Successful Initiatives 167

with little knowledge of French. Now the inspector of Acadian schools could have a better relationship with the Acadian teaching staff, the pupils and the parents. It would now also be possible to supervise the quality of French teaching and promote education in the Acadian communities more easily. Although Joseph-Octave Arsenault only held the postion for nine years, it existed until 1972 and was always filled by an Acadian”.

These encouraging steps were followed by the founding of L'Impartial by the teacher, Gilbert Buote, and the creation of the Acadian Teachers’ Association.

THE ACADIAN TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

When Gilbert Buote started publishing his newspaper he did not give up his position as director of the Grammar School in Tignish. The whole question of education for the Acadians was of great concern to him, particularly the teaching of French. After discovering that the Acadian teachers had not been invited to the educational conference in Kensington, he suggested to Inspector Arsenault, in his editorial of August 3, 1893, that Acadian teachers be convened to a special convention to discuss “the main points that need to be examined concerning the best way to promote French education in our schools (TR)?”.

The idea was received very favourably by the inspector who immediately invited interested parties to meet in Charlottetown on September 27, 1893. The Acadian Teachers’ Association was founded during this meeting with the aim of “fostering the teaching of French in public schools on the Island (TR)'*”. It was agreed that the Associ- ation hold an annual meeting in a different Acadian parish each year.

The first convention after the founding meeting was held in 1894 in Egmont Bay. The success of the event was enhanced by the presence of the Bishop of Charlottetown, Monseigneur James MacDonald, and the Quebec historian, Abbé Henri-Raymond Casgrain. Presentations were given on reading, writing, and the necessity and methods of teaching French’. The president of the Association, Inspector Arse- nault, expressed his optimism with regard to the organization and how it would benefit the Acadians in his annual report to the Chief Superintendent of Education: