The Francophone government in Quebec adopts similar attitudes to its European counterpart in regards to cultural insecurity. Afraid to embrace the world, they erect walls to ensure that their language is unchallenged. The latest example is the Quebecois decision to reverse English immersion classes at lower grades to avoid bilingualism. The Quebec Education Minister, rejecting the spirit of Cnut, declared by her personal fiat, that measures to promote bilingual education should be watered down. In a typical hoof up the pitch, to justify further dilution of English lessons, a report has been commissioned on the impact that English lessons may have in other subjects (it writes itself, I am sure: to be avoided as students may substitute Anglophone for Francophone phrases).
Language education, like arts training, correlates with positives: faster and more flexible positives, a healthier disposition in old age and can even overcome the effects of poverty. This is a healthy basis for other advanced subjects and propels foreign language immersion into the primary school curriculum.
I may highlight the politically motivated idiocy of the Quebecois Education Minister but dare I point out the negative failings of our curriculum in England. Monolingual teaching is promoted and the meritocratic advantages of bilingualism are omitted. Maybe I should learn a foreign language?