LeBlanc helped to make Louisiana the only English-French bilingual state in the nation through legislation to promote the speaking of French in school. LeBlanc's motivation was remembering his youth when he only spoke French and when school children in Southwest Louisiana were punished by teachers for speaking French in schools. Some children were made to kneel on corn kernels or raw rice, and others were slapped if they spoke French in school. LeBlanc wanted children to be proud, not ashamed, of their Cajun heritage, culture and language. LeBlanc was Cajun before Cajun was "cool." | LeBlanc helped to make Louisiana the only English-French bilingual state in the nation through legislation to promote the speaking of French in school. LeBlanc's motivation was remembering his youth when he only spoke French and when school children in Southwest Louisiana were punished by teachers for speaking French in schools. Some children were made to kneel on corn kernels or raw rice, and others were slapped if they spoke French in school. LeBlanc wanted children to be proud, not ashamed, of their Cajun heritage, culture and language. LeBlanc was Cajun before Cajun was "cool." |