HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-12, Page 6THE EDITOR,I took these descriptions fromfilmratings.com:
PG: “Parental Guidance
Suggested. Some Material May
Not Be Suitable For Children.
A PG-rated motion picture should
be investigated by parents before
they let their younger children
attend. The PG rating indicates, in
the view of “the rating board, that
parents may consider some material
unsuitable for their children, and
parents should make that decision.”
PG -13: “Parents Strongly
Cautioned. Some Material May Be
Inappropriate For Children
Under 13.
A PG-13 rating is a sterner
warning by the rating board to
parents to determine whether their
children under age 13 should view
the motion picture, as some material
might not be suited for them. A PG-
13 motion picture may go beyond
the PG rating in theme, violence,
nudity, sensuality, language, adultactivities or other elements...”Now, why does the school board
think they can subject my children to
this? Putting Grade 7 and 8s in high
school is taking away the parent's
right to control and protect their
impressionable 11 and 12-year-old
children from the undesirable social
activities that go on in high school,
on the high school property, on the
high school bus, and during lunch
hours and spares.
They have seats to fill in those
high schools and they see this as the
best possible solution for... what?... I
dare say it... but any level of logic
will tell you it’s not with the best of
intentions for our kids.
We are all aware of the physical
changes that usually go on with kids
that age. Along with that comes
confusion, fear and excitement. Why
should they deal with these things
under the microscope of the older
kids that don’t have the wisdom to
leave them alone? Grade 7 and 8brings on the first experience withresponsibility, from babysitting, to
activities in their school, like being a
lunch monitor or organizing an
event...move them to high school,
and they miss out on being “the big
cheese” for a year or two, never
being able to exercise their
developing leadership abilities, not
to mention their self confidence!
I won’t elaborate on the issues of
drugs and sex. We all know it’s there
and the thought of 11 and 12-year-
olds exposed to this by not a whole
lot older and not a whole lot smarter
kids scares me to death!
So it is my recommendation that
the school board take some direction
from the Film Ratings Board and let
the parents decide what they feel is
suitable for their children and as a
parent, I feel that is my right and
responsibility to my kids.
The ARC has made a fantastic
proposal, and while I thoroughly
enjoy that my kids walk a block toschool, I am not blind to the changesthat are occurring. Declining
enrollment is a big issue.
If I have to put my kids on a bus
for 15 minutes, that is fine, I rode a
bus all my school years.
But more than that, the world is
changing so fast and I want my kids
to have access to the resources that
will allow them to survive and thrive
as a adult. A state-of-the-art facility,that will attract the best teachers andprovide the kids with the best
education available, I believe, is the
North Maitland Educational Centre
of Excellence that the ARC is talking
about. They have the vision and
more importantly, the utmost
concern for what is best for my kids.
Michele McDonald – mom of three
Blyth Public School Kids.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009.Letter to the editorMom feels board idea gets PG-13 rating
Kids on board.
It’s a
smoke-free zone.
Smoking in motor vehicles with anyone under
16 is illegal and the fine is up to $250.
As of January 21, 2009, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking or having lighted
tobacco in a motor vehicle while a person under 16 years old is present. Second-hand
smoke levels in motor vehicles can be up to 27 times greater than in a smoker’s home. It’s
even a risk on short trips and when the windows are rolled down.
Children who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer health problems such as
sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and, later in life, cancer and cardiac disease.
For more information, contact your Public Health Unit or call the INFOline toll-free at
1-866-396-1760. TTY: 1-800-387-5559. Or visit: www.ontario.ca/smokefree
For help quitting, visit www.smokershelpline.ca or call 1-877-513-5333.
Paid for by the Government of Ontario
A few more “open” signs might be
lit up around North Huron this
Family Day after council passed a
bylaw authorizing businesses to stay
open if they so wish on Ontario’s
newest holiday.
At the Feb. 2 meeting, council
voted to add Family Day to the list
of holidays that businesses could
stay open if they want to, as opposed
to having it on the list where
opening a business on Family Day
would be in violation of the
bylaw.
The bylaw doesn’t obligate
businesses to stay open, as some
councillors were concerned about. It
just allows them to open if they want
to on certain statutory holidays.
On the list of holidays no business
is allowed to be open for in North
Huron is Christmas Day, Good
Friday, Easter Sunday and New
Year’s Day.
NH adds Family Day to list