The University’s French Education Project celebrated its 25th anniversary this weekend with a workshop called “From Territory to State: Louisiana Statehood 1812” for French, Spanish and social studies teachers from around the state.
FEP Director Denise Egéa-Kuehne said the project started in 1987 through French and Belgian government funding to support the French language and culture in Louisiana.
Because grants were ended for this type of program, Egéa-Kuehne said many sponsors have stepped up to keep the project alive, including the Embassy of Spain and the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, among others.
Egéa-Kuehne said the program has three “arms”: educating teachers, publishing material and conducting research.
“The French language is just about everywhere,” Egéa-Kuehne said. “A lot of people would like to see their French used and recognized.”
Louisiana’s Constitution was originally written in French, and Louisiana is the only state in the nation to use Napoleonic code. Many French businesses also contribute to the well-being of the state’s economy, Egéa-Kuehne said.
Events during the program included guest lecturers, trivia games, skits and small-group discussions. On Friday, curriculum theory and methodology professor Petra Munro Hendry spoke to participants about Louisiana’s educational history from 1699 to 1860.
“Out of all the southern states, it was Louisiana that had the most radical blueprint and vision for education,” Hendry said. “The constitution included mandated, state-funded public education.”
The focus of the FEP is not only the French language, but also to conserve the different cultures that make it up, Egéa-Kuehne said. The project incorporates the diverse cultures of Cajuns, Creoles, Native Americans and Islaños.
“There is a big emphasis on the minorities,” Egéa-Kuehne said.
Laurence Lechat, who teaches French to fourth through eighth graders at Audubon Charter School in New Orleans, said the program is an opportunity to bring back valuable information on the local aspects of French to her students.
She said students need to learn about Louisiana’s heritage.
“It brings a bigger picture of the world to my students,” Lechat said.
 
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Contact Shannon Roberts at [email protected]