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PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1992 Copy 65¢ @1¢+4eGsD LRA aaa a 48 Pages Hallow e'en Pumpkins With Thanksgiving and Halloween just around the corner pumpkins are a popular item at | markets throughout the Township of Scugog as residents bake pies and carve jack o'lanterns. Pictured on a mound of pumpkins are Jordan and Alex McKay, whose parents own and operate Willowtree Farms or Regional Road 23. Willowtree Farms is hosting a contest a name the scarecrow contest. Customers can name the giant scarecrow which greets you as you arrive at the store. Also available is freshly pressed apple cider. Video on sex raises ire of local parents By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star A Scugog parents group is ex- pressing concern over a sex edu- cation video available in the schools. Carol Switzer, from Citizens for Decency, says she is horri- fied by "The Growing Up Se- ries", a sex education video for children aged nine to 12 years old. "We're horrified about the whole thing," Mrs. Switzersays. The group say's the video en- courages promiscuity, homosex- uality and incest. The series, produced by the National Film Board of Canada, consists of three 20-minute vid- eos on sexuality. It features sim- ulated sexual intercourse with animated characters, as well as answers questions from the co- ed class. It discusses such issues as masturbation, fondling, and ho- mosexual relationships. Karen Diceman, a member of the citizens group, says the se- ries is "a very subtle intoduction into homosexuality." She argues the Durham Board of Education is promoting homo- sexuality by making the video available. "I would say 80 per cent of the parents would not approve of homosexual values being taught," she says. The group is also concerned that the video is promoting the wrong idea about being sexually active. "The only consequence of sex- ual intercourse is a warm feel- ing, according to the film," says Mrs. Switzer. She says there is no mention of commitment or a loving rela- tionship. Mrs. Switzer argues the video teaches the children to release their feelings through sexual ac- tivity. Region gets tough on dumpers By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star The Region of Durham has decided it's time to get tough with illegal dumpers. The region's Works Commit- tee recently took out advertise- ments in local papers encourag- ing residents to report illegal dumpers to their municipal works departments. It's Each conviction offers a re- ward of up to $1,000. The advertisement estimates illegal dumping cost the taxpay- ers more than $1 million in clean-up costs last year. These costs were a direct result of ille- gal dumping of material along the roadside and around recy- clingigloos. orks Committee Vice- Chairman Yvonne Christie said the committee decided to take action against the dumpers dur- ing the summer. "It's considered to be drastic action," she said. But she added the cost of the advertisement is well worth it as "it's costing an arm and a leg to deal with trash." The region has been frustrat- ed by the growing incidences of illegal dumpers and has been at odds as to how to deal with the problem. The Township of Scugog has had relative success in the past couple of weeks as it has been successful in a number of con- victions in court. Local municipalities are en- forcing fines of up to $5,000. "They're promoting a very deadly problem," she says. "These kids are going to see this as a solution for their hurt- ing feeling and this is wrong," says Mrs. Diceman. The group is also concerned that sex education is being taught to children too young to handle the responsibility or un- derstand the feelings involved. "They're just not allowing children to be children," Mrs Diceman says. "Please just let our children grow up." The closing song on the video perhaps best describes the group's concerns, says Gail Syme. The song entitled "No- body knows what's right for you" tells the children "you're theone that must decide." This, the group argues, un- dermines the role of the family and gives the school board the job of teaching children morals. "The rights of the parents are being taken away and the board is choosing," says Mrs. Switzer. As a result of their concerns. the group is trying to have the video removed from the curricu- lum before it is shown in the schools. Mrs. Switzer says she is not sure if the video has been used extensively in Durham. Despite the group's opposi- tion, Bobbie Drew, Scugog Board of Education Trustee says the video has beer screened by acommittee and ap proved the content of the video. Mrs. Drew says the Family Life Education Advisory Com mittee (FLEAC) reviewed the series following complaints ir June and the group "respondec positively" toits contents. FLEAC consists of a cross sec tion of society including thecler gy, parents, teachers and psy chiatnsts. Two of the three videos re ceived unanimous approval while the third "Head full o questions" received only 70 pe cent. As a result, a "sensitive mate rial" warning label has been ap plied to the copies availabl through the board. Mrs. Drew sas she 1s unabl: to estimate how gxtensively thi. video has been used in the schools. She sayg there are hun dreds of films in the media cen tre available to the teachers or every subject. (Turn to page 5) "Fire Prevention Week" - see page 14