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PAGE 6 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, MAY 30,2001 * Editoriale ^Opinions FOR 146 YEARS, OUR FIRST CONCERN HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNITY Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-in-chief - Joanne Burghardt Managing Editor - Judi Bobbitt Advertising Manager - Brian G. Purdy Advertising - Laveme Morrison, Christian-Ann Goulet Office - Junia Hodge, Nancy Plcasance-Sturman Editorial - Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Jacquie Mclnnes Efje Cnitabimt Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.B. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George W. James 1919-1957 John M. James. 1957-1999 Produced by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of CLARINGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 190,62 King St. \V„ Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 TEL: 905-623-3303 FAX: 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.M. E-mail: jbobbitt@durhamregion.com Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 EDITORIAL e-mail Idlers to ncwsroom@ilurhamregion.com Photo radar's time has come, again Safe highways are desperately needed It may be high time to go back to an old idea: photo radar. The increasing numbers of cars on Hwy. 401 and even the speedsters who inhabit secondary highways like Hwy. 2 and Hwy. 7A need to know somebody or something rather, is always watching them. Police crackdowns on speeders and dangerous drivers are effective but they simply don't last. The impact of the publicity about a coming crackdown, the visible evidence of police cruisers, the reports of numerous charges laid, are fine for the brief time of the crackdown. But their effectiveness effectiveness ends the day the crackdown ends. There must be a better; long-term way to keep speed under control, to save lives. Photo radar provides a cheap, reliable, safe method of ensuring drivers stay within 15 or 20 kilometres-per-hour of the posted speed limit. It need not be intrusive. Maintaining Maintaining that 'eye on the road' would keep drivers in line and under control. There's a feeling the introduction of photo radar in the early 1990s helped create a deterrent and kept speeding and dangerous driving down. But its use was far too brief. -The Tories made photo radar one of their main concerns concerns when they went up against the governing NDP in the 1995 provincial election. Even though police agencies across the province noted speed limits on oiir highways came down, the Tories removed the device because motorists motorists complained it was as though 'Big Brother' was watching them. Police highway crackdown units likely cost Ontario taxpayers more than photo radar ever would and, invariably, invariably, last a short time. Every month the traffic gets heavier heavier and heavier on the 401. Drivers who travel at safe speeds need all the help they can get out there. As far as the 'Big Brother' aspect of photo radar goes, the, provincial Tories have not shied away from entering people's lives. 1 Most recently, they've required people on social assistance to take drug tests before they 1 ,receive a monthly welfare cheque. Setting up a camera on our highways highways to try and save numerous lives is no less intrusive and far more effective. It makes no sense for a government to keep turning its back on a proven, sensible way to make our highways a safer place to be. It's time for the government to take a second look at its decision to ban photo radar from our highways. «Tbcawi <Miÿv*\§tew.c0vt m rum& MtBrmoNtf LEM® WHOSE TOOK ARE MippiNfcsr THE IBS o » . LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail Idlers to ncwsivom@iltirliamrcgion.com School tax credit is needed To the editor: Hundreds in this community were elated when we heard the Finance Minister say the words, "phase-in a partial tax credit for parents of kids at independent schools." While it is certainly provocative provocative for columnists and. the official official opposition to talk abolit this tax credit as a break for parents with kids' in upper-crust private schools the real effect will be noticed noticed by the lower-middle class and middle class parents who are so convinced religious schooling is important they are willing to make a true sacrifice from their pocketbooks to educate them. Some schools in Durham that fit into this category are: Knox Christian School and Durham Christian High School in Bowmanville Bowmanville as well as Durham Christian Academy and Immanuel Immanuel Christian School in Os- hawa. I'm a person who was educated educated in an independent Christian, school and who sends his children children to the same even though it is a difficult financial choice to make. I have been in several public public schools that offer a very good education for Ontario children but my wife and I want that "good education" taught from the religious perspective we hold dear. Remember, Christian school parents will continue to contribute to