WOSS students protest By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A group of students at White Oaks Secondary School (WOSS) braved -2 C temperatures Friday morning to show their support for their teachers whom they believe were wronged by the Province. Approximately two dozen students rallied outside of the Montclair Drive high school protesting Bill 115, also known as the Putting Students First Act. They carried placards reading `Bill 115 Has Got To Go.' "Teachers can't fight so we will," said Grade 9 student Jason Duarte who was among the most vocal of the youths. Earlier in the day, Duarte went into a school assembly and asked his fellow schoolmates to join the protest outside if they wanted their extra-curricular activities back. He also made a similar plea to students in the school cafeteria. "We need the help. We need the people," he said. Halfway through first period, many of the students walked out of class to join the protest. They were not permitted to protest inside, but raised their voices just beyond school property. "We're going to stay outside and we're going to fight, even if it's snowing, a blizzard, it could be hailing," said Duarte. 5 · Wednesday, December 5, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com The protest was organized by Grade 11 student Tracy Dieter, who created a Facebook page to spread the word. "I'm close to a lot of the teachers and I have teachers in my family. It's really not fair they don't have a voice anymore. They had their voice taken away," she said. "I'm actually kind of scared because this is breaking the Charter (of Rights and Freedoms). If (the Province) can break the Charter for this, what else can they break? It's really scary because the government is supposed to be helping us, but they seem to be turning against us. It's not cool." Another student, Nathan Fidlin, who is in Grade 12, joined the protest when he heard about it because he realizes future students will be affected most as future extra-curricular activities and dances are being cut. He's not blaming the teachers for the cuts, but the government that put the teachers in the position they're in. "It's not fair for the government to decide, `Let's (tick) off the teachers and take away their rights. The students won't suffer.' We did. And we will, unless we do something about it," he said. The first day of protesting at White Oaks drew a light crowd, but the students plan to hold more such events and hope to make it bigger and get students at other schools involved as well. See Everyone page 8 NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog show of supporT: White Oaks Secondary School student organizer Tracy Dieter protests Bill 115 on Friday morning outside the Montclair Drive high school. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Henderson Partners, LLP 11th Annual Toy Tea such a resounding success. Your gifts and support are certain to brighten the holiday for many underprivileged children within our community. CORK FLOORING CORK WALL & CEILING COVERINGS CORK HOME DECOR CORK GIFT ITEMS · INSTALLATIONS to the following organizations for sponsoring this event: Willson International Ltd. Freedom International Brokerage Inc. M. Edward Powell Insurance Brokers Inc. RBC Royal Bank Highview Financial Group National Wireless Barometer Capital Management Inc. Brian Isherwood & Associates MCS Real Estate Systems Inc. Khamis Design Inc. Custom Sign Solutions Inc. Stella & Dot Jewellery See Jane Run Communications Simpson Wigle LAW LLP K J Harrison & Partners Inc. Trust Child Care Inc. Sutton Group Quantum Realty Inc. Tactical Paradigm Financial Advisory THANK YOU Cork: Natural, Renewable, Sustainable,Versatile, Comfortable, Beautiful BRING IN THIS AD AND BOOK YOUR INSTALL FOR JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, 2013 FOR MUST BE BOOKED BY DEC. 31, 2012. 20% OFF THE INSTALLATION. D IS S C O V E R T H E BE AUT TY OF CORK! 905.257.5588 · www.corkhouse.com 2441 Neyagawa Blvd., Oakville