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................... T nu ...sd y à.b sr 2 , 90 Another test? why? At a recent meeting at Clarke High, Scbool Dave Parker, Curriculum Resource Person for the Northumberland and Clarington Board of Education recommended that the Board now conduct its own' English Writing Test for Grade 12 students in Clarke, Bowmanviile High Schools as weil as Courtice Secondary School. The education system bhas been high in its praise for the recent Province -wide English Writing Test for Grade 12 students of which the results have been released earlier this year and are currently under review locaily. Mr. Parkcer now wants te repeat the saine test or one similar. Why another test at this time at Grade 12 when discussion is just underway as to what action and modification could be taken te make improvements in Englisb Writing. Further it is our understanding that the province will continue with testing and why duplicate at the local level on tests based only local without comparison with the rest of schools at least iD the province. The trustees as a board have yet to be presented with the results of the provincial tests and te have iput as te what action could or should be taken. Such a meeting is being held this coming week. The issue of improvement, as bas been stated by parents involves more than Grade 12. They correctly point ont that the problemn goes al through the educational systemn back to elementary school. You cas not make the corrections at grade 12 and.hope that a solution has been carried ou. It would seem that administration having first reviewed the resulis would develop a local action plan for comment by the public, by staff, by board members and as weli as presenting it to the province, the latter being a requirement of the overail provincial plan. It is agreed that the Board of Education is making every effort to gain public involvement iD decision making. This bas been happening over the past year and the Clarke committee on English Wniting is one' example from which there bas been some positive input. What we don't need iD this process involving the public is a nodding of the head "yes we hear you« and then the voice and opinion is disregarded. Nor should the issue become involved with asd cluttered with more studies and paper which at thûs time are unnecessary. The public bas been asking for years for nation--wide, province- wide testing so that a determinaion could be made as te the Ontario and local standard iD education and te provide some background on which te promote improvement te the system where required. The province bas set a process to be followed after the results of the testing. It is logical and basic: review the results, make recommendation for programi improvement; develop a local action plan and submit the plan to the province. May we suggest that the local public be well informed as to the action plan for improvement te the educational system. Finish the suggested process before undertaking more testing at the Grade 12 level. What direction now The Municipality of Clarington with the recent annoucement of the hiring of a Chief Administrative Officer and having hired an Economic Development Officer should be up te full complement. It bas seemed as of late that there bas been a loss of some direction and possibly a lack of a vision. Much is being done but where is the excitement, where is the vision. Bll Stockweil, the new CAO, certainly bas had experience iD many faces of public institutions and no doubt bas a wealth of knowledge, connections and what may be required te point to a vision. It is not that we look for miracles but a simple vision te be targeted and sought through the effort of everyone in Clarington. Both Stockwell and Letts should make a difference. Lets welcome them te the municipality. Lette r to the Editor Dear Editer: Asfdg jgkue48n mkdhagsfd kasderhx jhgeytu. SCould you read this message? For many Canadians who cannot read or write, it is a daily siruggle to understand a simple sentence. Imagine not being able to read a bed-time story to your child; to go grocery shopping; to follow instructions for using hou sehold appliances; to get a driver's licence or just to read for the fun of it! In order to increase the awareness of literacy in the various communities across the region, February 26 to Marchi5 bas been officially declared Faxily Literacy Week in Durham Region. Why not make as effort to take your child to the library this week or to curl up with a good book? Reading to your child everyday is an excellent way to encourage good reading habits and provides quality time together. SIf you know of anyone who could benefit from attending basic literacy classes, please let tbem know it's FREE and ail tIiey need to do is to cail The NIN Centre for Individual Studies at 623- 6505. A class is available every Tuesday evening ftrm 6 -9 p.m. at our facility on Maple Grove