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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 1, 1968 -- 7 wd Viewpoint by John B. McClelland Our provincial government recently gave notice that starting next year, all 176 school boards in On- tario will be required to offer Heritage Language programs if 25 or more parents request them. Presently, less than half the boards in Ontario offer Heritage Language programs, as this option is strictly a decision of the local boards. The change in government policy still does not allow for Heritage languages to be taught during regular school hours. They will continue to be taught at night or on weekends, which is a sore point with the advocates of this program. The Durham Board of Education has been of- fering Heritage Language programs for several years. A spokesman with the Board told me last week that the government announcement won't have much impact on things in Durham since the programs are already in place. | don't have a great deal of problem with Heri- tage languages being taught after school hours or on weekends. | am a little troubled by the fact the government plans to boost its spending on these programs by by about $18 million over the next five years. The government already pays about $11 million each year for these programs. So, by 1995, Heritage Language programs will cost some $15 million annually. My problem comes when | look at how this money might be spent on other things. Right here in Scugog Township, port- able classrooms dot the school landscape. A new school is under construction in Port Per- ry, hough when the doors open next September, it will be filled to capacity, and there still will be porta- bles on the landscape. Parent groups argued long and hard that the new school should be larger, but were told there is no money. | personally find it hard to accept that the gov- ernment can find the money for luxuries such as Heritage Language programs, but can't find the money to get more kids out of portables by building schools where they are needed. And what happens in five years when new Heri- tage Language programs are in place and the pro- vincial government of the day decides to pull the plug on the funding? Well, local school boards are going to be faced with some decisions on whether to incur the political heat or pick up the tab. Once a program is in place and working, politi- cians and that includes school trustees, have a hard time dis-mantling it. And another thing | can't quite accept. If the pro- vincial government can find the money for Heritage Language classes, how come school kids right here in Port Perry have to hustle chocolate bars every year to raise funds for such things as gym equipment, books and computers? | have three kids in public school and frankly, | have never been very comfortable watching them race around the neighbourhood knocking on doors trying to sell chocolate bars to the neighbours who already have a cupboard full of chocolate they bought from other neighbourhood kids. | don't quibble for one minute that the money raised goes to a good cause, and is badly needed. The point is that obviously there is money available for some things, but not for others. One year | ended up buying all the "surplus" chocolate bars that my three kids were not able to sell, despite their good efforts, and | don't even like chocolate very much. I am not knocking the efforts of those who are trying to improve the school, | just wonder why the kids have to sell anything to raise money for things which are obviously needed and for which obvious- ly there is no other source of funds. NICE TO SEE While all the political debates were swirling around last week, a lot of people were watching the drama on the frozen north shore of Alaska. A pair of grey whales, trapped in Arctic ice for three weeks, were finally freed, thanks to the ef- forts of a lot of people; scientists, Eskimos and the crews of two Soviet ice-breakers. _ The story of the trapped whales was a fascinat- ing one that came to a happy conclusion as the So- 'viet ice-breakers finally cleared the last few kilomet- res of ice to allow the leviations to reach the open sea. Nice to know that the Soviets and the Ameri- cans can co-operate to save the lives of two whales, and capture the attention of the world. Now, if these super-powers could just show the same spirit of co-operation in reducing their nuclear arsenals and cleaning up the environment. it would also be nice to see the Soviets and the Americans use their might to seriously "lean" on a few of the tin-pot dictators who continue to wage civil wars at such cost in human lives. Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 31, 1918 The following gentlemen have been appointed Victory Loan Canvassers for Port Perry, Reach and Scugog - Messrs. George Rose, W.H. Harris, HW. Emmerson, and Joseph Baird. These gentlemen are authorized to sell Victory Bonds or they may be bought at either local bank. Mr. Morley Campbell's many friends received a surprise last week when he announced that he had bought a farm at Utica and was going farming. Personal: The party who stole the two bags of sand in ce- ment sacks from the verandah of a home in the south-end of town the other night had better call and get the cement. Mr. Wm. Reader, Scugog, has purchased the property of Mr. McIndless in the south-end of Port Perry and will soon become a village resident. : 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 28, 1943 The Township Clerk of Scugog Island, reports there is not one dollar of residents' taxes in arrears. We think Scugog stands ina unique position in this regard. Continued and increasing interest was shown by members of the Business Men"s Association at their meeting at the Sebert House last Friday with about 45 in attendance. "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beatty, Port Perry, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. M. Woods, left Monday for St. Petersburg, Florida, where they will spend the winter. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 29, 1953 Welcome to Port Perry's new Chief of Police, Mr. Archie Menzies, who comes from Peterboro where he served an the lice force for ten years. Mrs. Menzies and their family of six Pore are expected to join him later this week. Since this in hunting season, there might be some unique sport around Yelverton these days. Mr. Jim Gibson claims to have seen a monkey in the swamp near his home. This is within the range of possibility since not all the monkeys were recap- tured by the circus owner whose truck upset here. Another se- quel to the story is that a dog answering the description of Trix- ie, the star performer, has strayed into Murray Malcolm's. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 30, 1958 Donald McLaughlin, 12 and Karen Leahy, 11, of Port Perry, received traffic safety badges from Transport Minister, Hon. Dr. M.B. Dymond. (Turn to page 8) LLetters Favours return of Lord's Prayer To The Editor: If I may add my voice in favour of the return of the Lord's Prayer in our schools. This matter of following the Lord's 'Prayer was not a man made command, it was a com- mand of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD. It is important and interesting to note the Con- tent of the Lord's Prayer, it covers ALL the important areas of life, not only for Today, but also for the TOMORROWS! (MATT. 6.) Why should our children's future be decided by a group of people who are obviously agnostics? In this way, our children are being robbed of their right to TRUTH, and of their right to a DIVINE heritage. This so-called "CREDO" replacing the Lord's Prayer in our schools, is an open insult to GOD. It concludes by stating: (Quote) "....... always thankful for the mosaic which is the true basis of our Nation" (end of Quote). This of course is quite untrue, the true basis of our beloved Nation of Canada is without doubt the Reader has beefs To The Editor: I have a beef against all store owners who patronize Senior Citizens for asking if they are en- titled to a discount. I have witnessed at least on two occasions, intimidation by store managers in Port Perry when a Senior Citizen has politely ques- tioned the possibility of receiving a disccunt on hair cuts or groceries, or drug store items (other than prescriptions). Managers and staff should use some respect and politeness towards seniors, as they too, are not getting any younger! Concerning the upcoming Federal Elections -- have we all forgotten that the reason for elec- ting the Progressive Conser- vatives four years ago was simp- ly to oust Prime Minister Trudeau? Now it is time for reversing the issue. | Re: Abortions -- It is solely a decision to be made by the expec- tant mother -- for it is she who=_42 has the child and accepts the responsibility of its birth. No man or group can decide for her. Yours truly, Joan Jarvie, Port Perry Christian Faith and history can prove it. If these agnostics want to outlaw the LORD'S PRAYER, why not do the same with CHRISTMAS? I appeal to all con- cerned parents to get together and deal with this travesty. "The LORD sees to the govern- ment of the world and brings the right person to power at the right time. The success of that person -- or persons -- is in the LORD'S hands." (Ecclesiasticus). Let us be united in FAITH and in PRAYER --- "If God be for us who can be against us?" (Romans) '""There is for us only one GOD, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and for whom we live; and there is only one LORD, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live." (I COR. 8) Yours truly, Rev. Walter H. Crawford, Caesarea, Ont. to the editor. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer.