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wil 6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 21, 2000 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PUBLISHER................ J. Peter Hvidsten GENERAL MGR........... Don Macleod MANAGING EDITOR... Jeft Mitchell OFFICE MANAGER..... Gayle Stapley ADVERTISING MGR.... Deb McEachern REPORTER.................. Chris Hall Freelance Writers- Heather McCrae, John B. McClelland PHONE (905) 985-7383 FAX (905) 985-3708 E-MAIL: port.perry.star@sympatico.ca _jocna Member Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc. fit ooper Publications Mail Registration No. 07881 SUBSCRIPTION RATES PORT PERRY STAR 18s 8 Fr > -- rE Member Canadian Community A CN A Newspaper Association Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Company Limited, 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Ontario - LL 1B7 1 Year - $37.45 (includes GST) Six Months - $19.79 (includes GST) Foreign 1 Year - $96.30 (includes GST) EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and letter writers are not necessarily those of The Port Perry Star. Letters must be signed and the telephone number (which will not be published) included. Requests that a name be withheld will be honoured only i there is a compelling reason to do so. Errors will be corrected if brought to the editor's attenbon. We reserve the nght to edit or refuse publication of any matenal submitted. ADVERTISING POLICY: The pubksher is not able for sight changes or typograptucal errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement The publisher is not liable for other efrors of OmissIoNs iN connection with any advertisement in any subsequent issue of the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. All claims of error In publication must be made by Wednesday, noon, prior to the next week's publicaton, and, f not made, will not be considered No claim will be allowed for more than one inserton. BUSINESS OFFICE: Judy Ashby, Kathy ADVERTISING: Ginni Todd, Cindy Jobin, Gail Morse, Heather Mack, Linda Clarke, Janet Archer, Malcolm Lennox, Lisa Monk Pam Hickey, Daryle Wright, Arlene Cheel, Dudley, Janet Rankin, Lesley West PRODUCTION: Trudy Empringham, Robert Taylor, Richard Drew Editorial Comment Time for the feds to listen Anyone who spends time talking to Nick Parsons would agree he makes a compelling argument for farm subsidies. Mr. Parsons is the farmer from British Columbia who rolled through Scugog Thursday afternoon in the combine he's driven across the country, on his way to Ottawa. He's taking the extraordinary action to call attention to what he says is appalling inaction by the federal government in response to hard times being experienced by Western farm- ers. The feds have responded with some announcements of emergency funding for hard-hit farmers, but those in the industry argue it's not nearly enough. They make a case for a resumption of farm subsidies, something the government is loathe to reinstate. The government insists that there are programs in place for farmers, including crop insurance and income supple- mentary programs. Farmers pay into them when times are good, and draw upon them when they're not. Once again, the agricultural sector counters that these funds are woefully inadequate. Where they make their most effective point, though, is when they point to the United States and European nations, where farm subsidies are administered by government, and amount to income insurance for farmers. Why is it fair, they ask, that such programs exist in those nations, yet not in ours? It's a damned good question, and to tell the truth, we have yet to hear an effective response from the feds. It is time that the government listen to farmers. When the most patient, stoic business people in the country raise their voices in alarm, it can be assumed the emergency is genuine. Farmers are fighting for their livelihoods. It would be shameful for for their country to turn its back on them. opring is here... " 7 Ro? PorT YerryY STAR SE he BE asa LAKE SCUGOG VACATION - Many area residents will remember the "Have-A-Nap" cabins, which were located on the shore of Lake Scugog, where Reid's Independent store sits today. The park had about eight cabins and was operated by Jack and Irene Brickstock during the 1950s and 60s. The cabins are believed to have been built in the 1930s or 40s and were rented out for vacationers or visitors to the town. If you know who built them, or any more about these cabins, please give us a call at 985-7383. i Photo courtesy of Mr. Don Trunks - Port Perry Star Letter of the Week "In education, not all things are equal . To the Editor: When our son was four, we enrolled him in the local Montessori school. We, like Mr. Neill, were very impressed by this school and its teacher. At that time Ms Smith and three adult helpers worked with a group of about 20 students. The structure of the activities and the cohesive- ness of the program provided for wonderful learning opportunities. It must be noted, however, that the low pupil/adult ratio and the select nature of the students in attendance, along with the Montessori method, contributed to its success. Although teachers in the public system continue to look for ways to improve their classrooms and their teaching, they must follow the curriculum set by the Ministry of Education, cope with the con- straints of having significantly larger classes and work with all children. The Montessori schools, as with any private schools, have the ability to select their clientele; the public system cannot be selec- tive, and thus faces a challenge private schools do not have to address. When students learn to solve equations, they know that what you do on one side of the equals sign has to be done on the other side in order to maintain that equation's integrity. The same attention must be paid to com- parisons. It may be easy to make comparisons between private and public schools on a superficial basis, but in order for those com- parisons to balance, all significant factors must be taken into consid- eration. Carolyn and Gordon Humphrey, Port Perry