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~OPINION For example, statistics Canada noted that although enrolments in elementary and secondary schools has dropped for the 1971â€"1991 period, the number of eduâ€" cators in these institutions rose by 20 per cent while the number of students declined by 12 per cent. in the new year. Critics of the system say it‘s not responsive to present needs and isn‘t getting results. Educators say they‘re caught between provincial government dictates and demands of parents and students. The reality is somewhere between these positions. Unfortunately, statistics keep cropping up that has got make all taxpayers and parents wonder why they‘re not getting more educational bang for their bucks. Education has been a hot issue for some time and that‘s not likely to change Enter Statistics Canada and the latest analysis of spending on education. They found our costs are now the highest in the world, even ahead of socialist Sweden. One of our main problems with the public education system is the apparent gap between what is spent and what is delivered. § One of the challenges for the Halton Board of Education and the Ministry of Education is to focus more on feaching than administering students. We fully support the idea of RIDE but the weekend incident which saw three Burlington area teens killed in a car wreck, make us question police judgement in how they operate these checks. This massive staffing to student increase has partially come about from provinâ€" cial and local board contracts with teachers that has seen thousands of teachers hired to fill in for ‘prep time‘ that is classwork preparation time for teachers. Law enforcement agencies now have photo radar and other sophisticated equipment. Surely a camera to identify the fleeing vehicle at RIDE checks and then sending an officer to that home would be a better approach. As it is now, a teenager‘s fear of being caught by police has led to three needless deaths. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a car carrying five teenagers came up to a RIDE check in west Burlington and operated by the OPP. The driver ‘ran‘ the check and was then pursued in a highâ€"speed chase by three cruisâ€" ers. And despite claiming they gave up the chase, an eye witness reportedly said this was not the case. As the chase continued past this observer, the car crashed through a hydro pole, burst into flames and disintegrated. It‘s of little consequence now whether or not the driver was impaired and the fact the vehicle was stolen. Surely, it was and is more dangerous for police to chase these people than to let them proceed at reasonable speed. At is was, the speeding car came upon another vehicle heading in the oppoâ€" site direction and could just as easily, have hit that vehicle headâ€"on in attempting to elude police. drivers. Each line translates with the maximum exactâ€" ness of the reality of our native people. Dear Sir: The column by Diane Hart "Native issue of selfâ€"government heating up" published in your newspaper on Dec. 7th, is written with an illuâ€" minated mind. Canadian government must deal with native concerns Dear Sir: Recently, I was given a copy of a "Letter of the Day" written by Laura Morrison. This letter appeared in your paper sometime in November and was in response to an article written on Oct. 5th, supporting Paul Szabo‘s (M.P.â€" Mississauga South) private member‘s Bill Câ€" 256. This bill proposed compensatmc spouses working in the home caring for preschoo!l chilâ€" dren. Ms Morrison is not alone in her opinions in If Ms Morrison is interested in getting support of mothers who choose to care for their _ involved, I would ask her to contact me. own children. Those of us who have made that Cheryl Stewart choice have made many sacrifices and face RR #5 societal prejudice every day. Government poliâ€" Bolton, Ontario cy and funding decisions related to child care L7E 581 Iroquois Ridge High School had festive spirit Ms Morrison is not alone in her opinions in support of mothers who choose to care for their own children. Those of us who have made that choice have made many sacrifices and face societal prejudice every day. Government poliâ€" cy and funding decisions related to child care Dear Sir: Christmas time is here again. The presents have been bought, the Christmas cards have been sent, and the trees are in their splendor â€" glistenâ€" ing with hundreds of tiny light bulbs. If you go within a half a mile of any shopping mall, you become engulfed in the hustle and bustle of thousands of people taking advantage of what the stores call "Christmas sales". In the midst of all this traâ€" ditional confusion, Iroquois Ridge High School has found the gift of giving. The school has implemented an advisory group system that has students form a close group that they stay with for the duration of their time at Iroquois Ridge. Each of these 36 groups have found their own way to give something to the community this season. Wednesday, Dec. 14th, marked an official "Charity Day" for the new high school. Activities ranged from candy and bake sales, to book and clothing collections, and even visits to hospitals, Atâ€"home mom looking for letterâ€"writer There has to be a better way. Seeking a better way t this time of year, much is made of the RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) programs that see the Ontario Provincial Police and Halton Regional Police set up spot checks to screen Costly lessons rest homes, and charity Bingo halls. Collections were also taken for food, toys, and toiâ€" letries. Of course, all proceeds were donated to a variety of charities including: The Children‘s Wish Foundation, The Toronto Star Santa Fund, The Halton Women‘s Shelter, She writes, "Canada â€" with its admirable repâ€" utation as an international peacekeeper has as an Achilles heel in its deep seated, abrasive relaâ€" tionship with its indigenous population." A country shows, indeed, characters of parâ€" ticular nobility and purity of intentions, when it solves the problems of its less fortunate people. are almost always in favor of the licensed, reguâ€" lated child care sector. However, there is hope for recognition for what the unpaid work women do in the nurturâ€" ing of their children full time. Pockets of atâ€"homeâ€"mothers are networking in the hopes of reâ€"directing government‘s and society‘s attitudes about the valuable work we do in raising trusting, affectionate, and empathâ€" ic children. Overall, Iroquois Ridge is spreading Christmas cheer. Perhaps, they‘re trying to make their first Christmas in the school a memorable one. Whatever the reason, if this is a sign of things to come, we will all be a little better off with Iroquois Ridge in town. Lisa Punnett 16 years old Grade 11 Iroquois Ridge H.S. While the