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WEMY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 1989, PAGE 5 It happened in the middle of the'cormnunity college Btrike which ended one week ego today. About eight o'clock in the morning, the phone rings. I bound out of bed, glance at the time, then mun down the stairs to the itchen phone. No such luxury in the Swan household as a bedroom phone, no sir. So far, I amn wearing what nature providIed. The cail je from a newspaper reporter, which was not surprising, since at the time I was acting as media contact person for four newspapers and two radio stations. "Anything new?" the reporter aïs. Reporters always want to know what's new. Good reporters know better than te asic. I reply that there were no ne w developments. Then, just before the reporter hung up, I suggest that if the strike goes on any longer,, students might lose their year. It is a planned quip -- good reporters wouldpDick Up such a etatement ta freshen the storyr. It worked. Ten minutes later, the reporter bas picked that particular lime cdean. Fm stiil standing ini the middle of the itchen in nadtures finest, when the reporter then starts debating the issues. 'Tou people want jobs for life,' she says. "No," I reply. "That's not the point ...-" "Well, anyone else can get laid off. They have te go out looking for work. I don't know wbat's wrong with 'm sure you misunderstand the facte." 'My mother was a teacher, and she worked long hours for not much money. I see too many teachers today who are just in it for the money." I don't sSe that.... " "And another thing. Canadien ivoedents just don't score well on tests against othfr countries. We're paying ail this tax money for o'ir education system, and were not getting the result',.' .About this point another person ini my household drapes a housecoat over r.-y inunodesty and mouths a WITH OUR by Bill Swan Not off-the-shelf few suggestions to me. Like telling this persan, in printable terme, te Cet Lost. Eventually I do. Politely, te my everlasting sharne. Perhaps, thougb, this pereon is right. Could it be that we are spending huge sums of money on education, and not getting resulte? Elementary schools are well adrninistered, where the children are bappy with the echool atmosphere and eager teplas. Senior public echoole and high echools might reveal sometbing different. The better students are clearly receiving a better education than anyone ever did in years pat. But in some clessrooms the atrnosphere lacice the sarne dedication. What's happening? Perhaps it is our insistence that ail students go te high school that is at fault. Thirty years ago, for every eight students who started grade nine, two were graduated from grade twelve, and one of those went on te, complete~ grade thirteen. Today, ninety per cent of students complete grade twelve. In today's complex society, that cannot be reaching too high. I once argued that Canadians have no right te expect Ben Johnson or any other track athIete to win medals until they are prepered .to fil the SkyDome between Olympiade te watch a track meet. For the saine reason, Canadiens ehould not expect excellence from our-- chools, unlees we expect the saine from ourselves. But.- in an age when we worsbip rock and roll, television game shows, two cars, wrestling and TV evangelism, can we expect our children te ignore such trash for material that je important te their lives? I plead not here for my own role as a teacher. I arn among the lucky; the studenta I teach have made up their minds what they want te do, and ail I have te do ie help point out some of the shortcuts. And shortcute meanbard work. But often in the crucial years in senior public and early high schools, many students are distracted by the tinsel. Those teachers who dea] with those tender xmnds, day in, day out, deserve medals and understanding. We are an off-the-shelf consumer society, the richest this planet bas every known. We tend to treat al thinge as aif-the-sheif riches. But it doesn't work that way. Education ie mot an off-the-shelf commodity. If we want excellence in education, we (as consumera, as parents, as students) bave te do more than tbrow money at it and let somebody else do it. Herrema: Shoppers may want Sunday shopping more than retailers By Trudie Zavadovics DurLhar shoppers may be more anxious for Sunday shop- ping than retailers. Regional chairman Gary Her- remia said after last week's re%ona1 counoil meeting that he received more calîs froin people .wanting ta shop Sunday than froin retailers' wanting to remain open. Durham Region has a policy prohibiting Sunday hopping but has no bylaw to 'back it Up. When asked if the Region would get an injunction to keep stores closed the regiomal chair- man said, "How would we get an injunction? The region.would go to court and asic for an injunction Boat, dmages dock By Trudie Zavadovics ~The Prince Edward Island,' the large boat which crashed into the Whitby harbor walls during bad weather last Friday, complies with ail federal regulations and can stay there, says Ontarjo rid- ing MP Rene Soetens. "The boat is anchored to a federal pier and is anchored there legally with the knowledge of the Department of Transport," says MP Rene Soetens. «It is not an abandoned vessel." Last Friday rnarked the second time there has been darnage to the harbor wall when a large boat got loose in rough weather. The Town of Whitby once tried, unsuccessfully, to take the boat owner to court in an attempt ta, have the boat removed. 55 Baldwin St. Broolin, Ont. Phone: 655-8444 Tor. 427-1263 "There is no legai mechanism for us ta remove it as long as the boat owner pays fees .and as long as it's seaworthy,» says Soetens. He added that est hetics has nothing ta do with it - it's not sinking. However, Soetens said that he is now awaiting approval from the Treasury Board to change the status of the harbor so that it fails under the jurisdiction of the municipality. That, would then prevent vessels of that size from docking at the harbor. Boat owner Art Robinson has always paid damages and pays the rqiddockinqgfe.Se tens bevs that Robinson, who operates an auto wrecking yard, is still trying to sel the ship. He anticipates that repairs to the dock will beLyin in the spring. *COUNTRY CHARM $219,000 Beautifully renovated 3br aider home on .51 acre country lot w/mature trees and creek at rear. Features: W/O from DR to backyard, skylight, 11/2 baths, W/0 from MBR ta cosy balcony. New broadloom, wiring & plumbing--aIl you have ta do is move i Cali now for a personal tour with Brian or Jackie Wright, 655-8444 or Res. 655- 8930, Legail ndust rial/ Resident ial Mix. A completely finished 1500 sq. ft. shop plus a completely renovated bungalow w/finished basement--alI in the heart of W%,hitby for $325,000. Caîl Brian or Jackie Wright for further information at 427-1263 or Res. 655-8930. under the provincial law?" The region is now looking into the legalities of prosecuting stores who remain open Sun- days. H e said that one store was charged Nov. 12 but he would not identifS' the store or the municipality. Although hie personal choice is to have stores remain closed SundaysHerrerna said that ,they will hol public meetings on the issue in t he new year. He said that a bylaw on Sunday shopping should either let everyone or no one stay open. The five food chains, Loblaws, A&P, Dominion, Miracle Food Mart and the Oshawa group, who pushed the issue on Nov. 12 ~se w499 by opening a total of. 80 stores in York, Pe1, Halton and Niattgara regions, have abandoned their~ stay open Sumday campaign pro- viding each region actively ses out.to develop policy. Pie $4m95 PAIR 1 wal GET Ã"UT 0F TOWNII.