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Cýý 2 rono Weel meslnsclllayctt7, 99 Housekeeping editorials The birth of a eolumn On page 13, (the last page before the classifieds) of this paper you will find a new column titled: 'You've got the last word'. It is our hope that many of you will take advantage of this space to share with other readers your own wntmigs. if you have a thought you'd like to pass on, a tale of long ago, a rural legend, a funny story you just made up or some serious poetry, we'd love to print it. If you are one of those closet writers, (and there are many), who don't want anyone to know your hidden talent,, don't let, that stop you, we can work around your inhibitions. I have gently twisted'some arms around town and expect to see the submission for this new coluran corne dribbling in very soon. Mr. Hunter from Kendal has graciously submitted another one of his works of poetry, it is being used to' launch the brand new colunin. A column like this can be a lot of fun, as well as a forum for passing along some of those great never-before- seen-in-print stories. We are very accessible, 24 hours a day. Addresses are on top of this page, as well as a letter slot in our front door at 53 10 Main St. Orono. Do your remnember the plane crash of '47 or '48? it has corne to my attention that there were some incon- sistencies in the plane crash story printed in the September 23rd paper. The story recounted a 1948 plane crash in what is now the Ganaraska Forest. Much of that article was taken straight from the September 22,1948 Orono Weekly limes. A week later I got a caîl from someone who lived on the 5th concession at that time and whoyemembered seeing that particular plane fly overhead. This caller claimed that September 19, 1948 was a very clear day, not foggyas reported in the paper of the day. This caller also.rememibersa 1947 plane c rash, at the same time of year, and within a mile or two of the 1948 crash. I have begun an initial investigation into the two crash- es, but wouldgreatly appreciate hearing from readers who might remember anything concemning one or two of these fatalities. ORONO WEEKLY TiiEs Subscriptio ns $2 1.50 + $1.50 G.S.T.= $23.00/year. Publications Mail Registration No. 000368 Publishmng 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB iMO E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedlinie.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher! Edîtor Marg Zwart Icillor Mutton to trouble Counc the potential in the least that 1'Iplications of impacts and um anfc non-fur garmeptmnfu turing had not been examined by any of the commentrng agencies. Councillor Ivutton then proceeded to tell Planning Committee that by support- ing the Lishman application, lie was really listening to the silent majority. 1 have a few questions How, exactly, do you hear people that are sulent and if they are sulent, how do you know what they are saying? Did Councillor Mutton then count ail the silent people lie listened to and tabulate the results for and against? Perhaps Councillor Mutton does have some special abilities which allow him to divine what the majority of people are think- ing and since lie says he's always liked helping people, lie could really help us by explaiing how lie determined this "maj ority. We ahl know that there are people who hold views about a varlety of issues who don't wish to make these views publicly known for a whole host of reasons. However, for Councilor Mutton to pretend that lie knows with any degree of certainty that there is a majority in support of or in opposition to this or any other application, is both ridiculous and offensive. This becomes particularly galling since Councillor Mutton doesn't seema to hear, listen to or acknowledge those wlio have taken the time to express their views via more; commonly used communica- tion modes sucli as letters, petitions and/or speaking at public meetings. I have a suggestion for Councillor Mutton. Any tme you can't manage to put forth plausible reasons or interest- mng exc uses for making a con- troversial decision, just say "it was a political decision." This should stop the conver- sation dead every turne. At least you miglit be perceived a5 being franli with both your constituents and with your- self. Yours sincerely, Linda Gasser, Orono. Letter to the Editor: If you want to ride your skateboard on Main Street come to Orono. If you want to bumn rub- ber, squeal tires and race down Main Street come to Orono. If you're a young. offender and wisli to drink on Main Street after 11:00 o'clock weekends corne on down to Orono. We welcome everyone to, Orono, why not? No police patrol after these hours. Mabel Ubsdell Letter to the Editor: October 2, 1l998 Private Scliools CAIL ME IF YOU DISAGREE There, is something very wrong with our education systemn when a respect'ed body of professional people like our teacliers shut down scliools while their unions argue with the government over sucli things as classroom size and preparation time. Both sides say the "'kids corne first." But the fact is the, children and their parents are lielpless pawns in this power, struggle. The only voice and the only choîce parents have is a vote every few years, and that's not good enougli. One way to empower the parents would be to give them a choice of school: Public or a charter school. Charter schools have an advantage over pub- lic schools in that they are smaller and more flexible, because they don't have to Lette rto the Editor: October 5, 1998 Many ofus who attended' the September 29th Regional Planning Committee meeting were quite stunned, by Councillor Mutton's com- ments regarding the Lishman application.-1 Councillor Mutton told the Planning Committee that lie was happier with the more restrictive Regional amend- ment than lie had been with' the one that had been adopt- ed by Clarington Council. His comment was alI the- more amusing because- on July 6th at the Clarington GPA meet- ing, in a hialf baked and con- fused attempt to "tiglten up" the proposed amendment, Councillor Mutton ended up proposlng a revision to that amendinent which would have also allowed for the manufacturing of garments other than fur. It dîd not seem, abide by the "one size fits ail" edicts that flow out of Queen's Park, the union, or the school board. Charter schools allow the teachers to spend their tume and use the teaching techniques that work best for them. Their focus is on results - not conformity and the latest educational theory. There are economies of scale in the manufacturing industries, but smaller is bet- ter for primary and secondary schools. This fact is bomn out by the success of charter schools in some parts of Canada and around the world. This is how they could work for us: 1. Parents send their chil- dren to a public - or private school. Their choice. 2. The Minister of Education: a) Provides a voucher for each chlld. The value of the voucher is the total cost of education divided by the number of students ln the province. b) Forwards the voucher to the school (public or private) as directed by the parents. c) Establishes minimum standards (health, safety, location etc.) for school -certi- fication. d) Establishes minimum curriculum requirements. The schools are free to ladd to the basic curriculum. e) Administers standard- Ized tests. The test results are sent to the parents and schools. 13.* Our charter schools would not be allowed to refuise admission to any appli- cant because of lis/lier leamning disability, racial oni- gin, religion, or for any othe reason.. Should we break the edu- cation monopoly by introduc- ing some charter schools? If not - why not? Jini McKee R R. 3 Woodville 705-374-4647