HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-01-05, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012. PAGE 11.
THE EDITOR,
Don’t give up on Blyth Public
School!
Across Ontario, groups are united
to stop school closures. Petitions are
being readied, including one for
Blyth Public School. These petitions
will be read in the Ontario
Legislature at the appropriate time
and will be presented to the
government. They cannot ignore us.
With a successful outcome,
dozens of schools like Blyth will be
saved from the irresponsible actions
of their school boards. Further,
Ontario school boards in the future
will not be allowed to ride
roughshod over their communities,
refusing to be accountable to the
public by whom they were elected,
and from whom funding is
provided.
Watch The Citizen in the weeks
ahead to learn how you can help this
cause. We know that hundreds of
people are upset about the intended
closure of Blyth Public School; we
need the signature of every person
on this petition.
Change is brought about by
ordinary people who do
extraordinary things. This effort is
one of those things.
Sincerely,
Greg Sarachman and Brock
Vodden.
Central Huron is preparing to put
some bite into animal control.
Thanks to a motion passed at
Central Huron’s Dec. 22 Committee
of the Whole session, Central Huron
is a step away from introducing ananimal control bylaw that will,among other things, limit petownership to five animals with a
two dog maximum in urban areas
and a three dog limit in rural
areas.
In presenting the detailed report,
Clerk Brenda MacIsaac noted thebylaw is designed to replace andconsolidate the three existing animalcontrol bylaws from the three former
municipalities – Clinton, Goderich
and Hullett Townships – which
comprise Central Huron.
Councillor Burkhard Metzger
questioned the wording on some
restrictions, noting he has pet geese
and ducks at his family farm but
Councillor Alex Westerhout notes
farms are exempt from the bylaw.
Metzger also later noted thataccording to subsection 18.1 of thebylaw, his family could house suchanimals since they have the proper
facilities to do so.
Among the new bylaw’s new rules
are a set of fines for those deemed to
be in contravention of the bylaw,
which sets parameters on everything
from dog noise, vicious dogs and
animals deemed to be exotic and,
therefore, not permitted in the
municipality. On the 24-point list of
prohibited animals as pets are bears,raccoons, monkeys, frong-fangedvenomous snakes, green andcommon iguanas, alligators, all
marsupials – including koalas and
elephants.
Given councillors passed the
recommendation as outlined,
Central Huron Council need only
endorse the document before it
comes into effect. Central Huron
Council is slated to convene again
on Jan. 9.
Central Huron to limit dogs per household
Writer sees potential
in French Immersion
Don’t give up on
school say writers
Auctionin’ off a pardon
Auctioneer Kevin McArter had one job and one job only at the Brussels New Year’s Day Levee
celebration at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and that was to make sure
Huron East’s Most Wanted paid for their crimes one way or another. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Have We Got
Your Number?
The Citizen
is now planning its
2012-2013 Telephone Book.
Is your number correct in the recently
delivered Bell Canada phone book?
Do you have a new listing since that
book was compiled?
If so, please let us know so we can
make our phone book as complete
and useful as possible.
Call 519-523-4792.
WANT TO ADD YOUR CELL PHONE LISTING?
If you would like your cell number listed in our listings we can add it if
you give us the information and pay a $5 service fee in advance at
either our Blyth or Brussels offices.
Letters to the Editor
THE EDITOR,
It seems odd to me that Director
of Education for the Avon Maitland
District School Board (AMDSB)
Ted Doherty would prematurely end
discussion on the viability of
offering French Immersion (FI) to
students in (new) schools as
reported in the Dec. 22 issue of The
Citizen. His reasons are that it costs
too much, that it drains students
from smaller, rural schools and that
a 2005 survey showed weak interest
on the part of area parents. But,
contrary to Doherty and AMDSB
staff, the situation and timing are
perfect for the introduction of FI in
our area.
All the elementary kids are going
to be in one building already,
therefore no new added bus routes
are needed in the same territory.
This completely eliminates what
would be the largest ongoing cost of
the program. Equally, the Grade 7
and 8 students, perfect candidates
for a late immersion program, will
all be at F.E Madill Secondary
School. It is too obvious to point out
that there will be no smaller, rural
schools to “cannibalize” as Mr.
Doherty and AMDSB treasurer
Janet Baird-Jackson worry. They
have all been closed.
The only new cost for the program
will be materials. The teachers will
be different and have different
qualifications to teach in French, but
they will not cost more. The bulk of
materials such as readers, textbooks
and library resources will initially
be expensive but unlike acquiring
new technology, which is de rigueur
it seems, these items do not quickly
become obsolete. There is a taboo
against fundraising for textbooks in
this province, but not against raising
money for laptops or smartboards.
There is always, always money
available as grants or from the
private sector to start new programs
or for one-tie costs; just consider the
large chunk that is going to the new
school.
The 2005 survey to gauge interest
in FI for the area was flawed for a
number of reasons: for one, area
parents whose kids weren’t yet in
school (too young) or not in the
AMDSB were not allowed to
participate. This was especially
unhelpful and perplexing as Janet
Baird-Jackson said FI programs
were considered as a means of
acquiring new students from other
boards.
The AMDSB staff seem to believe
that today’s situation is no different
than in 2005 and that implementing
FI outside of an urban area is not
worth considering. But things are
different. Where once there were
five elementary schools north of
Hwy. 25, there is now one. The
single FI school in Stratford is
overcrowded and continues to draw
students from this board’s other
schools. Why? Because the students
and their parents recognize the
excellent value of learning and
having a second language. The
recent actions of the school board
and trustees have drastically altered
the lives of students and families
here; it is a mistake for the
board staff to arbitrarily dismiss the
valid and valuable opportunity of
offering French Immersion in our
schools.
Theo Sawchuk, Blyth.
By Cheryl HeathClinton News-Record
Stick With the Classifieds.
If you’re shopping for something special, keep looking
in the Classifieds. Every week, you’ll find a great selection of
listings for everything from apartments for rent to
things to buy and see.
The Citizen
BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED