Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank all of the witnesses and all of the students for being here today as well.
It's amazing to look at the results of your program, especially as it relates to NS, and see the high number of graduates who are successful, first of all, in graduating, and then who return and are productive members of society there.
It seems as though there's a common theme coming through today, from my understanding, and that is the problem at the K to 12 level. I think it has been addressed in two ways. For one thing, I heard something about the problem of the sudden flip in the language from grade 4 to 5.
I need to ask a question. Are there school boards or groups of parents who have any input at all into those kinds of decisions? I think the Berger report is probably wise in its recommendation of bilingual education from kindergarten on. Have parents had any input into this process in any of your communities, or is it something that's mandated from the top down? I served on a school board for a number of years, and I know that parental involvement and expertise are helpful in creating the kinds of programs that are most beneficial in educating our young people.