the public school system through their property taxes and we will still be paying a significant amount of money to it and the independent system when the full amount of this tax credit comes into force in five years. The Ontario government was ruled discriminatory by the world court for funding separate Catholic schools while denying other religions. For many years this ruling was ignored and only now has the Ontario government taken a small step to rectify the problem. It should be noted even this action is considerably less than Alberta and British Columbia Columbia contribute towards religious schools. When I was growing up there was always a "free" public school available down the road but this was simply not a viable option because of deep religious convictions that could not be ignored. ignored. My parents put eight children children through Christian elementary elementary and high schools. My father was a blue-collar worker and for the most part my mother stayed home with the kids. It meant driving driving old cars you fixed yourself, living in old houses furnished with old furniture and older appliances appliances but it was "worth it." At times some parents in our Christian school community cannot cannot pay the full amount for tuition tuition so they pay what they can. Local churches collect money for the local Christian school tuition assistance fund which helps parents parents who cannot pay. I cannot speak for Islamic schools and Jewish schools but I know Christian schools have a phenomenal atmosphere. I sincerely sincerely believe a big reason for this is the level of financial sacrifice sacrifice parents have put forth. This sacrifice often brings with it a volunteer commitment equally impressive and that spirit is contagious contagious arhbng staff and students. My daughter has been in this independent independent school for four years without a single work stoppage, strike, walkout, lockout or job action. action. I have full confidence this will continue until she graduates from high school even though her teachers receive lower salaries, on average, with fewer benefits. I know that for my daughter this education will produce a solid citizen who cares deeply for her province and country. She'll do this, in large part, because of the religious roots that were taught to her at this school with an emphasis on caring for her fellow fellow citizens. This tax credit is a good idea and, truth be said, it does not go far enough. Don't judge this issue by my words but drop in at a Christian School around Durham and I suspect'you too will be impressed. Rob Snoek Bowmanville Private school tax splits parties Everyone has a view on controversial measure LOOKING BACK WITH THE STATESMAN 75 YEARS AGO June 3,1926 An official with the Department of Agriculture, recently in town to visit his brother, wrote that, "To visit your beautiful beautiful town with its spacious home properties and good soil, does not tend to increase the city man's satisfaction with his constricted back yard." 50 YEARS AGO May 31,1951 Canvassers were hitting the streets of the area, trying to raise $50,000 to finish building and equipping the new Bowmanville Memorial Hospital. 25 YEARS AGO June 2,1976 The newspaper put it down to "beginner's luck" when a newborn baby girl won the "All The Pampers Your Baby Can Use" contest. Her parents received seven months worth of diapers immediately; the next 17 months worth were due to arrive around Christmas. Information taken front the archives of The Canadian Statesman Premier Mike Harris has accomplished accomplished a rare feat by coming up with a policy that has split both his own party and its main opposition and both will have problems patching things up. The rifts showed up quickly after the Progressive Conservative Conservative premier said he will provide tax credits for parents who send their children to private and religious religious schools. Liberal leader Dalton McGuin- ty said he will fight the funding 'tooth and nail,' and, if necessary, cancel it if he becomes premier in an election about 2003 for which he now has a huge lead in the polls. But two prominent Liberal MPPs, Monte Kwintcr and Michael Bryant, had been on the record as favouring funds for religious religious schools and said they will stick to that position. Both have large Jewish populations in their ridings and many parents who send children to Jewish schools lobbied for funds. Mr. Kwintcr says he supports funds for religious schools because because Roman Catholic schools already receive them, but would prefer one publicly funded system system and any who then want to send children to religious schools would have to pay. He is against Eric Dowd At Queen s Park funds for non-religious private schools used mainly by the wealthy. Mr. Kwintcr and Mr. Bryant are particularly useful to their party. Mr. Kwintcr has respect because of his competent, steady, sober service as a minister between 1985-90 and since and is the kind of MPP the Liberals need desperately desperately to attract business which