CTV News Montreal

Updated: Thu Jan. 12 2012 7:34:46 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

MONTREAL — There were cheers and tears on Thursday following a night in which the English Montreal School Board committee voted to close three elementary schools and keep three other schools open.

The EMSB decided to close St. John Bosco in Ville Emard, Fraser Academy in St. Laurent and St. Brendan in Rosemont at the end of the school year.

Carlyle School in the Town of Mount Royal, Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemont and James Lyng High School in St. Henri will, however, remain open.

Those whose schools were shut expressed profound sadness.

"My seven-year-old just kept on saying, ‘I can't believe they closed it, I just can't believe they actually closed it,'" said Judith Morabito of the St. Brendan's Board of Governors. "I'm really disappointed.The children came out and they are devastated."

The principal was also dejected for the soon-to-be-displaced kids.

"My worry is that the children who have been very well integrated in our tiny school will not have the same sense of security and closeness that they had here;" said Sylvia Serchuk, St. Brendan's Principal.

Another St. Brendan parent said she might relocate because of the closure.

"I'm sad and I'm worried because this means us moving to probably the West Island because I'm not going to settle for anything less than the best for my son," said Maria Santamaria.

Parents at St. John Bosco weren't thrilled either.

"I'm very sad I feel like I'm in mourning right now," said parent Stella de Gaetano, whose child will soon no longer attend the St. John Bosco School.

That school's principal said that the sadness was shared by many.

"St. John Bosco School is truly a community and the families and parents are together and they were very sad," said Principal Katherine Snow.

The board also decided that Royal Vale High School will not relocate to Cote St. Luc.

It was an especially wrenching night for parents and students at Carlyle School.

Originally the committee voted to close the school, despite a recommendation from the EMSB's long term planning committee to keep it open. But in a second vote the committee backtracked on that decision and decided to keep it open.

More closures could be on the way

The EMSB says that schools needed to be closed because of declining enrollment. The number of students has shrunk by more than 6,000 over the past decade.

A decade ago the board had about 27,000 students; it now has around 20,000 and is forecast to drop to around 18,000 in three years.

Angela Mancini, the school board's chairperson, said the closures that were voted on Wednesday came about after a long process and "many nights of consultation."

She warned that further closures could be inevitable, given the drop in students. "We'll have to look in the near future or in a couple of years at other closures possibly," she said.

Despite its difficulties, Mancini said the English school board remains relevant and a good choice for many students, given that they get an education in both French and English.

Saved schools celebrate

Those associated with schools that narrowly avoided closure were in a more upbeat mood Thursday.

Michael Applebaum, mayor of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, praised the decision to keep Royal Vale in the borough.

"This favourable verdict is important for our young families and we wish to thank the parents of the students for their unfailing support over the past several months," he said in a statement.

Those at Carlyle felt buoyant as well, where a future international school curriculum has long been planned.

"Thanks to the commissioners for allowing this to happen, cheers!," said Principal Anna-Maria Borsellino of Carlyle School.

One child whose school avoided the axe spoke for many of the children whose schools were spared.

"When I was at home in the morning I'm like, I'm sure we're going to have a party at school today!" said Sophie, a student at Nesbitt.

Comments are now closed for this story

aj from montreal
@ Pierre:

Why live in a fully accepted bilingual city like Ottawa when you can live in a "French-Only" mindset like Quebec? Are you really that ludicrous to believe that its not fair to have English taught in Quebec? You already have problems living outside of Québec right now. Why? because as you said, spoken like a true Francophone, you have no sympathy to Anglophones (Racists like YOU should have their comments removed here).

@ ti guy:

Les nouvelles fait également franophones stupide car l'anglais est parlé partout dans le monde et les Québécois comme toi est ignorant à ce sujet.

Private
We all know who wins from this situation...
PAULINE MAROIS!!!
Statistically Anglophones are better and more educated than Quebecers so not a good idea to close English Schools

Alex
By all means, people here complaining of Quebecois being like nazis and how sad they are here, just go, make the move!! Oh and bravo to Ctv allowing racist comments on that page... There are some disgusting comments here against french quebecois and their accents, shame on CTV, and shame on the racist people commenting, I for one know that the english community is great for the most part.

