Language Culture and Curriculum
Editor and Book Reviews Editor: Eoghan Mac Aogain (St Patrick's College)
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Volume: 14 Number: 2 Page: 112–129
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The Ethnolinguistic Profile of a Franco-Ontarian School Board: A Language Planning Project
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Denis Haché
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The Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est del'Ontario is a local school board which serves a mostly French-language population in a largely English-speaking social environment in Northern Ontario,
Canada. Because the performance of its student population was at risk linguistically, culturally, and academically, the Board decided upon a two-phase action plan. In phase one, a multifaceted study was
initiated to provide the Board with an ethnolinguistic profile of the students, teachers, and parents of the three elementary schools and three secondary schools within the Board's jurisdiction. Observation
instruments were developed to record the linguistic behaviour of primary and middle school students and school coordinators were trained to prepare teachers to properly use these instruments during the
research inquiry phase. Questionnaires were distributed to senior elementary and secondary school students and their parents. A focus group involving teachers from all schools was also held. A written report
was presented to the Board which contained a set of recommended actions to revitalise the language and culture within its schools and their communities. The second phase of the project would see the Board
implement these strategies by incorporating them into the Board's strategic plan and the school's action plans.
© Multilingual Matters 2001
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