now overwhelmingly supports Mr. Harris. Mr. Bryant is much newer but has a reputation as brimming with ideas and able to capture publicity, so he is the most talked of young Liberal and a possible successor to Mr. McGuinty. The Liberals would be embarrassed to have two such notable colleagues colleagues vole against them on an issue that has quickly become a landmark of Tory policy and a symbol of their differences. The Tories have quickly tried to exploit this dissension among the Liberals. Mr. Harris chortled in Jennifer; Stone; Staff IVriten jstonc^itlurluimiv ffum.com < the legislature there appear to be some Liberals who support his policy. Education Minister Janet Ecker has drawn attention to the Liberal split now fewer than five times, saying Mr. Kwintcr and Mr. Bryant show more respect for the wishes of parents than Mr. McGuinty. But the smiles have been suddenly suddenly wiped off Tory faces by confirmation of what was suspected suspected the moment the policy was announced, that some Tories, Tories, including Ms. Ecker, are not happy with it. Ms. Ecker, a moderate and aide to the red Tory premier William Davis, had said, like Mr. Harris, only months ago she had no thought of providing funds for private schools and was intent on strengthening the public system. Mr. Harris reversed with encouragement encouragement from his new, far- right finance minister Jim Flaherty- Flaherty- Ms. Ecker has denied she almost almost resigned in protest, but her rejoinders such as she does not make her innermost thoughts public, 'speculation of this kind is not helpful,' and the government government in the end makes decisions and ministers articulate them were not thundering enough to quash such a notion. Large majority need to agree on uniform If it takes a village to raise a child, it's going to take 85 per cent of that village to decide what the kid wears to school. At least that's what the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board has chosen as its threshold for the implementation implementation of a school uniform at any given school. At least 85 per cent of, parents, guardians and adult students will have to vote in favour of a uniform uniform before children will be required to arrive at school clad in such attire. Under the Province's Safe Schools Act, the board had to, after public consultation, consultation, develop a rule that would allow school communities to implement implement such a dress code where the majority majority of parents agreed to it. But, the definition of the word "majority" was left up to boards of education. education. So, after extensive public consultation, KPR came up with the; 85 per cent rule. Some might look at this number, and immediately think it far too high'. But making siich a çlrastîc change to a school community warrants an extraordinarily extraordinarily high level of agreement. A simple majority - 50 per cent, plus one - should not be given the power to make such a decision. But maybe it shouldn't just be parents, parents, guardians and adult students who vote on the matter - maybe everyone involved should have a say. The implementation of a school uniform is an enormous commitment for all involved. Parents must be willing willing to spend the money on uniform items - which often carry a fairly significant significant price tag - in order for the idea to fly. And they must be willing to keep an eye on their kids as they leave for school in the morning, to ensure the child is clad in the agreed-upon clothing. Students must be willing to wear the outfit, and so, it must be chosen chosen carefully, with the wants, needs and age of the student in mind. School administration and teachers must be on board, in order to ensure compliance compliance with the uniform rule, since they'll be the ones to determine fit punishment for those who do not come to school properly dressed. To put such a rule in place is something something the vast majority of the school community must be in favour of. It's ■ not something that can be decided by 51 per cent of the school community. Unless all three sides - parents, students students and school staff - are on side, it will simply never work. THE CANADIAN STATESMAN is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of, newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Claring- ton Board of Trade, the Greater Os- hawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit t Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement, Credit for advertisement limited to, space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. prohibited. mmm The Canadian Statesman welcomes letters to the editor. All letters should be typed or neatly hand-written, 150 words. Each letter must include the name, mailing address and daytime telephone number of the writer. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for style, length and content. We regret regret that due to the volume of letters, not all will be printed. Fax letters to 623-616lor emailed to newsroom@durhamrcgion.com 0 JA liiiB •^P Cn ®' <A jHjg,