udge
ordered that each of them should pay a fine of five hundred dollars, not
because they had taught French reading, grammar and composition for
fifty minutes each day, but because for ten minutes of each day
catechism had been taught in French to the French-Canadian pupils. Now,
Catechism is something that is always taught in a Catholic separate
school. That is the very principle--that is the reason why separate
schools were established by law. So you will see the extent to which
French is prohibited in Ontario under this regulation.

Now, with reference to the use of the French language as a subject of
study in the schools since 1912 we have had several complete and
authoritative demonstrations of the meaning of the regulation. In the
City of Windsor there were in 1912 three Roman Catholic Separate
Schools, namely, the "Sacred Heart," with 45 per cent, "St. Francois,"
with 65 per cent, and "St. Edmond," with 85 per cent of French speaking
Catholic pupils. Prior to 1912 French was a subject of study in the
Sacred Heart school only. French has continued since 1912 to be a
subject of study in that school. Prior to 1912 there was no French
taught in St. Francois and St. Edmond School; since 1912 the trustees of
these two schools have applied to the Department, for permission to
teach French in these two schools for one-half hour in one of them and
for one hour in the other. The following letter from the Department
peremptorily denies them the right to have even one minute of French in
these two schools:

Catholic Separate School Board.

Windsor, Ontario.

"The Minister of Public Instruction requests me to
acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 8th, and to
say in answer that he has studied the subject carefully and
finds that the regulations of the Department of Education
do not allow French to be taught as a subject of study in
any of the separate schools of the city of Windsor, with
the exception of the Sacred Heart School. Consequently,
with a reasonable delay, you will make such changes in the
organization of your school as may be necessary under this
regulation."

This letter was signed by Mr. Colquhoun, Deputy Minister of Education in
Ontario, and is dated October 31st, 1914. Now, the other day the acting
minister of the department, the Hon. Mr. Ferguson, published a long
statement covering nearly two pages of newspaper, explaining this
matter