User:AdamKGamble/sandbox

French Language Struggle
The French language is a symbol of Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan. It remains a spoken language of the Métis, francophones and various Caucasian peoples who live there today. However, French was not always a priority in the town’s schools.

Before Willow Bunch became situated in its current location in the early 20th century, it was known as Bonneauville. Bonneau, G.A. Saskatchewan's 100th Anniversary 1905-2005, Willow Bunch's 135th Anniversary 1870-2005. 3rd. ed. Willow Bunch: Saskatchewan Centennial Committee, 2004. Print. Bonneauville was the location of the town’s first school, which opened in 1886 and had no formal name. “WILLOW BUNCH SCHOOL DISTRICT # 4910.” Poplar Poles and Wagon Trails, A Mosaic of Willow Bunch R.M. # 42. Vol. 1. 1998. Print. It was, however, known as a “Free Catholic School.”

At the time, Bonneauville was governed by the North-West Territories, as the province of Saskatchewan had yet to be created. There was no legislative act regulating education in the area. Consequently, the school was dependent on ratepayers for funding. attended the school in its first term, which ended on March 31, 1889. They were taught reading, dictation, writing, arithmetic, drill, grammar, and geography, all in French. They also learned English as a second language.

In 1907, Sitkala R.C.P. relocated to what would be known as Willow Bunch. The Sister’s of the Cross Convent, a private, French-English school, was built there seven years later in 1914.

Since Saskatchewan had been formed in 1905, both schools fell under the province's jurisdiction. In turn, they had to abide by the Saskatchewan Act. Under the Act, their right to French education was protected. Just over 25 years later, this right no longer existed.

In 1931, the School Act prohibited French as the sole language of instruction in schools. However, it allowed students to be taught solely in French from Kindergarten to Grade 1. Students in higher grades were able to learn in French for one hour each day.

Six years later, in 1937, Sitkala R.C.P. joined the public school system. Increasing enrolment rates lead the Convent to follow suite, but 12 years later in 1949. The Willow Bunch School was built that same year.

With three schools in the town, minimal French education remained a part of the curriculum. Despite this, students got to sing French songs in celebration of Saskatchewan’s Diamond Jubilee in 1965. They also sang Polish, Irish, Czech, English and Aboriginal songs. Nonetheless, their francophone parents were not content with the curriculum being taught.

In May 1969, a Willow Bunch advisory board responded to their concern and began campaigning for equal instruction in French at the Willow Bunch School. The Department of Education supported their inquiry, and proposed it to the Borderland School Unit # 4, who administered the school at the time. However, the Unit rejected their proposal for several months. After meetings October through November, the Unit’s position changed.

On November 21, the Willow Bunch School officially became bilingual, making it the fifth school in the province to acquire that status. Grade 1 students received equal instruction in French or English. For higher grades, time allotments for French instruction were implemented one year at a time, over six years, until bilingual instruction was offered in all grades. Reading, writing, and mathematics were taught in English, while language instruction, social studies, health education and religious education were offered in both languages. Parents had the option of enrolling their children in the English or French program.

French-instructed classes, like social studies, provided students with a holistic understanding of the history of other peoples in the area. Students learned about the clothing, spiritual beliefs, dwellings, nutrition, languages and recreational activities of First Nations peoples. The MétisMétis were also included in these teachings, but only regarding their participation in the 1885 North-West Rebellion

The provincial government promised to help with the school's increased costs attributed to it being bilingual. However, in 1977, the French program only had four full-time teachers. The English program had 30.

By then, French had already been less-spoken in peoples' homes. In 1961, 631 people most often spoke it at home. By 1976, there were only 235.

Since the Willow Bunch School closed in 2007, this number has dropped to 15.



--AdamKGamble (talk) 22:51, 12 November 2013 (UTC)