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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 24, 2001 - 9 Student launches fight over washroom rights By Rik Davie Port Perry Star A Grade 11 student at Port Perry High School has begun a battle over what he says is his right to use the washroom when he wants to. Jackie Chan is taking a stand against what he says are harsh and sexist wash- room rules in his math class. Mr. Chan drinks a lot of water as part of a strict training regime for his mar- tial arts program. . The intake of water has brought him to logger- heads with his math teacher over the right to leave to use the washroom during the 75-minute class. "She (the teacher) said | go to the washroom too much, and | have been suspénded until 1 get a note from a doctor," Mr. Chan told trustees at the last Durham District School Board meeting. Mr. Chan was told by the board his issue was an in-school matter he should deal with by speaking to staff at Port Perry High School. Chris Skinner, a PPHS student and a student trustee on the board, said the whole thing "is ludi- crous." "They just need tq fix this as soon as possible," Mr. Skinner said. But Mr. Chan says work- ing the matter out with school staff has turned out to be more difficult than he imagined. He said a ------ meeting last week with principal Mark Jefferies and vice-principal Paul Murray left him feeling forced into a comer. "The impression | had in speaking with them was one of intimidation," Mr. Chan told The Star. "I was told I could drop the class, or | could go back to the class and follow whatever rules there were. They told me, 'Everyone else can hold their bladder, why can't you?" Mr. Murray told The Star that there is no set policy on washroom breaks at by Joan Hood RD, CDE The theme for National Nutrition month Is: Making sense out of the foods we eat. Here is this week's myth. because of all the pharynx, larynx and cervix. be food grade and thus are edible, Safe food handling procedures indude: much of the fiber. individual a "It's not worth eating fruits and vegetables ides and waxes on them." Is this true or false! This is false. The health benefits of eating a diet with generous amounts of fruits and vegetables far outweigh the risk of pestidde residues. There is evidence to support a protective effect of fruits and vegetables against many types of cancers, including those of the lung, stomach, oral cavity, Studies indicate that diets rich in fruits and vegetables, vitamin C, vitamin E and cartenoids are assodated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease. Pestiddes are chemicals used to control plant insects, diseases and weeds. Pesticides undergo strict evaluation before being approved for use on Canadian produce. The amounts of allowable pestidde residues are set many times lower than levels that would actually pose a health risk. Very small amounts of wax coatings may be used on some produce to prevent dehydration as well as improve its safety, shelf life, appearance, texture, taste and quality. The waxes that are used must Canada has one of the safest food supplies in the world, By themselves, organic practices are not an absolute guarantee that the products will be entirely free of residues of prohibited substances or other contaminant's. Factors beyond the control of the operator, such as exposure to contaminates from the atmosphere, soil, ground water and other sources, may all affect the content of the food. In fact, bacterial foodbome illness due to improper preparation, storage, and cooking of various foods is perhaps a larger problem than pesticides, affecting about 2 million Canadians each year. Safe food handling and storage practices can help reduce the risk of foodbome illnesses. * Wash all produce carefully and thoroughly under cold running watet Washing produce helps to remove any dirt or bacteria that may be on the surface of the food. » Discard or compost the tips and outer leaves of vegetables such as celery, lettuce, cabbage and other leafy vegetables, Also wash the inner leaves. * Peel the skins of of produce if you are concemed with the wax coating. This will result in loosing * Saub potatoes and carrots to avoid peeling away their fibre rich skins. For more information send questions to Box 5283 Port Perry or call 985-6946. of Port Perry Dietitians providing group counselling. This message sponsored by *By Nutrition at Work, a roup Jackie Chan (left) with student trustee Chris Skinner. PPHS. . "Teachers set limits," Mr. Murray said. "But if someone has to go, they have to go." But Mr. Murray said excessive use of washroom breaks could be seen as a "behavioural problem." "If the problem persists, we have to ask ourselves is there a medical problem here," Mr. Murray said. Mr. Chan, who says he has never been suspend- ed for cutting classes and is