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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years: ak ETTERS leg I ---------------- How valid is board's new prize? Pr To the Editor: "Durham Board of Education Wins Award for Excellerice" the headlines applauded. Over- come by the jultlant news, lim- mediately started compiling a letter of congratulations. Before I had a chance to- polish my letter of praise the cli- mate changed. The victors seemed to become something other than just proud winners: they turned into arrogant aca- demic elitists, com hi their award to the Nobel ize. Everyone got on io band "wagon. Pumped-up citizens wrote congratulatory letters to the editor condemning our Min- ister of Education. Educators called him a high school drop- out who knew nothing about ed- ucation, and that the system the Minister called broken didn't need fixing in Durham as it "simply was the best." I found a number of conflict- ing and otherwise ambiguous points in the board's claim to greatness: The sampling and competi- tion for "the best in the world" was limited to Canada and six other countries (hardly a global sampling). The Durham Board was not chosen by the Bertelsmann Foundation, who gave the award. It was chosen by a com- mittee headed by Michael Ful- lan, Dean of the Faculty of Edu- cation, University of Toronto. The Bertelsmann Founda- tion, in the end, did send over two representatives to take a look at our magnificent school and lavish board offices. The Bertelsmann erganiza- tion is a multimedia conglomer-_ ate doing about $15 billion a year in business. The Bertel- smann Foundation is a think tank, which examines a differ- ent public organization each year. : Apparently, only the theoreti- cal and "innovative" aspects of the system were considered: the end product was certainly never put to the test. Atleast, as far as I know, Durham students were never matched against those of competing countries in any form of academics competition. So then, the question arises: What did our Durham Board get the award for? And how and 1 what do they reckon that they are "simply The best in the whole world?" Giving Canada an award was a politically expedient and cor- rect thing to do, since we had al- ready won the booby prize from the United Nations earlier in the year as the most politically correct and multi-culturally friendly nationon earth. * I wish I could e to a differ- -ent conclusion aiid could believe that our education system ex- celled and was competitive with European nations. But until we have proof that our students come out on top in the interna- tional job market after graduat- ing from Durham, I can't accept that we are the best in the world, and it is folly to say so and use such eer politically against our Minister pe ( tion. *'y Jann Flury, Oshawa Friendly folks in Port chase away blues To the Editor: This fall has been a time of much stress, both financially and emotionally for so many of us. I felt moved to write this good news that happened in our wonderful town of Port Perry. Two weeks ago I was under the weather with the nasty fall cold accompanied by a sore throat (not the good news). 1 went to four stores in town to get food and sundries for the weekend. First stop was Reid's Organic Farm Market. Penny Reid gave me a hot drink with bitters to clear my cold, plus a quantity of Vitamin C to take with me. Lots of hugs and well wishes when I left along with my groceries. The next stop was Earth- dance, to get some "throat soothing" tea. Karen Giles made sure I had special throat Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten NEW STADIUM WON'T HELP THEM WIN, BUT... UGGESTIONS that a merger of resources by owners of the lozenges and already made her- bal tea. I needed Vitamin C, so went to Herbally Yours, where the cough started .up again. Brenda Stevenson handed me a glass of water immediately and narrowed down which Vitamin C would best suit my particular lifestyle (which has been con- stant zoom) right now. Long time friend Ellen Mar- tyn happened in and wished me well with new stories and many smiles all the way out to the front door of the store. The whole town of Port Perry felt like an extended family, ph needed when I wasn't at peek. The next day, I decid- oy ap go into Peace of Earth to see my old business partner, Ann Goddard, who was working at the coffee counter. I sat for an hour with my friend, who was serving coffee and helping cus- ' tomers. Again, warm hugs, a feeling of being in a great place. Where else can one get such care, such warmth essentials? This is a little late for Thanksgiving, but I'm feel- ing just so grateful living here. The other times I'm thankful for are Karen Hagglund always making me feel at home in For s Sake and meeting Heather Gibson on the street with her smiling face and news of the day. There are just so many well- wishers on a daily basis that add so much to this pretty town on the lake. The "thanks" con- tinue throughout the year. These are intangible gifts, the best one could ask for. Marty Evans, Port Perry Based on the performance of the Raptors and Cingr Leafs this year to date, here are three suggestions ersle to call the new facility. Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors to build a new multi-purpose stadium make a lot of sense. Sharing the cost of building one exceptional facili- ty, rather than two mediocre stadiums is good for the public, the teams and a definite cost saving for the owners. But what would they call such a facility... if it's ever constructed? In case they decide to have a 'name the stadium contest', similar to the one run for the SkyDome, I've already started thinking of some names. The CellarDweller, The LoserDome, or possibly The Sunken Gardens. I'm sure many of our readers have some other * great ideas for names. Fax them in to my attention, men and if there is enough response, I'll run some of the the : best in this column at a later date. The fax numberis 905-985-3708. IT'S AGUY THING Ever since a severe wind storm ripped through the area a couple of years ago, ripping out a number of trees in the bush behind our home, we've been able to sit at the kitchen table and look out to the activi- ties taking place on Lake Scugog and the shoreline. Since our view takes in the Port Perryboat © launch, we get to see a lot of interesting things hap- ona pening in the parking and launch area. Among the notables are men using the bush to cading relieve themselves, teenagers embraced incarsat hook, is | the back of the parking lot, the fire department train- getting the a Wor page of the headlined, back". Naturall And its because of the Another front Citizen from B week's top story: Straight away m trembled. | thoug Ginger in that naming their pets. | | run over a cat a The killer, For all | been no u Just ay FLAGGING S of mine around th about the fact that mail, and wonde replied, whereupon fine flag it was, and doesn't have a flag All this -- from a me thinking that all the country's ills free flags isn't as ri she sends one to patriotic, and call renounce his past, Quebec. Right. And then he have kids. | can't wait. io 1 a EE she pe