Steve
@ Pierre and Ti-Guy, I was born with French as my mother tounge. You both are a disgrace to the true Quebec Province, which by the way is in Canada, North America, Planet Earth! We do not come from here originally so how dare you tell anyone to move to Ontario, or anyone else. Do you not recall your history lessons where it is clearly stated as this land was of Native American people? Your arrogance is obvious and a complete lack of respect for the human species. Please stop the hatred you are spewing and start respecting others (in any language, race or religion) so smile, Pauline Marois loves you and wants your hugs! Now back off, and learn to RESPECT!

Mr.potholes
Wonderful ! This province is forcing english to be extincted, so all anglophone will move out eventually. Let's let francophones enjoy thier high taxes, and almost highest gas price in canada, high unemployment which will cost more taxes in the future ,deteriorating infrastructure which is cost by corrupted Gov't system.

Mark
WE should all start homeschooling our kids instead. The level of quality in the schools is downhill, english or french we don't need a longer daycare with abusive teachers. Take care of your own kids, stop letting the government eat their brains.

jouets66
Hey Pierre don't forget all the Quebecs govt kids go to English private schools hmmmm words to ponder!!

johnp
And the ethnic cleansing continues

will
Pierre? You are exactly why WE english of quebec, are bloody well fed up. Two wrongs do not make a right and it is people like you that perpetuate the hatred in this province.The rest of Canada is starting to hate us because of racist hateful people with the same opinions as you. I am a born and raised anglo Quebecer and I am so friggen fed up of this stupid fight. Quebec is a beautiful province with a beautiful culture. The French. I love it here. On top of that, we have multiculturalism at it's best and when we're not thinking about language, we all get along just fine. Throw in a hockey puck and two sticks, we all become best friends. The french language is well protected now, the province is mostly french, the signs are french, the hospitals, courts, schools, stores you name it, are french.. The official language is french and about 7 million people here speak french. You won. Congratulations. Now move on.for the love of god move on. And if you left, that is your issue, you stop whinning. I had to listen to a separatist ask me why Mexico doesn't speak french. Man. That's just plain arrogant. Yes the french were treated poorly in the past. That doesn't give you the french the right to treat the english badly. Point finale.

Jayme
James
The francophones have it good in Ottawa in the east end its like Montreal where you have alot of french and yes there is english the west end is mostly english the thing is there are some that want to make Ottawa 100% french.Overall its not that hard to get served in french even most signs etc are aslo in french etc so for some to say francophone have no rights in Ottawa its not true.I am not sure if this happens in Montreal but in Ottawa at rehab center and homeless shelters there is a set amount of beds set aside for francophones also another crazy thing is there is a youth drug rehab centre under construction in the east end but its only for francophones and there is a english rehab centre that will be built in the west end yup just for english speaking youth.

Ivana Felicissimo
Dear Ctv News
I always watch you everyday and night while eating. You guys do a great job. I am writing you for my person opinion on the school closing. I have a Learning Disabilty and thanks to Holy Cross it's know called Fraser Acedmey i was abalby to get the help I needed to get thought my troubles. i fell as thought they always go after the English school. So if they closed three English schools okay now next year they should looked into closing French school. I love Montreal but it getting to the point where I am true thinking about moving to other provice. I fell like when I have kids I havr to put them on the waitng list as soon as there born.Thanks for letting me that off my chest.

PS
My kids go to an English school on the South Shore. The are in French immersion and they are already more bilingual than I am. It is interesting that there are approximately 2 or 3 truly anglophone kids in her class while all of the others speak French as their first language. They are the privileged few who have taken advantage of their right to go to an English school where they can have the advantage of speaking both English and French fluently. I congratulate their parents on their open minds and for doing what is right for their children's future! My kids will be able to work anywhere.

Also, Marlyn is right. If you don't actively select to pay the English school board, by default, all of your money is going to the French board. My tax bill is $200 higher than my neighbor's tax bill but my money goes to the right place!

la politique
This is indeed very disappointing that anglophone schools are closing down. As for Ti guy who thinks that individuals should move to ontario - well? It is a fact that the Quebecois French can only be spoken in Quebec. Go to France or any african countries and try to speak "le francais Quebecois", they will simply laugh. I have students who write "pi" instead "puis" and "ben" instead "bien". Why promote French when quebecois barely can speak and write French deemed right at an international level? like it or not, we are a global village. At least, the English spoken and written is not "funny" and meet international norms.