not viewed as a behav- ioural problem, wonders why only males seem to be the target. "I have to say that girls can ask to be excused as often as they need to or want to, and nobody asks why. There's an assump- tion why, and no one is questioned," Mr. Chan said. "I know that some girls take great advantage of this at times. Why centre on me? "I have not abused the right," he said. "I have never gone (to the wash- room) more than once in a class, ever." The Port Perry commu- nity seems to agree with Centre for the Performing Arts 302 Queen Street, Port Perry presénts JJ JI "SPRING TONIC™ A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE featuring the velvet vocals of our own Leslie Ann Bradley (sponsored by Tom and Catherine M illar) also featuring J The Magical Sounds of the Peterborough Singers under the direction of Syd Birrell J The Pop Ensemble of the Peterborough Singers conducted by Barbara Monahan J The Incredible Dr. Tom Millar on the keyboard with guest artist, Gael Morrison This is an evening you will not want to miss. Everything from pop to the classics with a little gospel for good measure. Port Perry's tradition of award-winning musical theatre continues with some of the most enjoyable talent ever to grace a stage, ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Saturday, May 5th, 2001 - 8:00 PM. Tickets $25. each available now at: Henshall's -- 241 Queen Street, Port Perry Call 905-985-1965 Call now to reserve your seats. This will be a sold-out show! young Mr. Chan's asser- tions. In a recent walk around his school and through town,- Mr. Chan collected more than 600 signatures from people who feel as he does: When you gotta go, you gotta go. In an interview last Thursday, Mr. Murray said he felt the problem would be "resolved, | think by tomorrow." Mr. Chan said on Friday after his meeting with the two senior PPHS staffers that he does not feel the issue has been resolved. "I can't go back to class by agreeing not to ever leave to go to the wash- room, because | know the chances are slim I'll be able to keep the agree- ment and because | feel strongly that 1 am not a child and 1 know when | need to visit a washroom," he said. Mr. Chan said people he doesn't know at school are hearing of his struggle, and are coming up to him to give support. He said his friends are supportive, and he has asked his mother not to intervene. " am the one who knows my own body, and this is my fight," he said. "If I thought for one minute | was wrong, | would just drop it." Chris Skinner also has thrown his support behind Mr. Chan. "Jackie is just a good guy, and a good student," Mr. Skinner said. "He needs this class, and this is a ludicrous situation for him to be in. The (staff) need to just fix this, now." While Mr. Chan takes a couple of days to decide his next move, he sits out the math class and gets further behind all the time. "All I want is the right to quietly leave the room and use a washroom if, and when, | have to," he said. Directory of Coming Events Friday, April 27 Talent auction - Blackstock United Church - 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27 Spring Feast Dinner - Port Perry United Church - 5-7 p.m. Info. 985-2801. Friday, April 27 Dunsford Community Centre - Exotic Feature Entertainment - The Four Most Popular Male Entertains, 402 Cedar Glen, Dunsford. 705- 878-2508. Tuesday, May 1 Pine Ridge Garden Club spring flower show - Nestleton Hall - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 Video presentation from Toronto's Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre - West Shore Village - 7:30 p.m. To register 852-4461. Thursday, May 3 North Durham Hospice Palliative =~ Care Training Course - 7:30 p.m. To register 852-4461. Friday, May 4 Talent Auction - Seagrave United Church - 7:30 p.m. Also live auction. Saturday, May 5 Port Perry United Church Book and Yard Sale - church auditorium - 8 a.m. - also UCW perennial plant sale, Info. 985- 2801. | Saturday, May 5 Beef supper - Utica Hall, sponsored by Epsom/Utica United Church. Opens at 5 to 7 p.m. Bake sale during sup- per & sale of afghans. Call 852-5398 or 985-7564 for tick- ets. Saturday, May 5 Stress & Family Balance - presentation - The Church of the Ascension, 266 North St., Port Perry - 9-noon - $15. Info. 985-7278. Saturday, May 5 Joshua Laing Fund Sale - craft sale & craft materials - 8 am. - 84 South Balsam St., Uxbridge. " Sunday, May 6 Beef dinner - 5 p.m. - Oddfellows Hall. Sunday, May 6 St. Andrews United Church, Sunderland - 155th anniversary service - 11 a.m. Also mass junior choir event - 7 p.m. Friday, May 11 Wick Presbyterian ham . salad supper - 6:30 p.m. Advance sales only. 705-357- 2160. Coming Events sponsored buy | 1575 HWY. 70 PORT PERRY VEHICLE LETTERING * GRAPHICS » BANNERS * WINDOW LETTERING We'll match any competitor's Written quote 985-5277