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2- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 9, 1997 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Passage of Bill 160 sparks demonstrations across province Teachers mourn education at 'funeral' By Chris Hall Port Perry Star More than 30 teachers sald farewell to a long-time friend during a special funeral service at Port Perry High School Friday afternoon. Gathered in a group in the school's courtyard, close to 35 secondary teach- ers huddled in the cold around a makeshift coffin while holding candles and listening to a eulogy for public education. Along with more than 126,000 other Ontario teachers and countless par- ents who held similar events in their towns, the local instructors said their good-byes to Ed. U. Cation, whose passing they attributed to the provincial government's Bill 160. Leading the education supporters was Larry Doble, a strike captain dur- ing the October teachers' walkout and a science F< yo Bi SEN ata? = =~, - == Kez instructor at PPHS. "We felt we had to rec- ognize the passing of the legislation," said Mr. Doble. "People have to real- ize that we had a good sys- tem before and, yes, it could have used a few mod- ifications, but now they (provincial government) have gone and thrown it out." Educators, who launched their illegal strike over Bill 160, say the legislation will affect the quality of education in the classroom by allowing the government to make cuts and introduce changes to preparation time, while allowing non- -certified instructors to teach. The government contends the measures in the bill are necessary to make the pub- lic education system more efficient and economical. Here in Scugog the bat- tle against Bill 160 has been marked by demon- | LON A 2X0 2 SANE €F § 2f hi DUS A gift Certificate to from né& EMIEL'S PLACE In downtown Port Perry 985-2066 985-2257 Gas * Propane * Wood * Oil The Smart a CF GL [oo] Queen St. Casimir St. Lil *Free /~ We do our own work & guarantee it! Fair Pricing OVERRIDGE In Fireplace Warehouse oS |% 180 Casimir St. (905) 985-0715 wn |" 1-800-638-4751 JUL. PIZZA & SUBS 985-8448 ® 80 Water St., Port Perry strations, letters to the editor of the local papers, and staged events like the one Friday at PPHS. And a group has been formed here to lobby against the bill. "Every school has its own way to deal with the legislation -- something they feel comfortable with -- and we felt this skit was a good way to express our concern," Mr. Doble said after Friday' s mock funer- al. "A lot of people feel like they are losing a life-long friend; I was brought up in this public school sys- tem, and I think I turned out all right," he said Friday afternoon, shortly after the five-minute cere- mony. The point of the action, he says, is to raise the pub- lic's awareness. "We must examine it to "see how it will alter one of the best education systems in Canada," he said. "This Bill 160 puts that control into the hands of a few peo- ple at the provincial level. In a democratic society it is the responsibility of the people to let the govern- ment know their concerns and hope the government will listen and respond." Through the light- hearted ceremony, Mr. Doble says he hopes people realize what the govern- ment is doing to their chil- dren's future. "We have to go to the government and stop them because they keep pushing things we (Ontarians) don't want... They have an agen- da and people have to do something to stop them from changing everything." During the eulogy, Mr. Doble paid his respects to education saying that "Ed U. Cation" was "a man who challenged others to do their best but taught with Compansion" "Getinto the Christmas Country Christmas 'Wednesday, (Dec. 10) at Rec. Centre. Featured performers Spirit at the Touch of Band, Ww - guitar, Dare Wat Dancers ~ from Bethany, Ch: Readings, and A Foneh 8 p.m. at the Blackstock 2 Concert in Blackstock available and there will are Cartwright High be. draw prizes. . of Country Singers. Refreshments will be WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS S11 [0] Si Role} ) ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS = REDUCE DRAFTS & INCREASE WARMTH. ALCAN VINYL & ALUMINUM WINDOWS Allen's Siding Products Limited Sales & Install Gold Club Doors - Windows - Trough - Additions - Solariums PORT PERRY e (905) 985-333 LINDSAY e (705) 328-1402 » (705) 878-2023 Reach Industrial Park - Reg. Rd. 8 (1/4 Mile East of No. 12) iy IE S.A.W.D. A.C. FOS. SD FETE TART ABOCANCI OF Oven FINANCING AVAILABLE FOR COMPLETE lO]|N SRN S2{e) @SY\V| \[e)N 2{ = [e)V/:} g [0] V[S ON ALL ALCAN PRODUCTS FAMILY FAVOURITE on re -- \ & Teachers gathered Friday A for a mock funeral to mark the passage of Bill 160, the provin- cial government's Education Improvement Act. 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