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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 17, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Wake-up call for thrill seekers Contrary to what some young people may think, there's nothing `sweet', `rad', `dank' or `sick' about dying or being critically injured. Last week's tragedy involving a 16-year-old Burlington student has cast a cloud over what should have been a joyous time in the life of a young man -- the end of final exams and the start of a summer full of promise and potential. While many teens will be starting summer jobs, making plans for trips to cottage country or simply kicking back and relaxing with family and friends, time stands still now for this victim and all those closest to him; all because of an ill-conceived stunt gone terribly wrong. Those who care about this teen can only watch, wait and pray that their friend, son and brother will pull through after having suffered a serious head injury while `car-sledding' in a church parking lot last week. An Internet page on Facebook has been providing well-wishers -- more than 900 as of Monday afternoon -- a place to share their grief over what has happened to their friend. Meanwhile, the hugely-popular website YouTube continues to create a worldwide stage for thrill-seekers to post their latest exploits in high-risk behaviour. Internet-posted videos of young people performing high-speed stunts behind homemade sleds and skateboards -- on land, water and snow -- are enough to make parents want to lock up their sons or daughters until they're old enough to know better. What is ominously absent from YouTube is the growing number of teen fatalities and life-altering injuries associated with such foolhardy acts. According to Halton police, last week's tragedy had been captured on a cellphone video they seized from one of the participants in the stunt. One of the victim's friends -- a 17 year old -- is charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. We sincerely hope that last week's tragedy will provide a sobering wake-up call to other young thrillseekers who remain under the mistaken impression they are invincible. As we said at the start, there's nothing cool about critical injuries or losing your life. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Smaller schools better option for students How dare Heidi Greenfield (and the rest of her entourage) suggest that since I support Halton District School Board Education Director Joudrie's alternative proposal, I am not committed to achieving excellence in my children's education (Residents voice concern over school plans , Letter to the editor, Oakville Beaver, June 12 ). The absence of a vice-principal, secretarial staff and such do not a successful learning environment make. Rather, it is the partnership between committed parents and teachers that do. We are not seeking "boutique" schools as the writer says, but rather a traditional setting where a smaller population of students and teachers co-exist in a far more relaxed setting than one that has a dozen school buses idling in the parking lot. My definition of educational excellence includes the opportunity for parents and children, particularly in the formative years of Grades 1-6, to walk together to school, hand-in-hand ­ sharing quality time that is integral to the journey of learning. For the writer to suggest this leads to an "inferior learning experience" is simply wrong. The analogy I'll use is would I rather pile the kids in the car and head to the big box mall, or prefer to walk as a family to downtown Oakville and shop one of the local stores where personalized service and quality is ever present? Yes, maybe I pay a little more, but the overall experience is worth it. With significant education taxes levied against those who reside in Southeast Oakville, we should expect no less. CHARLES WALSH Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Reject Ward 3 compromise The full page ad appearing in the Oakville Beaver, June 12: Oakville Residents for Public Education opens as follows: On June 17th, the Halton District School Board of Trustees have the opportunity to end almost 20 years of instability in the elementary public schools of Southeast Oakville. Nothing could be further from the truth. Notwithstanding an historical inequity in Clearview, the quality of education provided Halton students, including those residing in Ward 3, has been second to none. Such unsubstantiated rhetoric needs to be exposed for what it is -- the machinations of a self-interested group. In her excellent letter to the editor, appearing in the same edition, Heidi Greenfield set forth a compelling argument for rejecting the compromise position advanced by Education Director Wayne Joudrie, in favour of the board's original decision which, clearly, reflects principles and practices essential for the delivery of quality education. Thankfully, the final decision is up to the Halton District School Board trustees. It is most unlikely a court of law would intervene. To capitulate to exhortations from an irate group bent on having things their way, at the expense of the public good, would serve no other purpose than to encourage similar behaviour in the future. I urge trustees to stick to to their principles. PETER D. PELLIER