The Citizen, 2011-09-08, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011.
Provincial election brings questions says writer
Bottle collection to
benefit Brussels home
Councillor questions claims regarding new school
Doing it old school
Not everyone was on a modern tractor late last month during the Huron County Plowing Match
just west of Belgrave on the Scott farm, some people were trying their luck with horses, the
way plowing used to be done. (Denny Scott photo)
THE EDITOR,The quality of an education
program is determined by three
factors: the qualities of the
instructors, the leadership qualities
of the staff and the appropriateness
of the curriculum. Any suggestion
that the “newness” or size of the
school building is the determinant of
that quality is pure rubbish. The
front page story about the
groundbreaking for the new school
in North Huron contains a lot of
futile attempts by various dignitaries
to justify this very costly operation,
and none succeeded.
Public schools in Blyth, East
Wawanosh and Brussels are being
sacrificed so that the school board
can have a new school opening to itscredit in Huron County to match the
earlier one it opened in the Perth side
(St. Marys).
The fabulous claims of benefits
that will accrue to those who
attend the new school and the
equally ridiculous suggestions that
good education could not possibly
be delivered in our existing
schools, suggests that the majority of
Blyth students are doomed to
sub-standard elementary education.
Most of them will never see
the interior of this new school
because they are being trundled
off to Hullett Central Public
School in Londesborough, another
of the hopelessly defective
institutions.There is a lot of anger aimed at
Avon Maitland District School
Board and it is all justified. But what
we need to realize is that they could
not get away with what they are
doing without the full support and
encouragement of the Ontario
Minister of Education, Leona
Dombrowsky and her leader. This
entire Pupil Accommodation Review
process is a provincial government
scheme to make us think that the
people are being consulted and
listened to, but in fact, the board is
implementing policies and practices
which have been in their secret plans
for many years. Community
preferences have no relevance to
them.This is not happening only here
in Huron County. It is happening all
across the length and breadth of
Ontario. There are dozens of
small rural communities that have
suffered the same kind of abuse
as Blyth is now experiencing. Many
have already lost their only
school; others are just about to go
under the axe. The important
thing is that they are discovering
each other. The main thing that
they are learning collectively is
that the puppeteer of this show is
the Ministry of Education. They
can’t blame it all on the puppets
(school boards). Declining
enrolment is a fact of life, but it is
only an excuse for a lot ofmanipulation, deception and
destruction of small rural
communities.
These many communities face a
bleak future once they have no
school. Our MPP says it’s all about
the children. Which children does
she mean? Not the Blyth children or
the Londesborough children or the
Grey Central Public School children.
What is going to happen in the new
24 rooms that could not happen in a
school within walking distance of
our homes?
More likely it’s all about leaving a
tangible school board legacy: name
plaques on a wall.
Brock Vodden, Blyth.
THE EDITOR,
It’s the most wonderful time of the
year – no, not the back to school
season, although depending on your
perspective it could be the best of
times, or it could be the worst of
times. That depends on where you
live, of course.
No, I’m referring to the upcoming
election, and the election promises
being made – many by a desperate
Premier of Ontario attempting to
hold on to power, which he
deservedly should relinquish
after this election for what he has
done to this province. It’s quoted
that the Liberals are attempting to
frame their election platform as a
“serious plan for serious times.”
How ironic that is, inasmuch as
they helped to create the “serious
times.”
If you’ve been following the
progress of the Province of Ontario
over the past eight or nine years, and
I seriously doubt many have, you
will note that the provincial debt is
somewhere north of $245 billion,
with a deficit of about $126 billion
which means that the government
has spent about $16 billion more
than it has taken in each year for the
past eight years.
When you say it fast, a billion
dollars doesn’t seem so bad, but
think about it closely, that’s real cash
money. Sixteen with 12 zeroes
after it. Sixteen thousand million
dollars.
But I can understand how
they got us into this mess, if you
look at what’s being spent in
our own region. Money
well invested, I'm sure, and only
adds $2,500 more debt for every
man, woman and child in
Huron County by my quick
calculations.
You see every dollar the
government spends, or commits to
spend, only adds more to the
deficit; each addition to the deficit
only adds more interest costs to
the debt. Local officials get a
warm and fuzzy while they’re
involved in the photo opportunity,
but there’s a cost at the municipal
level. No matter how you cut
it, download, or realign it, there is
still only one taxpayer footing the
bill.
I think we all need to wake up and
“smell the coffee.”
Greg Sarachman
Blyth.
THE EDITOR,
For the past few years, the
Brussels Empty Bottle Return
has accepted donated empties
with proceeds going to each of
the Brussels and Grey
Fire Departments. This has
been very well supported and
appreciated.
During the month of September,
we will accept donated empties and
forward the proceeds to the Habitat
for Humanity – Brussels Build 2011.
Anyone wishing to donate their
beer and liquor empties, please bring
them to 261 Turnberry Street,
Brussels, on those Saturdays
through September from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m.
Your support is greatly
appreciated.
Joe and Deb Seili.
LisaThompson
FOR CHANGE IN
HURON BRUCE
To eliminate HST on Home Energy Bills
To lower tax burden on Middle Class Families
To clean up waste in Government
To invest in Health Care and Education
Authorized by the CFO for the Huron Bruce Provincial PC Riding Association
VOTE
For Information
lisathompson4huronbruce
(519) 523 - 9113
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