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By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff Pregnant teens in Durham will get their own teacher. The Durham Board of Education, at the Dec. 9 meeting, voted to hire a secondary school teacher to begin and operate an alternative school program for pregnant students. Although provincial statistics for Oshawa- Whitby show during 1984-85 there were 20 pregnant students bet- ween the ages of 14 to 16, and 45 pregnant studen- ts between the ages of 17 and 18. Still more go, unreported. Olga McQuay, co- ordinator of single mothers and infants learning experience (S.M.I.L.E.) said a number of pregnant teens go outside the area to have their babies. Since McQuay gets her statistics by gathering birth notices from the province, babies born outside Oshawa-Whitby would not be recorded as bir- ths from the area. At present there are only three options open to the pregnant student. They can continue at their present school with some home in- struction; they can take a correspondence cour- se from the Ministry of Education or from Durham Alternative Secondary Education which is sponsored by the Durham Board; or they can drop out. Over 85 percent of the girls choose the third option. However, the percentage may be higher. Maureen Ham, liaison teacher with supervised alternative learning for excused pupils, says girls who discover they are pregnant during the summer may simply say they are not retur- ning to school, not giving pregnancy as the reason. The program which is due to begin next Sep- tember will operate out of two locations: West- mount on Pine Ave. in Oshawa and in Pickering at 1400 Bayly. Ham said the student will remain at her own school as long as possible and then might reduce her course load and continue studies in the alternative program. She will still get assignments and tests from teachers at her home school. These will be returned to the home school for marking but the teacher of the alter- native program will provide supervision and instruction. Students will probably attend three hours a Whitby trustees will act on a variety of committees on the Durham Board of Education in the coming year. Newly-elected trustee Patty Bowman will be on property, program, and communications advisory; vice- chairman Ian Brown will be on personnel, finance, and salary; John Buchanan will be on property and finan- day. The alternative teacher will be a half day at each school. Since there will be so much flexibility and in- dividual assistance Ham said there should be no more than eight students to one teacher. Ham is hopeful there will be a course in childý education for these students since most who decide to complete their pregnancy keep their babies. A public health nurse will give prenatal in- struction. Since students will come from the area ser- ved by the Durham Board to the two locations, transpor- tation could be a problem. Ham said a combination of board busing to the nearest regular school and public transportation may be the solution. When the girls have delivered their babies and are ready to return to school Ham said they may attend Central Collegiate in Oshawa which bas had a ce; and Judi Oldman, newly-elected separate school representative, will be on program, per- sonnel, and affirmative action. As well Bowman will serve on the curriculum committee and Buchanan on the legislation and finance committee for the Association of Large School Boards of On- tario. daycare centre operating for students' children for the past 18 months. McQuay said of the board of education program, "It's great. A lot of teen mothers try to go back to night school, but it's very difficult to arrange with a young baby at home." McQuay said if teen mothers continue their schooling, they usually have to go on welfare. They can't get housing and may have to share. "A young .mother might feel she has to live with a boy just to get a roof over her head." Ham said, "If we can get them to at least grade 10 it's easier for them to progress ... these girls have a child and themselves to raise." WHITBY FREE PRESS,WEDNESDAY.DIECEMBER 18, 1985 PAGE 3 'Twas a Palmerston pageant Palmerston Avenue students gave an age-old Christmas tale new meaning with their comical performance of The Night Before Christmas Thursday night. The skit, pictured above, was acted out by Miss Huebert's Grade 5 class, one of several classes to participate in the elementary school's Christmas Concert. Free Press Staff Photo KentuckyEriedChicken THE SCOTT'S CHRISTMAS BUFFET. WXlhen you gather at home or at the office this holiday season, we'll wrap you a party with all the trimmings. For groups of 15, 30, 50 or more. Our special Christmas buffet, available through lanuary 12, 1986, includes two pieces of chicken, salad, and a slice olf buttered bread lor just $2.50per person. Or order our reguilar buffet, \vith three pieces oLf chicken, salad, and a slice oi buttered bread lor $3.25 per person. Packed in an easy pick-up box, the buelt cones with a tablecloth, plates, cutlery and napkins. Call the manager of your nearest Scoti's Chicken Villa, to order your buflet. \nd have \'ourseli a Merry Christimas part'. f *// f /f~i .-/ v Pregnant teens to get special class Whitby trustees join committees / rower fresh Say "Cheers" to a happy holiday. Send the FTD" Holiday Cheer Bouquet. $19." a24.9-29."5 Call or visit us today 1- VAN BELLE FLORAL SHOPPES L "-,e ro. Gi