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The Independent, Canadian Statesman Weekender, Bowmanville, Saturday, June 25,1994 13 Young people have told the Royal Commission on Learning that teachers teachers and students need to respect each other more. "There's no doubt that respect is the number one concern of young people right now," said Mani- sha Bharti, a Cornwall high school student and the first young person appointed appointed to a Royal Commission in Canada. "Throughout our youth outreach outreach program, we heard about the need for respect everywhere - in detention detention centres, in Children's Aid Society Society facilities, on the street and from student leaders at our public hearings." hearings." The youth outreach program was organized in consultation with sixteen sixteen student leaders and young people people from across Ontario, who met with Bharti last August. They told her that special outreach activities would be required to ensure the Commission Commission heard from a wide cross- section of young people, in and out of school, since many teenagers would be intimidated or excluded by the public hearing process. The findings of the outreach program program were presented to the Commission Commission by Selwyn J. Hicks, the Commission's Commission's youth outreach coordinator, coordinator, at a special meeting today in Toronto. "Young people have many valuable insights into our educational educational system, and they are surprised surprised and pleased that die Commission Commission took extraordinary measures to listen to their views," Hicks told the Commissioners. ~ v. As a result of the outreach program, program, the Commission heard from more than 250 young people ..during public hearings last fall. Another 500 disadvantaged youth participated in 36 meetings and focus groups held in detention centres, homes for pregnant pregnant teens, alternative schools, and other social service agencies for young people across the province. A further 1,200 people of all ages shared, their views of education with the Commission during mall visits held in Ottawa, Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie this spring. "Few Commissions Commissions have made such a concerted effort effort to give a voice to young people, a group that is often marginalized in society," said Bharti. The comments and conclusions from young people addressed six general areas: drugs and violence, poverty, drop outs, curriculum, teacher teacher performance, and respect and empowerment. empowerment. "Teach me stuff that will be useful to me in my day-to-day life," said one young woman from Talitha, an Ottawa detention centre for young women. Other young people suggested suggested the curriculum be changed to include include more courses on life skills such as money management, nutrition and parenting. "Courses must include more hands-on experience, as well as field trips that are relevant to the material material being covered...all courses should include a certain aspect of career career exploration linked to career opportunities opportunities in that field," said student representatives at St. Lawrence High School in Cornwall. There was wide support for mandatory mandatory language courses, but many felt that languages other then French should be available. Young people also called for more classes in Canadian Canadian history, and new courses that reflect reflect modem day Canada and include the contributions of ethnic and cultural cultural groups. To address poverty concerns, More Than 200 Die In Water Accidents With warm weather around the comer, millions of Ontarians will be cooling off in and around water these next months. The vast majority will have a fun and safe summer. young people would like to see student student welfare payments increased. "It's a little hard to think about school when you don't have a place to live, food to eat or bus fare to get to school," a street youth from die Touchstone Youth Centre in Toronto told the Commission. Some young people believe that increasing the links between social service agencies and schools, setting up more, alternative programs, and extending compulsory school attendance attendance to include 18 year-olds would help reduce the drop out rate. "When we are having social/family problems, problems, we need a place that will allow . us to deal with the problem and continue continue our education at the same time," said a young offender in Brampton. Students also feel they should be allowed to participate in all decisionmaking decisionmaking bodies, right up to the Board level. "When it comes to making decisions decisions it's like we're invisible or something...they never ask us for our opinions," said one teenager. The outreach program found strong support for zero tolerance programs programs for violence, drugs and weapons. weapons. Many made a connection between between racism and violence. A black teenager put the problem in perspective: perspective: "Talk is just talk - if we feel safe then we don't need to carry weapons." weapons." Support was mixed for a 1-800- TELL line, an anonymous service to allow students to identify troublemakers troublemakers to authorities, but even young offenders concede it would work. "There's nothing wrong with 'ratting' 'ratting' on a few people if it's going to help a large number of others," said a teenager from Covenant House in Toronto. Toronto. Many young people feel most of their teachers are doing a good job, but that more teachers from visible minority groups are needed. "Give us teachers we can relate to," said one teenager. Students also said they would like a say in hiring and evaluating evaluating teachers. Young people told the Commission Commission they need some kind of independent independent complaints body to mediate problems between students and teachers. "Teachers cover for each other...it's like complaining to one of their friends...nothing gets done," said one teenager during a focus group held at Woodgreen Community Community Centre in Toronto. "Being the first young person appointed appointed to a. Royal Commission is a tremendous honour, but it also carries a tremendous responsibility to make sure that the voice of young people is heard by the other Commissioners," said Bharti. "I knew I had to succeed if young people were going to be given given another chance to influence societal societal change. What we heard from young people will have a profound impact on the Commission's final recommendations to improve education education in Ontario." The Royal Commission on Learning Learning was established in May 1993 by Education and Training Minister Dave Cooke with a mandate to consult consult widely and recommend changes to legislation, structures, policies and procedures to improve elementary and secondary education in Ontario. The Commission's report is due in December 1994. If you would like your company or business to be 9 • at The Canadian Statesman at 623-3303. Unfortunately, some will die accidentally accidentally and other will suffer debilitating debilitating injuries. On average, 200 people people die each year in Ontario in water- related accidents, making drowning the third leading cause of accidental death, Most drownings can be prevented by following three casy-to-remcmbcr rules. Wear you lifejacket, boat sober and supervise your children. 62 King St. W. 623-3303 Clarington's Newspaper Since 1854 Bowmanville %