As Toronto's school board struggles to fill positions, French immersion classes have occasionally been taught by short-term fill-ins, some of whom can't speak French, and parents say a lack of stability is hurting their children's education.At John English Junior Middle School in Etobicoke, parents of French immersion students say they're upset some kids will have had at least four different teachers before the school year ends, one of whom couldn't speak French.
The existing class, she says, was initially taught by a substitute teacher whom Cowern said was "a fantastic teacher," with one major flaw.Cowern says the fill-in teacher, who has since been succeeded by a bilingual educator, did her best to teach the material, but couldn't provide the immersive experience the program promises.
Moynihan said the class at John English has had a French-speaking designated early childhood educator on hand all year, and the English-speaking substitute has since been replaced by a French-speaking "long-term occasional teacher" leading the class.But parents who spoke to CBC Toronto said they received a letter late last month saying that teacher is now moving on to a full-time position in the Yukon and will be replaced after March Break.
Nikki Bergen says the lack of a consistent teacher in her daughter's French immersion class has led her to pay for tutoring to make sure her child isn't missing out on her education.