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Page 14 The Claringlon/Courtiec Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday, November 8, 1997 CUhVRdtUT Vortec 4300 V6 engine, 4-speed electronic automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel ABS, dual front air bags, child-security sliding door lock, side-guard door I beams, air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with cassette, eight person seating, front high back reclining IE? seats, deluxe chrome grille, deep ■B™" tinted windows, power door locks. Win one of 300 personally autographed Bobby Orr Boston Bruins hockey jerseys (approx, retail value $180). All entrants will be eligible to win a trip for two to the 1998 All-Star game in Vancouver (approx, retail value $2,750). a Chevy Van and get a Bobby Orr Signature Series coffee mug.* Learning in the Workplace Across Onlario, thousands of grade nine students spent November 5th at the workplace of parents, friends and neighbours as part of the annual "Take Our Kids to Work Day." One of the grade nines visiting James Publishing on Wednesday was Jesse Cole, who is pictured with Sharon Cole, a graphic designer for The Canadian Statesman and Clarington/Courtice Independent. Darlington Opens its Doors to Over 100 Grade Nine Students Over 100 Grade nine students spent the day with their parents at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station on Wednesday, November 5th. "Take Our Kids to Work" Day has always been a popular event at Darlington and this year is no exception. Site Vice President Bob Stricken said. "It's always exciting to have students spend the day at their parents' workplace. workplace. They usually go home with a better understanding understanding of just what their parents'jobs involve". This year, Darlington employees organized several several "hands on" workshop activities to give students some extra knowledge about a whole range of jobs. Students spent time in the main control room with an authorized nuclear operator, operator, in the chemical laboratory, laboratory, in the mechanical maintenance and control maintenance shops, in the radiation protection train- witli their parents or joining joining one of the workshop groups in the afternoon. ing area and in the emergency emergency response team room. Students had the option of spending the whole day Canada Trust Funds Environmental Projects The Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation is looking to provide funding support for major environmental initiatives that protect and preserve the Canadian environment. On June 24, 1997, Canada Trust announced a national source of funding, to complement its locally-based Friends of the Environment Foundation Community Fund in an effort to support larger environmental initiatives that benefit the Canadian environment. The Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Canada Fund will provide up to $400,000 each year for regional and national projects in an effort to make an even greater impact on the health of the Canadian environment. environment. This year's deadline lor applications for the Friends of the Environment Canada Fund is November 28, 1997. The Canada Trust Friends of the Environment national advisory board will review applications and make recommendations for funding on an annual basis. News from BHS Everything You Wanted To Know About Bill 160 (but were afraid to ask) ' by Skyla Dawn Cameron "It's just another blatant, dirty grab for all the marbles", marbles", says one Durham elementary teacher about the provincial government's latest attempt to take control of Ontario. After attacking the health reform, and welfare we asked "what's next?" That question was answered with the release of Bill 160 which has an inexcusable lack of details. It clearly states that teachers and parents will no longer have control over Ontario students' education. education. Bill 160 will affect the teachers' preparation time, class size, (non certified persons teaching specialty classes), the local control over budgets, school councils, funding and taxation. No one, least of all the parents, has been properly informed of the facts. The Education Improvement Commission (E.I.C.) says studies have shown that reducing class sizes to 15-20 students "has a significant impact on student achievement". Unfortunately, with the current provincial funding, larger class sizes arc inevitable. The E.I.C. makes no recommendations on limiting class size. Bill 160 does , not promise the Minister of Education will cover the costs of lowering class size. It can only mean cuts somewhere else. We have been told that Ontario students came in last on international tests. What we weren't told is that 41 nations participated in TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and Science Study), and not just the 13 that were shown on the government chart. Actually, Ontario finished ahead of countries such as the United States, .Germany, England, Norway, Scotland and Spain, among others. Ontario students scored at the international average average and at the same level as Canada as a whole. In September 1996, the Minister of Education and Training, John Snobelen stated, "close to $1 billion a year could be saved if education costs in Ontario were the same as the average of the other provinces". According to Statistics Canada, in 1995 the Ontario average per pupil expenditure was $6,961. The Canadian average was $6,796. There is a $165 per pupil difference between the Canadian average and the Ontario average, which is approximately $390 million - not $1 billion. Onlario spends more than the national average because Ontario educates more returning adults, provides provides health and social services for children at risk, provides provides English as a second language and support for new immigrants. This shows that Ontario is one of the most urbanized and highly industrialized regions of Canada, with greater than national average educational needs. The bill allows the provincial government to make regulations about every aspect of school boards. It allows the Minister to take over administration of a school board if he or she decides it's being mismanaged. Ironically enough the bill doesn't define "mismanagement". "mismanagement". Regulations designating positions that are not teaching teaching jobs may be made. There are no limits placed on the Minister here. It is left completely open. For, it docs not say only specialty classes like art and physical education don't have to be taught by certified teachers. Funding and taxation arc also affected by the new bill. The Minister would be given complete control of the method of calculating what funds boards should receive. Ontario has been given reports from four panels concerning funding, but they refuse to release them. The Bill states that the ministry is now in charge of setting tax rates and that they may prescribe different rales for different types of property. There is NO GUARANTEE that rates will not go up in some smaller towns. The possibility of an extended school year has been brought up. Historically, students got the summer off to help with the farming at home. Now there are fewer farms, so the provincial government wants to reduce the number of professional development days and exam days. The E.I.C. says that China has 251 school days a year, where as Ontario has only 185. What they have conveniently conveniently failed to mention is that China has only 858 instructional hours per year for students; Ontario has 925. Of the many disadvantages associated with the extension extension of the school year, here arc only a few: • increased dropout rates • negative impact on student employment opportunities opportunities • disruptions on family life. • increased cost of operating schools In short, Bill 160 says "Give us all the power now, and we'll give you the details later-just trust us". It's my understanding that Canada is supposed to he a democracy, democracy, yet recent events make one question that. When it comes down to it, this conflict isn't about prep time, class sizes or even the length of the school year. It's about the government wanting all the control. The balance balance of power that used to be provided by the school boards, teachers and parents is gone, The education system is at the mercy of politics. The question is what will affect the students of Ontario more; a job action now, or a bill like 160 that will last for years to come? IAN SMYTH says NO to Clarin for Mega-City social welfare payi IAN SMYTH says NO to any a Courtice with Oshawa. IAN SMYTH says NO to the lo services due to provincial downlt IAN SMYTH says NO to incree igton taxes being used merits. malgamation of ss of community jading. ised municipal taxes. |T^| A STRONG I V 1 VOICE FOR WARD ONE SMYTH, Ian LOCAL COUNCIL, WARD ONE IAN SMYTH FOR LOCAL COUNCILLOR WARD ONE "My personal commitment lo you and your families Is •VUR COMMUNITY WILL COME FIRST", both now, and when I become your new councillor In Ward One. I respectfully seek your support on November lOlh." For more information call: (905) 434-1089 "Autliorized by Evert Vrotxjh. otfici.il agent lor tan Smyth DURHAM REGION The Regional Municipality of Durham Works Department HOLIDAY CLOSURE OF TRANSFER AND RECYCLING SITES The Oshawa, Cartwright and Scugog Transfer and Recycling Sites will be closed Tuesday, November 11, 1997 and will resume regular operations on Wednesday, November 12/1.997, V.A. SILGAILIS, P. ENG. COMMISSIONER OF WORKS ©j.p. 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