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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1984. PAGE 3 Parents fear English language instruction could be crowded out by French inunersion at E.A. Fairman school Will Whitby's E.A. Fairman Public School become the first com- pletely French public school in Durham Region? Although they say the Durham Board of Education has told them otherwise, a committee of parents at the Palace St. school fear that the board's French immer- sion program will com- pletely take over the facility in the next few years. According to Ursula Reeson of the Commit- tee of E.A. Fairman Parents there are now 173 students enrolled in the standard English language program from kindergarten to grade 7. By comparison, there are 178 . students enrolled in the school's French immersion program in kindergar- ten tograde 3. She also- says that there are, to date, only five children enrolled in English language kin- dergarten program beginning this Septem- ber. However, she ad- ded, the school is looking at three kin- dergarten classes in the French immersion program. "They are looking at, at least, three full kin- dergartens in French," Reeson says. Because they are con- cerned that the school will soon be totally devoted to the French immersion program, without a specific policy directive from the board, the parents have called a meeting at the school tomorrow (Jan. 10)at 7:30 p.m. in the school gym. Reeson says that of- ficials of the board and both of Whitby's trustees, Ian Brown and' John Buchanan, have indicated that they will be at the meeting. However, Reeson doesn't seem pleased with the board's respon- ses to the parents' committee to date. "Officially, the board says this is something we've made up...it's just a rumor," she says. "According to (director of education Bruce) Mather we have ab- solutely nothing to worry about." But Reeson,. who has two children attending Report from Queen's Park By THE HON. GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC - Durham West) Minister of Government Services Ontario Headlight law Winter is now fully upon us with all its glory - and its hazards to driving. In an effort to help overcome some traffic hazards, several amendments to the Highway Traffic Act were passed by the Ontario Legislature before its Christmas recess. As of Dec.14, 1984, Ontario motorists must switch on their lights a half hour before sunset, and keep them on a half hour after sunrise. The act previously required that headlights be turned on 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. The stipulation remains that lights be used any time when visibility is less than 150 metres. According to my colleague, Transportation Minister James Snow: "We have growing proof that daylight use of headlights can significantly reduce the incidence of multiple vehicle collisions." He continued, "Evidence from other jurisdictions also shows accidents can be decreased if motorists keep their lights on longer." This has resulted in an agreement by all provincial transportation ministers to "extend the 'lights on' period by another hour in the mornings and evenings, when sun glare and traffice density are at their peak. It's a simple measure. .one we believe will save lives," concluded Snow. Another amendrnent aimed at increasing the safety of Ontario's roads will require school bus drivers to have a clear view of 125 metres in both directions before stopping their bus on any highway or road. This same law currently applies to all other motorists. If an accident does occur, the amount of property damage in reportable motor vehicle accidents has been raised to $700 from $400 effective Jan. 1, 1985. This new minimum better reflects the continually- increasing costs for parts and labour to repair motor vehicles which have been involved in ac- cidents. This $700 reportable accident/property damage level applies to all motor vehicles, including motor- cycles, mopeds, and off-road vehicles. Motorists should be aware that if they are involved in an ac- cident which results in personal injury or property damage exceeding $700, thèy must report it to the police. I wish to take this opportunity, the first "Report" in 1985, to wish you and yours a Happy New Year. May your problems in 1985belittle ones. t c the school, isn't convin- ced. "It is becoming pain- fully obvious that it is going to be expedient to make it all French im- mersion," she says, especially when the current and future enrolment figures are considered. While Reeson stresses that the parents aren't against the French im- mersion, she notes that the program is growing so quickly that English language students may be literally forced out of the school. She notes that because there are only five children enrolled in the English language kindergarten program to date this September, the board may choose to bus them to other schools. That means in the following school year there will be no grade 1 English class at E.A. Fairman. "That means, to us, there will be no grade 1 the next year," Reeson says, "Then the problem is going to take care of itself." The Ferguson St. resident says the paren- ts' committee wants the board to ensure that both English and'Fren- ch programs ate taught at E.A. Fairman. "We feel French im- mersion and English in- struction should be given side by side," she says, "After all, the whole idea behind Fren- ch immersion is to promote bilingualism." The parents, she con- tinued, want French immersion expanded to other public schools in Whitby. "We want them to bring the program into other schools as well as our own," she said, "I have no prQblem with the Frenéh immersion staying there, but I want to stay too." In a letter to Bruce Mather, director of education for the Durham board, Reeson noted that the reason many parents pur- chased homes in the area was because of its proximity to both elementary and senior recent interview with the Free Press that she doesn't quite undçr- stand the positions taken by Whitby's two trustees on the Durham Board of Education. "They both said I have to be 'realistic' about the future of the English program at E.A. Fairman because we don't have the num- bers," Reeson said. The committee hopes tomorrow evening's meeting will clear the air and result in a com- mittment by the board to an English language program at the school. The issue has also at- tracted the attention of at least four members of Whitby Town Council who plan to be at the meeting. Due to the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the Whitby Free Press was unable to reach Mather, Brown or Buchanan for com- ment on the issue. a~ MAID SERVICES e i TREND HAS A TIDY SERVICE TO MEET YOUR BUDGET AND CLEANING NEEDS 666-3534 GO WITH TUE TREND schools. And the last thing the parents will tolerate is the busing of their children to other Whitby Public schools to attend an English language program that previously existed at E.A. Fairman. "We have no intention of seeing the young people, now, or in the future, of our local community being sub- jected to a commuter existance not of our choosing, not allow mistakes in educational planning to add to the already disappearing sense of neighbourhood, community, family and birth to death frien- dships formed in youth," she said in her letter. "There is also con- cern among parents whoý have chosen to enroll their children with the French immer- sion program," Reeson continued, "They do not wish to have their children isolated in 'French only' schools nor do we feel it best serves our children to be in English only facilities." She also said in a DISTINCTIVE WEDDING INVITATIONS Select your wedding invitations frormour complcte catalogue. For you .a K cepsake copy of your Invitation in luxurious gold.