Road North. Volunteer tutors are also welcomed since many students appreciate the extra one- on-one attention between classes. Yours truly, Gail Rickard Literacy Co-ordinator The N/N Centre for Individual Studies Letter to the Editor I read with much interest the article on the Cavan Bog by Tanya McLean in last weeks Orono Times, however, I must take issue with one statement that the writer makes, I quote, "the number of our wild life is diminishing because of ail the hunting and trapping." Ms. McLean should be informed that most wildlife in Ontario is in--a very healthy condition. White tailed deer population is if anything too healthy. Car - deer collisions are becoming common with injury and miflions of dollars in property damage as a resuit. Damage to crops and ecology are reaching epidemic proportions in some areas and as a result special deer hunts and culling of herds have had te be resrted to. The coyote has only appeared in our area in numbers in the last 30 years and are so common at the present time that farmers are reporting sheep and calves being killed'by these predators all across Southern Ontario. Foxes whose numbers were s0 low 25-30 years ago because of a serious outbreak of rabies have recovered to former high numbers. If you have any doubts about racc oons and skunks ail you have to do is take a drive in the summer and falI and you wil see them dead aIl over the highways. Both raccoons and skunks are with us in record numbers, just waiting for the new strain of raccoon rabies that is advancing north through New York state, and due to reach us within the next few years. The numbers of cotton tail and snow shoe rabbits are at a lower number which I believe can be attributed to the high numbers of natural predators, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks and the inatural cycle which govern rabbit numbers. We once again have in Southern Ontario, thanks to hunters, The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in co- operation with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Wild Turkeys which were an indigenous species but disappeared many years ago. Ms. McLean spoils an otherwise informative article by generalizing, and printing mis- information' about a subject (wildlife) that she knows little about. Stockwell, to Clarington (Continued from page 1) ML. Stockweil fis the position that was vacated by the former Chief Administrative Officer, Larry Kotseff how bas moved on to British Columbia. In the meantime and during the search for a new CAO, Marie Marano was Acting Chief Administrative Officer., 'Mis is the second major staff appointment made by counicil over the past few months. Todd Letts was selected as Chief Development Officer. Ganaraska Countryside Adventu re (Continued from page 1) of $5,000. This budget was based on monies spent for promotions and signs for 1993. Appro val of the budget includes preparations of folders and admission booklets along with signs and balloons to mark the points of interest., Again Clarke Museum in Kirby will be the starting point in the west and ticket sales will be available at the Museum prior to and on the days of the promotion. A profit and loss statement for the organization's fund raising for 1993 was presented at the meeting showing a profit of $ 12,7 29.92. The ev ent durng- the year were the sale of cookbooks (still a few left); the sale of sweatshirts, dance, the Adventure Tour, the faîl chairlift event, raffle and a match and win contest at the Oshawa Ski Hill. After paying off some member boans the organization showed a balance of $3217.89 as of February 16, 1994.' 1SAGA bas a membership of 39 fantilies and 1 Isingle members. Members of the group did speak of their disappointment over the fact that the Municipality of Clarington was not receptive to the establishment of a Clarington Environmental Advisory Board which had been suggested by members of a number of local environmental groups. ORONO, ONTARIO Barina Home Check Vacation Home Checking Let us make your home look ilved in Wedding Day Services Reliable References INSU RED Baab ShetIer - In* Cox 1NE WTON VILLE (905) 786-2996 St. Saviour 's Anglican Church MILL STREET ORONO, ONTARIO Interlm Minister: Rev. R-obert Hartley 983-9639 SUNDAY SERVICE, SUNDAY SCH0OL and YOUTH GROUP 9:30 am. ORONO PASTORtAL CHARGE n Miniater Rev. Dr., Meryn Russel Marlener 983-5702 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH Regular Church Service Kirby United Church 9:30 a.m. Orono United Church 11:00 a.m. BIBLE STUDY Wednesday, February 23rd Kirby United Church - 8, pi. EXPLORERS Wednesday, February 23rd Kirby United Church 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. (For both boys and girls.) CONFIRMATION CLASSES Frlday, March 4th Orono United Church - 4 p.m. WORLD DA Y 0F PRAYER Friday, March 4th - 7: 00 p.m. St. Saviour's Anglican Church Everyone Welcomne. A.A. meets every Thursday 7:30 p.m. 983-5009 1 m 1