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OPEN LETTERS...... AN OPEN LTER TO TH1E SCHOOL COMMUNflY: The elementary principals *and vice-principals jota wlith aur secondary colleagues ini voicing our concernis about Bili 160 and the damage it will cause ta public education i Ontario. This Billi Is about money and power and bas littie ta do with "Education Quality Imrprovenient." Bil 160 gives absolute contrai tô the provincial government ta make qulck, secret changes ta education without public input or consultation, and with no mechanism for appeals. A governnuent whose bottom iUne is a fiscal one and who gives itself this kind of power should strike fear inta the heart of every parent In the province. The College of Teachers, formed by this governient, was given powers that hnclud- ed iicensing teachers. This govennment naw proposes legisiation enablhng them ta put unqualified teachers ini the classroom. The gavernment bas titra- duced the second wide- sweeping revision of curricu- lum within two years and now plans fewer professional development days for staff ta revise classroom pro- grammes. The goV~rnment agrees that smaller ciass sizes are necessary to improve student performance but would like to cut funding and remove zý,pproximately 10,000 teach- ers from the system. The govennment States that, on one hand Ontario teachers are the best in the worid, and on the other that they cannot be trusted ta deliver quality programmes for students. What concenns us most is the lack of vision for the future of education Ini Ontario. This Bill addresses onily this govemxnent's inter- est in slashing money from the education system. t ignores individual student's needs, makes decisions behlnd ciosed doors, includes only iput from selected stakeholders, and allows na avenue to question or appeal its decisions. This government is saving money at the expense of our chldren's future. The people of Ontario have reason ta be concerned and deserve more. Yours Ini the hnterest of aur students, The Elementary Adnilnistrators of Peterborough and Northumberland and Clarington Boards of Education Ganaraska me keeps growing by Roy FofTester in the latter part of 1993 the Ganaraska Regian Conservation Authorlty instituted a maembership plan that provides unlirnited access during the year ta over 11,000 acres of the forest. As a memaber one is free ta hike, horseback ride, snownnobile, mountaun and dirt bikes, hunt and even ta pick mushrooms, a maost popular faîl event. The possibilities are unliitfed in this field. The General Purpose membershlp allows ail of the above with the exception of Cross Country Sktlng. A famaily general mem- bership costs $25.00 with a single mernbership set at $15.00. A faraily memnbership for Cross Country SIing is set at $50.00 whlle an in- dividual day pass costs $6.00. The Ganaraska bas a total of 35 kilometers of groomed ski trails winding throughout the forest. They are ail centred out of the Forest Centre, north-east of Kendal. If the family is interested in ail outdoor activities, bath sumnmer and winter, the mnembership is available for a mere $60.00. The membership plan bas grown in numbers considerably sunce it's unception ini late 1993. Ini 1997 the number bas reached a total of 1 124 amountea ta $16,387, an Increase of almost 20 percent over that of 1995. Fînanctal constraunts caused the move ta the membership plan. Revenue is being directed to the Forest operation Memberships can be obtained at the Forest Centre or the Office of the Ganaraska Region Conser- vation Authortty. Phone 905-885-8173. in educauon! Research confirms that chi[dren who participate in daiLy physicat education are more fit, have better health habits, are less susceptible to stress, and perform better academicatty. Sharing a HeitierF t r "Paà/rTICIPa,® BAL.LS Brigitte Brown d FNEUARTS Gif t Certificates Pedicures avlabe iManicures Ble ýS 1RIDAL Waxing SPECLALS iNail Extensionis VIAL Ear Candlinig ESTH-ETIC STUDIO AVLA E I171 Mill St., Qrono, Ontario LOB iMO - 905-983-8169i