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THE WEEKEND OUTLOOK Friday May 17 1991 Page Acton students reaching out to the world Features By LISA BOONSTOPPELPOT The Herald Canadian Geography classes at Acton High School have gone far beyond the science that describes the surface of the earth Theyve become minute conference periods where students from around the world debate en vironmental business and political issues through a com puter linkup Its called computer teleconferencing and has 31 Ac ton students discussing the politics of global warming human rights arms control drug trafficking and the European Economic Community from a Canadian perspective with students around the world who discuss the same issues from their countries perspective Its a great way to make Social Science more relevant to kids said Al a Social Science consultant who is work ing with school staff to in corporate the project Instead of teaching them a pile of facts it teaches them to research and ac cumulate information as problem The actual conferencing part of the course takes place in the com puter lab Two computers have been linked to the University of Maryland S A where the pro gram is based Messages from students representing 22 coun tries are sent there via satellite technology and translated if needed by Maryland University students and sent on to the school representing the country the message is directed to Although 22 countries are represented on ly Spain Brazil Japan Zim babwe Germany United States and Canada are actually represented by students of their own country Other countries are represented by other Canadian or American school students Before the teleconferencing began two weeks ago there was a tremendous amount of advance preparation by students said Keith Black teacher of the OAC course at Acton High School who was instrumental m administer ing the program He explained the class has been organized to represent the Cana dian government with a Prime Minister Colleen Gregg Depu ty Prime Minister Andrew McVay Minister of Com munications Scott Pearson and committee members Along with researching their role each stu dent was assigned a country and were required know the coun tries policies on the environment business and human rights The interaction occurs when a communication is established with a specific country for exam ple Japan The student who has the expertise on that country an then be consulted As well each student must have a basic understanding of Canadas own policies in order to Acton High School student Dan accepts a computer message from japan during the schools conference on the environment while Craig Jones looks on The school is taking part in a com puter teleconferencing program where students across the world represent their country on political issues and review debate and discuss these Issues through a computer linkage Herald photo represent the country during the computer conferences The research has helped to broaden the students cultural and political horizons said Mr Black Its also aided enriching their understanding of at least countries in the world He explained that students gamer much of their information from magazines because they are more current on issues They must have an Intense understan ding of Canada If they dont theyre seen as weak by the representatives of other coun tries and by their own peer group he said He added this is a good thing because It makes the students reach a bit and doesnt allow them to slide by with a minimal level of understanding about the countries including Canada in volved in the program Through still in its early stages the school is finding the program very successful and has even been commended by the Univer sity of Maryland on the quality of the messages being sent out by the Acton students During one teleconference ses sion students received 100 messages from other countries Student Scott Pearson said he finds the conferencing really in teresting and enjoys it because its a different way of learning Andrew McVay said he has got ten a whole new respect for other countries through the project All the teachers and ad ministrators involved the project are raving about the com puter concept as well Not only does the program help students leam about other countries but it builds up people and computer skills said Mr Besides Mr and Mr Black the persons responsible for establishing the computer teleconferencing at Acton School include George Monroe coordinator for Social Science for the Board of Educa tion George McCrae head of computer services for the Board Cooper instructional consultant with the Board Ozzie Calderelli Principal at Acton High School Bill Taylor com puter programmer at the school Dave Sale head of computer ser vices at the school and Ken Ellis head of the resource centre at the school Teleconferencing will continue until the end of June when students will be required to write a paper on Canadas links to other countries and what issues Canada is resolved and unresolv ed on Kavanaugh family wondering what the future holds By LISA The Herald The eviction deadline for Willow Park residents has come and gone but for the Kavanaugh family the days ominous over tones were overshadowed by worse news Their sixyearold son Alex who has leukemia was ordered back to hospital Their son who is recovering from chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant was transfer red to Torontos Hospital for Sick Children after he began urinating blood Tuesday The brave youngster had tried to hide this fact from his family because he didnt want to go back to hospital Fortunately he was able to come home again that night Doctors believe the bleeding may be a defrayed reaction to the chemotherapy treatment Its their concern for Alexs health that keeps Bernadene and Paul Kavanaugh fighting against the Credit Valley Conservation Authority and local councillors against the CVCAs expropriation of the land Willow Park is situated on The CVCA expropriated the land in because its located in the Credit River flood plain putting the residents lives at risk should a flood occur Despite this danger Mrs Bernadene and her two younger children Paula and Joel played with Tonka Toys outside their Willow Park trailer while waited for a telephone call from the hospital where Mr and son Alex who has leukemia were Tuesday after Alex experienced The family Is together at home now but still worry about Alex and where they will be living in the future Herald photo Kavanaugh insists this is the safest place for Alex who is im mune deficient Alex cant be near animals or children who are sick she said If we were to move wed have to thoroughly clean the place and then be sure Alex isnt exposed to other people or their pets She said that isnt a danger in the trailer park because everybody knows Alex and knows how to take care of him know Alex is safe here with these people she said Even if the Kavanaughs could move to a safe place Mrs Kavanaugh said they just cant afford it She and her husband are barely making ends meet now to pay a monthly mortgage since Mr Kavanaugh was laidoff from his job at Cobra Manufacturing in January How could we afford to pay rent on top of that she asks Realistically Mrs knows she will have to move but she said she wont until she receives fair compensation Id be happy if we got the money to pay off our mortgage and the interest weve paid on it over the years Also we would like someone to find us a new site so we Would have a place to live she said So far the have been given from the CVCA for moving costs and to cover im provements they have made on their property Without a site to place the trailer its virtually worthless even though they paid for it five years ago You think when you own something its yours she said Then all of a sudden they take it away from you and it scares you All of a sudden you feel like a criminal when you havent done anything Now the family is waiting for two things First they hope their son will fully recover and second ly theyre waiting to see what will happen to their home They know theyll eventually be kicked out of Willow Park but they dont know how or when it will happen Worst of all they dont know what will happen to them when that day finally comes FLYERS Watch for these MONEYSAVING flyers inside this edition of THE HERALD CANADIAN TIRE ACTON AND GEORGETOWN PARTIAL DISTRIBUTION GEORGETOWN FOOD MARKET