Newfoundland principals' perceptions of French second language programs within the school curriculum

• Main Author: Rice, Ford
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1988
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5129/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5129/1/Rice_Ford.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5129/3/Rice_Ford.pdf

The present study was designed to investigate the attitudes of school principals in Newfoundland and Labrador toward French as a second language within the school curriculum. This investigation focused on second language study and its relationship to the aims of education for Newfoundland and Labrador; reasons for decline in second language study; reasons for teaching a second language in schools; and general issue statements related to second language learning. -- The questionnaire employed in this investigation was adapted from an instrument used in an Australian study by McLean and Van Der Touw (1984). The adapted questionnaire reflected the nature of the Newfoundland educational scene. -- The questionnaire was sent to 471 school principals. These principals were representative of all thirty-five school boards in Newfoundland and Labrador. Principals surveyed/represented both urban and rural areas, schools from diverse geographical regions, different religious denominations, and schools which varied in terms of student population and facilities. Of these principals, 243, or 52 percent, responded to the questionnaire. -- Responses on the various concerns were analyzed according to religious affiliation, sex, community size, and school type. -- Analysis of responses concerning the relationship between the study of French and the attainment of the general aims of education indicated that principals generally did not feel that French contributed significantly to the attainment of any of the provincial aims of education. However, principals perceived that helping students to mature mentally, appreciating other disciplines, and developing the work ethic, which deal mainly with the cognitive advantages of learning a second language, were considered to be the aims most nearly satisfied by the study of French. -- The majority of principals (76 percent) ranked the removal of French as a matriculation requirement as the most significant reason for decline in second language study at the high school level. In addition, ...