girls start JK this fall. Where have the last three and a half years gone?
Currently the girls are registered at our local school. It’s a good little school, I know because I taught there for five years. It has double and triple grades but that’s OK, the staff knows how to teach at different levels. It has a great winter sports program too. But it doesn’t have French Immersion; there just aren’t enough kids (approximately 60).
So here’s the big decision. Do we enroll them in the school with French Immersion? It may seem like a no brainer but here are the pros and cons.
Pros
- Becoming fluent in French and all the advantages fluency affords.
- Being part of a larger school community with more people to choose from for friends.
- Being close to me (I teach there).
Cons
- The long drive. I would love for them to walk to school.
- Undermining the local school, it needs the numbers. I think it’s important to the future health of the town to have a school. The lower the numbers the higher the chance of closure.
- The elitist argument.
So, I think we’ve decided on French Immersion. That means that I will drive the girls to school. My mornings will be more stressful and so will theirs. I can’t be late. They will have to hang out in my classroom before and after school, which means I won’t be able to get much work done. However, I will be spending that extra time with them. Commuting time that I felt resentful of all year because I was robbed of 2 hours with my family (I was surplused from the local school last year due to declining enrollment and seniority).
Just in case you’re wondering, I have insisted that they be placed in the same class. Multiple Births Canada recommends that twins and higher order multiples not be automatically separated in the first year. For subsequent years decisions about placement should result from a team based approach. The team should include parents, teachers, principles and the multiples themselves (once they are old enough). For more information you can order a Multiple Births in School Support Kit.
What do you think? Is French Immersion worth the drive?
What about the elitist argument?
Erin, we made the opposite decision, actually. We can see the small, wonderful local school from our kitchen window, and it just seemed wrong to me to put our little gals on a bus for 20 minutes when they could walk over the soccer field to school with all the rest of our neighbours.
I’ve never regretted the decision, and I am a French Immersion kid (and taking the FSL Part 1 ABQ this summer so I may even eventually become an Immersion teacher myself). I agree with nadia that there are lots of ways to learn French – my oldest started Core French this year (grade 4) and is doing great. We plan to put her in late immersion in a few years, a program which also has great results.
In the end, though, I agree with Jen. You have to make the right decision for the family, and you will have that extra time with them, and that can’t be a bad thing. I presume they’ll be at your school, which is also wonderful.
Putting them in the same class is a great idea. I can’t imagine people splitting twins up at such a young age! Good luck – you’re about to embark on the school years – wonderful, fun and with unique new challenges!
Hey Erin
There’s lots of ways to learn French. the amount of stress generated has to be a consideration. love you!
Hey Erin!
Welcome to UrbanMoms!!! My guy is 2 and I’ve started thinking about it – I don’t think it’s seen as elitest anymore – maybe I’m kidding myself. I see it as a way to open him up to learning languages and to expand a circle of friends.
In my opinion, you need to do what is right for your family. If you truly believe that French immersion gives them a leg up then at least give it a go and see how the commute is. Maybe get them a few French DVDs for the car ride! Plus, it gives you a bit more time with them, no?