Has French immersion for school children failed to live up to its promise?

The popularity of French immersion is exploding in Canada.  But stats suggest the number of bilingual Canadians is dropping. Is the dream of bilingualism failing? With guest host Asha Tomlinson.

Has French immersion for school children failed to live up to its promise? Half a century since Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau's dream of a bilingual Canada changed the face of schooling, French immersion programs are booming.

French immersion has become so popular in public schools from St. John's to Winnipeg to Victoria, that many parents find themselves competing for spots. Enrolment has jumped by 40% over the last decade. And some schools districts, like the one in Guelph, Ont., have had to cap the number of students they accept.

There are also fears that as ambitious parents use French immersion to give their children a competitive edge, they are also creating unhelpful divisions in the public education system. Some even argue that immersion is a way to give kids a private-style education, in smaller classes, without the hefty price tag.

Others point to a shortage of qualified French teachers and say that while many enrol, few students emerge with proficiency in both official languages. Still others point to the resources that are sucked out of the education system to support French immersion — to the detriment of the English stream.

What are your experiences with French immersion? Is the system working for you, where you live?