Calgary schools end mandatory 2nd language classes
Calgary's public school board said on Tuesday that second language classes will no longer be mandatory for students in Grades 4 through 9, starting in the next school year.
Most students took French, but some schools offered other languages.
The board wanted to give students and their parents more choice, said Cathy Faber, the superintendent of learning innovation
"And I think we are unique across this province in saying that every student starting in Grade 7 will have an option to take a second language if that is their choice. But we're no longer saying you must, that's the difference," she said.
French and other languages will still be offered as an option in Grades 7 through 9, officials say.
Schools with students in Grades 4 through 6 will decide whether to offer a language, and what that might be.
Corrections
- An earlier version of this story reported that French was being dropped as a mandatory class for Grades 4 to 9. In fact French was not mandatory for those grades; a second language course was mandatory, and that requirement is being dropped.Apr 26, 2011 3:43 AM MT