Behavioural Problem and Immersion

learning problem: The fact is that when a child in immersion has any kind of learning or behavioural problem, the first response of some schools is to pressure the parents to take their child out of immersion, regardless of whether or not the learning problem has anything to do with the language of instruction, according to Globe and Mail. Yet there are studies that show that children with learning problems do just as well in immersion as they do in the English stream. The allegation that it is an elitist program that filters out the children with behavioural problems and special needs is also profoundly unfair. Similarly, many schools and school boards actively discourage immigrant parents from enrolling their children in immersion, even though studies show that immigrant students – who often speak a third language at home – adapt smoothly to immersion. Moreover, critics often refer to the drop-out rate from immersion. Some immersion programs, however, boast a high percentage of children of immigrants, as their parents recognize the value of being able to speak the country two official languages. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.