Stephenson tells Durham West PC's.... Community must share responsibility for education WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1981, PAGE 2. MORE WhItby Fr8 Pross 101h Anniversary Celebrational The responsibility for education does not lie solely with the education system. That was the message brought to the Durham West Progressive Conservative Association's an- nual meeting last week by Ontario Minister of Education Bette Stephenson. Stephenson likened the school system to the weather. "It is a matter about which everyone has concern or opinion or both." She told her admittedly sympathetic audience that the terms "education" and "school" have become interchangeable. Describing this as a "relatively recent phenomenon," Stephenson said "I am not at all sure it is appropriate, for no matter how humanely and sensitively comprehensive a school or instruc- tional program is, it encompasses only a few of the multitude of sites, experiences and relationships in which each of us acquires education." The minister said that the school system has become the "main medium of education" although historically this has not always been the case when this role was played by the church or by various ap- prenticeships. "In this day and age, however," Stephenson con- tinued, "when we think about education, we think about schools, colleges and universities and inevit- ably about our expectations of them." The MPP for York Mills also said that according to futurists advising her ministry the future does not seem all that bright for today's students. These futurists have said that the coming 20 years will bring such things as continuing inflation and financial restraint; a decline in job opportunities for the highly educated and the unskilled; a reduction in energy consumption; an aging population; the emergence of alternative family structures; as well as an increased threat of nuclear confrontation and a growth in terrorism. These experts also predict more accessible and sophisticated technology; a greater need for en- vironmental controls and conservation as well as a shift in the economic balance of Canada. According to Stephenson, all of these factors will have a direct effect on the education process. "It is obvious that the world will continue to change and that Ontario will change with it," she said. Stephenson, who also serves as Minister of Colleges and Universities, was also critical of lob- bies and special interest groups concerned with education. "We are surrounded," she said, "by lobbies and interest groups campaigning for unconditional surrender to their demands." "Each of them, taken singly, might sound quite reasonable. But there seems to be no limit to their demands and precious little concern tor the com- mon good." "Each is out to ensure that its own members benefit from the proposed changes," she continued, "and the devil take the hindmost." Stephenson said that when the demand of these groups are put together it appears from her point of view that the system is unable to satisfy all of them. She added that the ministry shouldn't even try. "If we try to satisfy the most aggressive and sophisticatedgroups, the ple most in need will 17. probably be those who lose most in the process of change." However, the physician turned politician, told her audience that change should be viewed as a challenge and an opportunity. "If Ontario is to maintain its leadership role in education,, we must ensure that the challenge is met for the benefit of all and the opportunity siezed on the firm foundation of a value system which has withstood the tests of time and the vagariés of the political system." Stephenson was also of·the opinion that the school system can do "little or nothing to close the gap between the haves and have-nots." Part of the education process should lie outside of the school - with the family, she said. "We now know that the family and the community are far more influential than schools on educational achievement," Stephenson said adding that a California study shows television has a more power- ful influence than the schools. That study also shows that the school system can not compete with the well-organized, sustained ad- vertising campaigns of television and that the more television watched by the child, the worse his per- formance in school. "Even the lyrics of rock music seem to have a greater impact on values than do our schools," Stephenson said. She also warned that the public school system in Canada could be faced with the problems currently experienced in the United States - many of which revolved around racial violence, rape, drug ped- dling and prostitution. "Unless we plan and act in mutually supportive fashion it could happen here," Stephenson said. "Are we courageous enough to help children learn the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, and the consequences of both?" "Are we concerned enough to ensure that all parts of the education configuration assume and discharge their education responsibilities?" This can only be done if the responsibility for the education process is shared not only by the school system but by parents and the community at large. "Far too much is at stake for the achievement of these goals to be left solely to the school system," Stephenson said. "The entire educational con- figuration will have to share the responsibility of making (our children) knowledgeable enough and wise enough to survive." Describing this responsibility as "onerous but vital" the minister said that parents will have to recognize that parenthood "is a privilege rather than a right - which imposes obligations to provide a loving, supportive home atmosphere..." "For teachers," she added, "it means commit- ment to real professionalism including adherence to a code of ethical behaviour." The answer to solving current problems in education, Stephenson concluded, is the develop- ment of a skilled, concerned and dedicated educa- tion community...."which recognizes schools as one major medium in a common pursuit." "Then as a result of shared values and mutual understanding our expectations of our education system can be realistic - worthy of the past and ap- DroDriate to our future." Ainsmen support minor sports The Kinsmen Club of Whitby has given a total of $720 to two local minor sports associations. In the photograph above club vice-president Dave Smith (centre) presents $400 to Joanne Hamers, the president of the Whitby Ringette Association (left) and $320 to Barb Anyon, the sponsorship director of the Whitby Brooklin Minor Hockey Association. The money will be used to sponsor two hockey and one ringette team. - Free Press Staff Photo 0 WIN WINI! WI NI WINiI A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE ALICE COOPER, DE. ESIS, OR AC/DC (ail centre 1oor seats) Ail you have to do to enter is think up and submit an original slogan for the Whitby Free Press (i.e. Toronto Sun - "the little paper that grew"). Entries must be received by 3 p.m. Friday, Novem- ber 20, 1981, at our office: 131 Brock St. N., Whitby, or if mailed: P.O. Box 206, Whitby, L1N 5S1. Three winners will be chosen by M.B.M. Publish- ing and notified by telephone. 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