James
@Pierre,

Judging by your comments, if you have ever been treated badly its not because you are a francophone.

From your comments it seems like you have done your fair share of whining as well so I wouldn't point any fingers if I were you! Also from my experiences here in Quebec I know how terrible YOU francophones can be so again I would not point any fingers at us!!!!!

When I move to Ontario I plan on remembering how francophones treated me here and I will also remember the comments of francophones like you! So don't expect any sympathy from me for you either.

Tell me, what rights are francophones lacking in the rest of Canada? Is there a bill 101 equivalent in Ontario?

@Ti guy
You can have Quebec! With its high taxes, crumbling infrastructure, racism towards anglos, and high unemployment. You couldn't pay me to stay in this hell hole! There are far better places than this to live in North America!! I refuse to live with racists anymore.

Marlyn
Forget the big government conspiracy, if English schools are closing it is because they don't have enough students to stay open. I know of many anglophone parents that chose to send their children to french school based on the mediocre education they received in an English schools themselves.

I personally chose to give the English school board a second chance and was pleasantly surprised. The first thing I like is the smaller class numbers due to the lower enrollment. The other thing I like is the sense of exclusivity since only those with the admissibility card can attend it's like we are a private club lol.

To all my anglophone friends empower your children by making sure they are perfectly bilingual because if the French detect an English accent they will be prejudice against them. On the nights where my kids are struggling with their French homework I remind them that by learning it they will be able to TAKE the jobs they want from those who only speak French.

As anglophones we are very fortunate to have the right to educate our kids in 2 languages at an early age, if you have the card use it! If you are a homeowner make sure you are paying your school taxes to the correct school board, the default is the French school board.

a mom
I am happy that I moved my child from an English school to a French school. and I terribly regret every minute that she had spend in that English school. have you ever tried complaining about a situation in the school to EMSB? I did, I never got any call back, went there few times, they didn't even let me in the building.

reidjr
Pierre
There is a fair amount of french in Ottawa i don't know where you get the idea you feell you have no rights but what gets me is you say in Quebec you could learn french or leave but you seem to want more french in Ottawa i am sorry but if you you say people should learn french or leave that aslo should apply to those in Ontario learn english or leave.I just have a issue when people get all worked up about the amount of english in Quebec yet people complain about the lack of french in Ontario.

Nadia
A lot of these decisions are based on political bullying and ignorance like your writter ti guy your an ignorant if your not happy go to France where the only official language is French, it's ignorant people like ti guy makes this province under achieve. English will always be the prominent language in any country, and too bad for ignorance and stupidity we as a province can not over achieve. Ti guy read between the lines.

A from montreal
There are plenty of private schools, that will not close down to choose from.
The public system sucks anyways from health care, to education, to whatever else the taxpayer's money is mismanaged with.

Why is everyone surprised another public system has let us down?

Only-son-1
Really sad but some times a necessity. Will they now reduce school tax?didn't think so. Enrollment would not be a problem were it not for ridiculous laws. my children both go to English school, French immersion to be precise. When they were enrolling students alot of francophone parents showed up wanting to enroll their children but denied access because they are not eligible...NOT ELIGIBLE !! What a disgrace this province is when they set up laws that actually handicap there own. My kids get the best of both worlds English/French and a little third world Portuguese. They are trying to protect a language and that is ok, but forcing people to stick only to french will make them and others resent it.

Why not allow people to choose which language they would like to send their kids to and obligate the schools to also integrate french, that way our kids and our future is much brighter. Quebec would be alot better off.

Also while I'm at it, let's make work weeks 4 days maximum. Family life should be better than 2 days.

Vote for me( just kidding) vive le Quebec and long live Canada

Thomas
Pierre ,
it's funny you mentioned that outside quebec everything is done in english , so what is it that you do not understand that quebec with out the english or as you say the outside world it's worth zero. I'm an immigrant that speaks 3 languages including french and I do not discriminate nor impose any language on no one , like you people do.If a person or society pays there dues so be it , we are a free country. It's funny that in my area of RDP where I live all the immigrantes own homes and the French Quebecers are renting , so I would like to know who's paying the taxes and stimulating the economy so that you could retire one day and enjoy the pension or sorry bien etre sociale?

