Public School Board in Peterborough Considers After-School Native Language Class

If enough students interested, classes for elementary, intermediate students could begin in November

(PETERBOROUGH) The local public school board is gauging interest in after-school native language classes for elementary and intermediate students.

While Native as a Second Language (NSL) classes are currently a course option in all of the board’s secondary schools, the class only runs if there are 12 or more students enrolled.

Three of the board’s elementary schools, including Ridpath Junior Public School and North Shore Public School, currently offer NSL classes to students.

The after-school classes, which would begin in the early evening, once each week, would teach Ojibway.

Jennifer Leclerc, superintendent with the board, says the classes would give students who don’t attend a school with a high number of First Nations students, a chance to learn the language.

“We don’t have enough certified teachers to have the classes taught in all the schools,” she says. “So we’re trying to see what the interest is like from other families, and we’ll go from there.”

The classes, which would run at the Alternative Centre for Education, formerly PCVS, would offer three sessions, for primary, junior and intermediate students.

“The classes for the primary students would focus on things like songs and games — they would look a lot different from the classes for the older students, so we’d like to separate them,” says Ms Leclerc.

Surveys which went out to elementary and intermediate students were returned to Ms LeClerc on Oct. 9. While the final numbers aren’t tallied, the board’s Aboriginal consultant has implied there’s quite a bit of interest from students.

The results of the survey will go to senior administration.

If the board goes ahead with the classes, they’ll begin as soon as November.

“We’re trying it as a little pilot, and we’ll see who comes forward,” says Ms Leclerc.