j, 4 i Sohool bad talarmeci' ai possýible changes to eclucation The provincial governmnent' mnust prove the benefits of any upcozing changes to Ontario's public education system to students, parents and taxpayers, says Lynn Peterson, president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association. "Suggesions that the Ontaiio government plans to aboish school boards are Counterproductive," saye Peterson. "Ontario's public school boards recognize that People want ail levels of govemment to be as eMfciént as Possible, but we are alarmed that Queen's Park may ho headed down the path of wrecing. Ontario'*s Public education system. "Students don't want to lose . important local programa. Parents don't want to iallong ditane t discuse their children's î education. "And public school taxpayerse don't want their education taxes paying for the province's dobt. Our bottom lime lu that,ý whatevorý changes the province makes, students, parents and taxpayors must alcorne out çwinners.> She says the elimination of school boards wil l ot save $1 billion, as suggested by ý1 the provincial govornmoent. According te, the Mfinistry of Education and Training's own figures, only four' per cent, or $600,000, of total education expenditures ($13.6 billion) is spent on administration. "Furthormore, it's impossible te run Ontario's education system on empty. Whatever structure there is, will cost somothing,"ý says1 Peterson. jPeterson fears that the $1 billion the province thi.nks itE can save by closing down school board is merely ana excuse toecut school fundinge again next year.a "This ploy smells of a tax grab, and the provincial fi government's debt should not be financed at students' expense." The provincial governxnent should stop beating around the bush and make public its full plan for Ontario's publicly-funded -education system, saYs Mariies Rettig, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association. "The governmnent muet unveil its total vision for education in the province," says Rettig. "How can teachers, parents and students remnain motivated and hopeful under these successive attacks?" The governinent has already cut hundreds of nmilons of dollars from what is'one of the finest education systems in the world, says Rettig. She adds that more Cuts of equal or greater magnitude have been hinted at. There is a one-man conunission I ookcing at teachers' collective bargainlng legislation; reforms to secondary eho ols which could drastically reduce student choice ap'd Ipportunity are also, being 3tudied, she notes. "We want to see thef rovernment put ail its cards )n the table," says Rettig. [nstead, they ar e lestabilizing the educational Evronment through thee umour mill while claimings kt the same time te, have a 8 ision for the education' of t ,ryouth. T "I wish they could share el bat vision with us.. We ready have one of the ol ighest standards of livingin w le world, thanks largely to j ie weIl-educated and ac' roductive labour force that fa' as corne through our school ar Btem. *BY looting that system. ar id undermining the work of foi lcated professionals, the Fe vernrnent is paving the hoe %y for a very diminished fri Lure for our young people." att In hespiitof Thanksgiving ST. MATTHEW Evangeist students (from I. eft) carry food donated by staff and studeptsfoSt Adamn Kiriakou, Gavin-Gruridy and Maisa Abeci Vncent's Kitchen Thanksgiving food drivefS. Photo by tynsie Fwara Whitby Free Press Pekkey- Ha Trafalgar Castie ()Ur hardworking students, faculty and staff have had a very busy week. On Sunday, Oct. 6, weà w'elcomed a group of il >ducators from CESI Canadian Educational 3tandards Institute) who ,pent four days evaluating he running of oun achool. 7hey looked at hçw we live, it and learn,' how our ,ganizations function, and atched us competo in Ports. They sat in oun lasses. and loanned how the dministrativo side, from culty and staff te, household ad maintenance operates. Now that it's October we re beginning preparations ýr the annual Student ellowship Bazaar - to be I1d Nov. 2. Parents and iends are welcome to. tend. This yeans conveners are senior students Noelle Cheng and Jenny Smith who wiil be helped by Mrs. Sigsworth. Again this year we will have an amazing fashion show. Models have already been selected, and the commentator, lighting and fashion coordinators are already on task The OAC English class and their teachers, Mrs. Hughes sud Mrs. Metselaar, had a mid-week excursion to The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto where they watchod a performance of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. The Celebration Singers have now begun practising for thein Christmas program. Under the direction of Mrs. Roadhouse, this group, sings throughout the year in varlous places and on varlous occasions. Jennifer Haynes Father Leo J. Austin Another week has passed, and the Austin community has been hard at work both in the school and on the field. Last Tuesday, both the junior sud senior boys'soccer teams proved the Wildcat to ho a force te be reckoned with as they each captured a 2-0 win over their opponents from Pereyma. The senior girls basketbal team must also ho commended for winning the bronze modal in the 16-team ail-Catholic tournam ent ini Belleville. Special congratulations go out te, Tania Chappeil who led all Austin scorers with 61. points. For her excellent play, she was named team most valuable player. The junior girls teani is also oelebraing a succesaful weok after earnnig a spot in the final game in the Seneca College tournament. Although'tho girls came up short against their opponents from Peterborough, they stil made Austin proud with their great display of effort and skil. A new Austin team had its first taste of competition at the LOSSA golf championship on Friday. Our first-ever ladies' golf teamn, composed of Mar.y Catherine Holatko, Tosha Doiron and Jull McGrath, had an incredible score, only a few strokes over par. Congratulations te the team for breakring new ground with such good sportsmnanship and onthusiasm. Last Friday say the entire Austin comunity involved in a rousing round of Sharelife Bingo. A groat amount of school spirit and fun were shared as we tried our luck te support this very important chanity. Speaking of spirit, one great way ýfor Austin students U 'show their L A- appreciation and love of this sohool is by punchasing an Austin school ring. The sale begins today sud will resume again tomorrow in La Place for ahl thnoe lunches. Today was an important day for ail Austin students who* are thining of attending university next year, as we welcomed representatives from 16 Ontario post-secondary. institutions. Organized by the guidance department, University Liaison Day provided a much-needed opportunity for students te, become more informed on their choices for continued learning.' Natunaily, entertainynent and arts are flot ail wepve done this week. Our sports teams have been competing. The under-14 basketball team played Branksome Hall and won on Monday with most pointa scored by Uisa Foresta. The foilowing day, the intermediate and senior swimming teams did exceptionally well in their first meet at Havergal. On the bittersweet side, the senior soccer team played a very difficult game againat Havergal but managed te keep theIr COMPosure against some. violent opposition. Although the team lost, we have hopes for an.excellent rematch. On Thursday, the under-16 baskotball, team played'and lost againat Havergal btour leading scorers, Kis Luchka and Katnina Treloar, deserve high praise. On the same day, our u.nder-20 basketball Leam lost their second gamne against Holy Triity dospite a strong showing by leading scorer Twinky Sharma. 3etter luck next time. prgrr, aii8611l *~~~~~ .8Y . .pe . .ê.F.i .Dn. . i Dr. Jam es'H. 340 Byron St. S&YWhtby e (905) 668»5444Z name our teams and will soon be able te, report the winning student's choice. More than 70 suggestions were received, and although Borne of those were duplicates, we are thrilled with the huge response. 'Arctic' -is. Muse -theni*e .Rids aged eight to 13 can join the M use program to bDegini n Oshawa on Satur- day Oct. 19. The newst series of work- shops will feature a crea- tive journey across Canada in the Arctic, using music, lore and landscape. Students make their own fables about the Anctic after 9tting an overview of tra- ditional Inuit'culture sud information about the Arc- tic. Brama and poetry round out the program. For more information or to, register for the Writers' Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, October 16,1996, Page 23 - 1' 1