Pipi
To the people that said "learn French or get out", I have this to say. WE DO SPEAK French, and in many cases a third or even fourth language (which is more than I can say for most 'Pure Laines'). I for one am very happy that I was able to learn a third language for free in Québec. I have the satisfaction in knowing that I can move, work and travel almost anywhere on the planet. I feel sorry for the unenlightened Quebecois that will be relegated to living in a crumbling province the rest of their xenophobic & ignorant lives.
I remember my Quebecois Linguistic lecturers from the U of M class telling us that the evolution/erosion of language is inevitable over time, and that no amount of linguistic "legislation" can do anything to prevent it. The protests outside the Centre Bell shopping malls are futile attempts to stop what is inevitable. Québec should be focusing on solving the major problems the province is facing right now. Unless infrastructure and social welfare issues, including health & education, are resolved there is no point of even considering separation. I can't believe people waste so much time bickering over insanely trivial things that are really unavoidable in today's world economy (do you seriously think that the NHL and mega-multinational corporations care about language issues?)
Maybe they should all just pull their business (and jobs/team) out of Québec altogether. I know I'll land on my feet no matter where I end up, so will all those English school kids that are perfectly bi(tri)lingual by sixth grade.
One day "true" Quebecois will realize how the sovereignty movement used them as pawns, same as they were in the 30-60s by the Catholic Church. They've learned absolutely nothing 50 years.

Mtl Anglo
Pierre, I am sorry to hear that you are treated unfairly as a Francophone outside of Quebec. The reality is that English people in Quebec are treated THE SAME as French people outside of Quebec in Canada. Instead of hating the English in Quebec, try to see that we are suffering just as you are. The language laws for the French outside of Quebec and the English in Quebec are EXACTLY the same. We are both treated unfairly and are subjected to language discrimination on a daily basis. This is a bilingual country and I believe ALL provinces in Canada should be bilingual. Promote both languages! Does it not benefit us all to speak both languages? Why discriminate against the minority? Let's all speak English AND French and learn how to get along!

ES
@Pierre and Ti-guy... its brainless comments from people like you thats dragging Quebec into poverty. Montreal used to be the largest economic city in Canada and highly respected worldwide. Look where its now!
FYI Pierre and Ti-Guy, by the 6th grade, EMSB students are fully bi-lingual. The CSDM could learn alot from this example.

susie-q
Years ago when I was !4-15-16 in i9
64-1965-1966 I used to read & hear on the news fights between gangs like Satin's choice,Popeyes & 2 other groups mostly in Pointe St Charles St. Henri & Little Burgundy. This really hasn't changed. Moving kids from Ville emard to the Pointe is a bad idea.Move the St. Brendan
learning disabled to John Grant or
Summit School. Means busing. Better than nothing. Sorry parents. I feel for you. Been there myself. Take care. Happy day.Bye-Bye susie-q.

Pierre
SVP, Whine, whine, complain, complain, stop making these bull shit comments. It's not fair, they don't teach English in Quebec, etc, etc. The EMSB is run by Anglos and this is a cost savings decision by them. For argument purposes (as non French and non Quebec residents always put it) learn the language (in this case French) or get out. Maybe the savings at the EMSB can be used to provide subsidies for you to leave. I have no sympathy for Anglos as I have lived the other side of the coin and know how terrible you can be and are. I live in Ottawa and let me tell you if you think you have problems as an Anglo in Quebec try being French outside Quebec. You think you don’t have Rights! You are not wearing the proper shoes to know what that even means. Fear mongering comment like "The system is set up to have the English system become extinct within the next 15 years. Sad but true." only fuels your hatred because you are surely not trying to understand anything but your own point of view. This is what is sad about all of this.

ti guy
très bonne nouvelle. Si vous n'êtes pas content vous pouvez déménager en Ontario.

Luke
Want to save St. John Bonsco? Easy --- change its name to Saint-Jean Bonsecour! Bad joke?

ME
The problem is 2 fold. And no, has nothing to do with marketing by the EMSB. It is that english enrollment is down due to the english speaking "non-immigrants" who aren't having as many kids or are having none at all, and the prejudicial language laws in the province for any of the new immigrants (as well as francos that want their kids to learn english - seeing as it's not taught properly in french schools). I agree with DMG that the system has been put in place to ensure a complete lack of public education in english in future.

