A South Shore family is about to split up so that one of their children can attend school in English in the United States.
The Le Blancs say they have no choice, because their youngest son appears to have a learning disability and the government refuses to give him a certificate of eligibility to be educated in English.
Born in Quebec to a francophone father and American mother, Justin and his siblings must go to French schools, but Justin has had several difficult years in a French elementary school, which led his parents to make a very tough decision.
"I have decided to take my youngest son and my daughter to Delaware and go to school there with them," said Cherie Le Blanc.
Moving south next week
Next Thursday Cherie will take Justin and his younger sister Laura-Lynn to live with Cherie's parents in the U.S.
Justin and Laura-Lynn will attend public school, and in addition Cherie's mother is a teacher who can hopefully help Justin's language skills, and improve his confidence.
"I could speak English and actually feel proud of it.," said Justin.
Older brother Alex and two foster brothers will stay in Chambly with dad.
Nine-year-old Justin speaks and understands French, but is having a lot of trouble reading the language.
"I stop at one point because I don't understand what I'm reading or saying," said Justin.
His family asked for an exemption after two psychologists determined Justin likely had dyslexia, but the Education ministry has denied them permission.
"It makes me feel bad that I don't do enough and work harder," said Justin. "I'm working really hard, and it's like I can't go harder than I'm doing."
Cherie says since the older boys are all doing well in school in Chambly it would not be fair to uproot everyone to a new community.
"I can't disrupt the lives of everybody in the family."
While still hoping for an exemption, half of the family will make an eight-hour drive every other weekend to be together.
