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6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, Tuesday, February 14, 1995 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Ep D> PORT PERRY STAR " ITORIAL Editorial Comment Sex ed paper IS needed We should know by today what action, if any, was taken by Durham Board of Ed- ucation trustees after their review of the Reduce The Risk document. The draft document, aimed at encour- aging discussion on sexual involvement and reducing the risk of contracting sexu- ally transmitted diseases (STDs) like AIDS, has come under fire from critics, who feel it could serve to "coerce" teens into changing their opinions on sexual in- |i volvement, and steer them away from ab- stinance. The trustees, antsy after being bom- barded with letters from groups like Scu- gog Concerned Parents, want a review of the activities of the Family Life Education Advisory Committee (FLEAC), and the process by which the Reduce The Risk document has reached a stage of draft approval after three writings. It's uncertain if any recommendations | will result. But if any do, it is to be hoped that the recommendation is to adopt the document as a teaching aid, to be used when circumstances merit it. Talking sex with teens is a touchy sub- ject, but one that can't be avoided. In the event discussions take place, it is far bet- ter if teachers are prepared with tried and proven methods than simply winging it. Critics say the document eliminates ab- stinance as an option for teens, but the board and the FLEAC committee have been careful to recommend that Reduce The Risk be taught in conjunction with Postponing Sexual Involvement, a well- respected document on the merits of ab- stinance produced by the same people who wrote Reduce the Risk. By providing both documents, the board has covered the bases. It's foolish to suggest adolescents ought to be told simply to put sex out of their minds. The realistic view is that some will opt for abstinance, while others will become sexually active. For both seg- ments of the student population, knowl- edge and preparation are a necessity, and a responsibility of those charged with their development; and that includes both parents and educators. For too many years, we have seen the result of the just-don't-talk-about-it ap- proach: Unwanted pregnancy, stupid atti- tudes among teens, and the spread of disease. That can't go on any longer. It is time to shed the light on a sensitive and thorny issue. If revision of the docu- ment is necessary, so be it. But guidelines can only help. WELL , IT WOULD APPEAR We MA HAVE "TAKEN! A WRONG TURN. th 7 | VAL D06 SLED RACE... 77 N77 IN Remember ~~ When ? PHOTO COURTESY SCUGOG SHORES MUSEUM Goldsmithing. Downtown Port Perry about 1912, during construction of the post office. A boardwalk runs along and across the dirt streets. Note sign on wall of Allison's Drugs. The building has just been refurbished and is now the home of Dana's Random Jottings ee ---- LETTER OF THE WEEK Committee input was ignored To the Editor: In response to Oshawa This Week's ar- ticle on "Battling Granny To Speak Her Mind on FLEAC", I would like to say "good luck" to her. I, too, am a grand- mother, (also, a medical person and counsellor) and have served for the past 14 years on this same committee (Fami- ly Life Education) as a parent represen- tative, for the Durham Board. Most of my suggestions were ignored (even though extensive research had been done) and it soon became evident that our positions as community repre- sentatives were only tokenism to par- ents. The 22-member committee of sev- en parents, trustees, educators and health care professionals was set up in 1979 to advise the Board on the appro- priateness of sex education material. But as Doug Schneider, also a member of FLEAC told the Oshawa Times, "It was a weighted group, loaded with Board personnel who intimidated the handful of parents who were there." And truly, 15 educators stacked against seven par- ents is hardly an even playing field. Many a battle was fought around the Board table this past year over the con- troversial document, Reduce The Risk. | found the information ambiguous, vague in many areas, lacking sufficient data and had a distinctive, political slant. It was my conviction that such ma- terial should never be released to the schools and I would like to have my Turn to page 7 by J. Peter Hvidsten GREAT WEEKEND IN SCUGOG Wow! What a busy week- end in Port Perry. The Big Brothers, Big Sisters Association held their annual "Bowl For Millions" Saturday andthe alleys at Centennial Lanes were packed all after- noon with area residents, businesses, Bigs and Littles raising funds for this important organization. The Port Perry Starteam, consisting of Jeff Mitchell, Kelly Lown, Richard Drew, Bob Taylor, Matthew Hvidsten and myself sure proved it's easier to raise money than it isto bowl. It wasn't until the last few frames of the first game that a block was blackened, indicat- ing a spare had finally been landed. But forgetting about scores, we had a greattime. A surprise guest during the afternoonwas Lance Brown, sports announcer at CFTO television. Lance spent sometime with a few ofthe little brothers and sisters, show- ing hisstuffonthe lanes... Atthe Uxbridge Bowling Lanes, members of Scugog Counciltook partinthe annual celebrity bowl which pits councillors and Mayors of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog against each other. Asif Bowl For Millions wasn't enough to keep us busy overthe weekend, the Chamber of Commerce Snow Flake Festival and Kinsmen Sled Dog Races got underway Saturday morning. Bitter cold and high winds causing white- out conditions on the lake reportedly caused some of the competitors to lose the trail onthe lake. Asthe day wore on weather conditions worsened and that, coupled with fear of having an accident with speeding snowmo- biles, the mushers and Kinsmen cancelled the remainder of the event. Sunday was a better day and although the Sled Dog Races did not take place, the lakefront was visited by hundreds of visitors who enjoyed the ice sculptures, hovercraft demonstrations and skating atthe Open Air Ice Palace. Our congratulationsto all of the volunteers fromthe Big Brothers/Sisters Assoc., the Kinsmen Club, Chamber of Commerce and other individuals who helped to make last weekend an enjoyable one in Scugog.