Oakville commuâ€" nity was decorating their homes, the school was doing a little decorating as well. The students pitched in to put their school in the Christmas spirit â€" frosty windows, colorful banners, and all. Hanging from their Christmas trees are not the customary ornaments, but mittens to be donated to chilâ€" dren of all ages, just one of Iroquois Ridge‘s ways of givâ€" ing warmth. Canadian Tire bills hang from another tree, waiting to be spent on toys for children who might otherwise go without them. The Food Bank, The Salvation Army, and many more. The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and : phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3$4 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 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 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 and reject advertising. In the event of typographical error, advertising goods or services at tI Ian Oliver Publisher Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager The Oakville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, at 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Distributing Ltd. goup of suburban newspapers which includes: Ajaxâ€"Pickering News Advertiser, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, Burlinglon Post, Collingwood Connection, Etobicoke Guardian, Georgetown Independent! Acton Free Press, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist and Sun, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Milton Canadian Champion, Mississauga News, Newmarketâ€"Aurora Eraâ€"Banner, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby This Week, Peterborough This Week, Richmond HilVThomhilWaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror. All material published in the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Any reproduction in whole or in part of this material is strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. i wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. AIt‘s a beautiful BM dyinMy » Dear Sir: ; Re: RRSP‘s versus Multiculturalism I am damn well angry and fed up everytime I read, listen, and view â€" "Canada‘s devastating debt" â€" and the Fed‘s "could be tentative plan" on how to bring the deficit down. That tentative plan being taxing RRSP‘s/PENSION PLANS. How many other irate people are out there, who have worked to diligently and hard towards their future and a relatively good lifeâ€"style, as well as, benefiting all Dear Sir: Re: Cablenet I do not want to pay for television stations which I have not asked for. Further, I resent losâ€" ing stations which I receive, if I decide not to pay for the new stations. Abolishing multiculturalism could get us out of debt Are Members of Parliament aware of this "way" of doing business? What happened to choice? Even if these problems are of a complex nature A good mother does not say to her children: Do you want me to solve your problems? She solves them. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER q p Q\( P Michael L. Cannon Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Giuseppe Fava The Government say they are trying their very best not to keep increasing taxes onto the shoulders of the already overâ€"burdened middle class taxâ€"payers!!! Well, I say to the Fed‘s... you don‘t have to, the solution is simple... want to save MILLIONS, then ABOLISH the Multiculturalism Department, which only serves to dismantle our country and insult the Canadians and their Western culture anyway. The price that we must pay the others who come to live in this great country. One final comment: The Beaver says "Lyn McLeod is keeping a low profile and by doing so, will come out ahead of Mr. Harris." Trying to influence the outcome of elections is not, in my view, an appropriate role for the media, who can make a far greater contribution by providing objective and accurate information in an impartial manner, fair editorial comment and letting the voters decide for themselves. Mike Harris had raised a serious issue in the Provincial Legislature. Internet is a totally unregulated electronic highway with no rules and no police officers. It‘s like the wild west of the computer frontier, where anything goes, including kiddie porn. It behooves the government of Ontario to know and act on what information is on there, particularly letters purportedly from the Premier. Why wasn‘t that discussed in the Beaver? Several weeks back, a similar situation arose where someone painted a swastika on the Provincial Legislature which languished there a week. Similarly, Mike had to raise the issue in the legislature so it would be removed. Is the Beaver implying that as leader of the Official Opposition, Lyn can become Premier of Ontario next election by keeping a low profile? (because everyone knows Bob Rae will certainly not be). And are you implying Lyn has a low profile by design? Ontario needs an election based on agenda and issues, where the media provide a level playing field. Given that, I trust the voters will choose well. Dear Sir: Re: editorial of Fri. Dec. 16th. There are several disturbing trends in our modern media. One is viewing news as entertainment. We all suffer due to that ghoulish pracâ€" tice, particularly in the American media, a perfect example being the circus around O.J. Simpson‘s trial. For if the media are the ‘opposition‘, who is telling the public in an impartial manner, all sides of our political issues, so voters can make informed choices? A number of irate people approached me recently asking why the Beaver editorial department felt it was appropriate to, in effect, tell the voters whom to vote for during our recent municipal election. In the editorial of Dec. 16th, ‘Hitting bottom‘ it appears the Beaver has begun the next provincial election campaign already. Will the Beaver trust the voters also, or contmue to attempt editorial influence? A second trend is creating news when there isn‘t any, by commisâ€" sioning polls and publishing the results as news. In many cases, this amounts to publishing what people think before they‘ve had a chance to But the most disturbing trend, evident at the Beaver and elsewhere, is the media viewing themselves as the official opposition to our politiâ€" cians or political parties. â€"â€" _ LETTER OF THE DAY _ Let the people dec1d_6t Terence Young Progressive Conservative candidateâ€"Halton Centre Remember Oakville, we do have a member of the Federal Government, who represents us...let‘s give her some work to do. Ministry of Multiculturalism and its staff, and its agencies across the counâ€" try, must be absolutely ASTRONOMIâ€" CAL;â€" therefore, I ‘say to the Government of Canada â€" get your feet back on Earth and start using you "common cents" and "ABOLISH" not "DEMOLISH". Shirley Baylis December 21, 199