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OPINION The logic behind an Ontario Ministry of Education directive where teachers penalize students for late assign- mentsonly as a last resort escapes us. Whats the point of establishing homework deadlines if students know they wont lose marks for failing to meet them? Is anyone else concerned that this new initiative may leave some students ill-equipped to handle real-world demands? We appreciate that the primary purpose of assigning homework is to test students understanding of the cur- riculum and their ability to clearly convey that knowl- edge through a specific class project. However, isnt the high school experience also supposed to be about ready- ing our young people for the working world? We fear this ill-conceived policy will result in future generations of graduates who wont be able to cope with even the most basic obligations of employment. We also suspect many in the business world will find it disconcerting to learn that meeting deadlines for work is being given less importance among Ontarios high school students. Permitting students to complete school assignments virtually reprisal free weeks or months after they are due isnt practical and isnt fair to conscientious students who always complete their work on time. Right or wrong, many aspects of life in the real world demand an ability to meet target dates. Using the public service sector example of a fast food restaurant, a worker who cant meet the consumers expectation of a quick turnaround on an order has an impact on the companys productivity, the customers sat- isfaction and, ultimately, the workers continued employ- ment. Similarly, we cant imagine a powerful advertising client being terribly receptive to being told their deadline for a national advertising campaign is secondary to the whims of a creative team that prefers to work at its own pace. How could a utility company be expected to survive if all its customers submitted payments weeks or months late after they were due? A world absent of deadlines and no repercussions for missing them would be chaotic. This ministry poli- cy is horribly flawed and something local school boards should denounce, rather than embrace. Schools out... to lunch The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Media Group Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for sig- nature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or ser- vices may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Price: Store copies 50 each; Subscriptions $26 per year by carrier; $92.50 per year by mail in Canada; $130 per year in all other countries. Plus G.S.T. Second Class Mail Registration Number 6869. The Independent & Free Press is a member of The Canadian Community Newspaper Association and The Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Steve Nease THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, Having just returned from my regu- lar morning walk, (thankfully again without serious injury), I must add my comments to the recent letters regard- ing clearing sidewalks. I am absolutely appalled with the current conditions and the lack of responsibility taken by anyone, be it homeowners or the Town. I walk every day and observe that the only people who make any attempt to clear their sidewalks are seniors. After numerous complaints in previous years to my local councillor, I was told that sidewalks are the Towns responsibility, and they do their best. Well, their best does not appear to be good enough. The sidewalks on Mountainview Road North have not yet been plowed since the last two large snowfalls. Many sidestreets have yet to be plowed. Businesses are clearing their parking lots onto the sidewalks making them virtually impassable in places, especially at the junction of Mountainview and Guelph Street. On the few occasions when the sidewalks are plowed, the street plow immediate- ly fills them in again. While visiting a relative in the hos- pital, the next bed was occupied by a senior who had slipped outside one of our restaurants and broken her ankle. Our Mayor and council are continu- ally encouraging us to get out and exercise. I would ask that they please make an effort and do their part. Keith Ramsden, Georgetown Towns best snow-clearing efforts not good enough Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Something bugging you? Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Katie Borg (kborg@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle McEachern EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall STAFF DIRECTORY Send us a letter! Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398www.independentfreepress.com Dear editor, Here I sit, three days after the latest storm and yet the sidewalk on Queen Street in Acton still remains uncleared. I try to walk my kids to school at McKenzie-Smith Bennett and yet I can- not since the sidewalks to MSB are also not cleared. Why do both the Town and the school allow this? First, I blame Mayor Rick Bonnette. He is the guy that is supposed to make sure Town staff do their job. They are not, so he is to blame. Second, the head of the Department of Public Works. I called to complain and got lip service. Third, the people plowing the roads and sidewalks. They drive around with their blades up, and plow sidewalks that are not nearly as vital as Queen St. and MSB. The system is broken. I would love to hear the excuses, especially since it is ALWAYS like this. Storm after storm, this area is basically forgotten for days if not weeks. The hack job that eventually gets done is so bad, the side- walks are still barely passable and defi- nitely not safe for adults, never mind kids. I strongly suggest that Acton resi- dents reconsider who they are voting for next election. Our town services are deplorable. Why do we pay such high taxes? I just wish the rest of the resi- dents would stand up for Acton before we are completely looked over by the mayor and the rest of the supposed Town service heads. William Kelley, Acton Dear editor, I read with interest the Feb. 1 article outlining snow removal after the last snowstorm and the fact we have exceeded our budget already. I find it interesting that our Town goes over budget so easily when one storm affects our town. I have noticed that the salt trucks / plows do not remove as much snow as possible BEFORE laying down the salt. Salt is not meant to melt away 10 cm of snow from the road, but to melt the thin layer that remains AFTER plowing the roads. The Town is needlessly laying down an excessive amount of salt on our roads that not only damage our roads and bridges but also affect our cars and environment. If the Town would like to better control the snow removal budget, have the plows, PLOW the roads, not just try to melt them. I was sitting beside a salt truck last week after the storm and watched the truck leave a 20-kg. pile of salt on the road when he pulled away. Not exactly fiscal responsibility so now they raise my taxes again. Brad Gillies, Georgetown (Editors note: The article referred to in this letter clearly indicated it was the 2007 budget that had been exceeded.) Lots of blame to go around for shoddy snow-clearing efforts Message to works crews: Salt less and plow more 6 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, February 13, 2008