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national convention of the Acadians. A delegation from Quebec, or- ganized by Le Devoir, visited the main Acadian areas in the Maritimes in 1927. The group, led by the great nationalist, Henri Bourassa, visited Egmont Bay where Acadians from all over the Island had gathered to listen to stirring patriotic speeches. The speakers proclaimed their keen interest in all matters relating to the survival of the French minorities in Canada. It was on the occasion of this visit that Professor J.-Henri Blanchard launched his book, Histoire des Acadiens de I'fle du Prince Edouard, in order to introduce the Québécois to the history and current status of the Acadians in his province’. The work also enabled his Island compatriots to learn more about their past.

THE Key ISSUE: EDUCATION

During the period 1890 to 1945, the Acadian ruling class devoted considerable energy to promoting education and particularly French education. They wanted to make sure that French was taught properly in Acadian schools and undertook to find ways of increasing substan- tially the number of Acadians in the professions.

The provisions of the School Act of 1877 pertaining to French education had not been modified. Authorities in government did, however, show benevolence with regard to the steps being taken by the Acadians, and, as we shall see, granted certain privileges.

A wave of optimism prevailed among the Acadians during the 1890s. Several events contributed to this positive atmosphere. In 1890 the Model School at Prince of Wales College hired an Acadian as principal, namely, Joseph-Octave Arsenault (not to be confused with his uncle, the Honourable Joseph-Octave Arsenault). In 1892, still keeping his position at the Model School, he became the first franco- phone inspector of Acadian schools. He also taught French at the college'®. These appointments were the results of a memorandum presented to the Board of Education by the Scottish priests, Dugald MacDonald and Ronald MacDonald, in Tignish and Rustico. In their memorandum they requested a better system of French education for Acadians"!.

The Acadians were very pleased with these appointments. Up to that point the position of inspector had been given to anglophones