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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 19, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 905-845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington 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: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief, Halton Region Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Put students first Letter to the editor Today, Halton public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, and designated early childhood educators are staging a one-day strike to, in the union's words, "continue sending the government a message that Bill 115 is severely impeding local collective bargaining." Unfortunately, as with any job action involving teachers, students and parents are collateral damage. But let's be clear here: This dispute isn't about, or for, students. This teacher-government fight isn't in the best interests of the students. Bill 115 -- The Putting Students First Act -- is nothing but a struggle between a government desperate to correct past mistakes and unions reluctant to relinquish power. The Province, faced with a multi-billion dollar deficit, is forced to save money and, after other avenues, is eyeing the public sector. Doctors, civil servants, and teachers, are being asked to help by biting the financial bullet -- in the form of pay freezes and reduction of archaic sick days -- an expensive employee credit where workers can bank days for which they weren't ill and receive a hefty payout upon retiring. Catholic and Francophone teachers managed to reach a compromise with the government. Doctors reached a deal just recently. Seven months of negotiating between the Province and public school teachers, before Bill 115 was unveiled in August, didn't lead to a deal. Now there's an impasse where the teachers' unions are claiming Bill 115 violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and strips their negotiating power. If that is the case, perhaps it should be in the courtrooms of the country where this dispute is argued out -- not local classrooms, school yards, holiday concerts, kiss-and-ride and school bus drop zones. How the unions will react when Bill 115 becomes law when the calendar flips to 2013 is anyone's guess. But one thing is sure. Just ahead of one of the most busy and expensive times of the year for families, when young people anticipate Santa filling their wish list and families eke out time to spend together, it has been students who have lost extracurricular activities, some holiday presentations -- or the opportunity to have their families see them perform. It has been parents who, while trying to get time off for the holidays or plan care during the generous school break, have had to juggle additional time off for day-time presentations and strike days and pay the tab for extra care or activities -- all while trying to fill the wish lists. They are the same people whose property taxes, hydro bills and more have gone up dramatically in recent years. Students haven't been `put first' by either side -- never mind parents, or should we say taxpayers, property owners and voters. Words can't express it With the approach of Christmas, I would like to take this time to thank all those who have offered support for my fight against cancer. Ever since my stage 4 melanoma cancer illness was first documented in my column in the Hamilton Community News in September, I have been overwhelmed by the response from the community. Many of the responses were from former colleagues, contacts and coworkers, who I have lost touch with over the years. Others were from complete strangers -- readers who were moved enough by my struggle to offer words of encouragement or promises to include me in their prayers. Some opened up their hearts and shared inspiring stories about their personal fights against cancer or those of their loved ones. Mere words cannot describe how much this support has given me strength to carry on through this difficult time. While the words "thank you" seem insufficient, I would still like to thank everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers over these past few months. As for my current health status, I have completed radiation treatment and am now in the second month of a six-month experimental drug program. While it is still early in the program, there are some positive signs of encouragement. Fortunately, this has been accomplished without experiencing any debilitating side effects from the drugs, which can sometimes hinder or curtail treatment of the patient. All this would not have been possible without your support. Thank you. Rod Jerred, former Oakville Beaver managing editor 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. 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. The recent senseless tragedy in Connecticut, where 27 people were killed, most of them children, upset, angered and devastated me even though I have no connection with that school or community, but I am a parent. I'm a mother, who upon reading the news broke down and cried. I cried for the loss my fellow parents are experiencing, and I cried because like every parent who heard the story, thought about my own children at that very moment, which brings me to why I am writing this letter. I want to applaud and congratulate St. Bernadette Catholic School for the measures it has been enforcing for Thanks to St. Bernadette's several years in the efforts to keep its students safe. One of the first security measures you will notice upon visiting St. Bernadette is once school starts, the doors are locked. I remember thinking, when they first incorporated this, how annoying it was to have to buzz the intercom because I would be dropping off my children's lunches, but now I am grateful. They also have a security camera to see who they are buzzing in. Furthermore, the main office is found as soon as you walk in the front doors and any guests have to sign in at the office and they have to wear a visitor's pass. They are vigilant about that. One of the top things the staff at St. Bernadette are focused on is students' safety. During recess, there are always several adults on duty wearing a bright orange vest so children can identify and find them; should any issues arise that they need assistance. From the design and architecture of the school to the staff and teachers' training, St. Bernadette has been keeping children safe for years and I am genuinely appreciative to the staff and teachers for all they do on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the children. Thank you, St. Bernadette. Cynthia Jackson, Oakville