I'm not a parent...if you are and you aren't protesting like peole protest anything english that might come across their sight, then you're the one failing your kids, not the EMSB

Justice
This is the reality we live in here. The anglos and allos have no more rights and you know why? Simple, because everyone just accepts and does nothing to fight back. It's basically bending over and saying "thank you sir may I have another". In the 70's they fought back with the St.Leonard riots when the government wanted to send all the kids to french schools. Today we have lost all our rights and yet we still hear there's too much English in the workplace or everywhere else in the city for that matter. If you aren't willing to put your money where your mouth is and fight for your rights instead of just complaining about it, then you get the situation we see today. Actions speaks louder than words, seems too many of us have forgotten that!

Heartbroken mom
Very sad.....had to deal with a 9 year old son this morning who is very worried of where he will be attending school next year. He is sad that his friends may not follow to the same school and WORRIED about entering a bigger school!

Chris
Demonstrations do make a difference - blogging is great to get things off your chest from the comfort of your own home but really taking a stand out there and getting media attention makes things change!

I believe the law still exists about dictating whether children are allowed to go to a French or English school based on their parent's education - so the reason for low enrollment is not necessarily because people are leaving. I for one am not going to leave Quebec - I was born here and have a right to be here, I have a nice home and a good job and salary that I KNOW I could never have in Ontario or any other province (I've checked).

dmg
There are obvious concerns with many parents who once considered the EMSB are now left with the possibility of having to go the private way. The reason the French schools are doing so much better with enrollment is because new immigrants have no choice but to send them to French schools. The system is set up to have the English system become extinct within the next 15 years. Sad but true.

maria
It should be the parents choice where their kids attend school and what language they study in. Since when should we lie back and let the gouvernment make our kids feel like we have no choices. We pay taxes too why should english people feel like we're nothing. We should stage a protest just like those french idiots outside the bell centre. You know I've always been equal but I'm really becoming a rasist against the french gouvernment.

Aaron
I went to St John Bosco when I was a young child, sad to see it close it was a GREAT school..

Ross
Look what is happen of Montreal out in St-Lazare where they have been building new schools for parents who are moving out that way. L would like to know how many french schools have closed if any do to a drop of enrollment.

andrew gomm
has anybody ever noticed that french schools in quebec are never closed. allways the english ones but you only have yourselves to blame people in quebec never stand up and protest in huge numbers on issues that matter like this but yet you will get 300 french idiots protesting outside the bell center because the coiach doesent speak french im sorry but who cares. it is a slippery slope soon there will be no english schools left in quebec i think its time all english ppeople just got up and moved out of quebec and leave all the french people behing let them suffer under jean charest,s dictatorship very sad

angie
I never hear anything postive when I hear about the emsb, its always school closures.. someone is looking to fill their pockets by losing schools. Shows how much this "BELLE" PROVINCE protects our children. we need to do more for the kids who will be our future, not less.

happy living in laval

Lynn
My children go to EMSB schools and as sad as it is, I believe closing schools is necessary. The more the children in an establishment, the more the resources. It is also ridiculous to run a school with less than 200 students especially when it has a capacity of 500! they should definately do a clean up with the number of commissioners at the school board too though... less schools = less commissioners.

way to continue ruining our province
anybody notice how all the schools closing are in white neighborhoods lol.

Serena
The reality is that the EMSB is doing a terrible job marketing their schools. We have the population but they are not informed about our schools and they are going to their community french school like I did with my eldest. My two youngest go to EMSB because I happenned to visit an english school on recommendation from another parent. The numbers are falling not because the students are moving away or just dissapearing, they are going to french or private schools. We need to get them back and market the english schools better.

I don't get the french mentality
Living as an english speaking Canadian in Quebec is like living under the Nazi regime's mentality of old Germany. Stifling human rights of the english speaking community.
I moved out of god for saken Quebec 20yrs ago, reading this news of declining enrollment sounds like I'm not the only one who has hit the 401. Yes the grass IS greener on the other side.

Ronin
This is the reality we parents have to face if your child is in the English school system.

Blake
And the French are still worried about English takeover? Too bad for the parents. This is sad.