HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-04-20, Page 5THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988. PAGE 5.
Education Week, April 17-23
Doing it our way....
BY TOBY RAINEY
In an exercise marking Ontario’s
Education Week, senior students
from all five of Huron County’s
secondary schools have had a
chance to experience life on the
other side: on Monday, they
replaced the county’s elected
school trustees and Board of
Education senior administration
personnel in a mock school board
meeting at the Education Centre in
Clinton.
With only two short sessions of
instruction and observation prior
to conducting their own meeting,
the Grades 12 and 13 students
followed the formal agenda before
them to the letter, debating such
difficult and contentious issues as
the recent Radwanski Report, the
extension of French into elemen
tary grades, AIDS education, and a
policy of smoking in the school
environment, as well as finding a
solution to a parent’s transporta
tion dilemma.
They threw the Radwanski
Report back to the “real” trustees
for further discussion at a later
date, but solved the other pro
blems in a manner so knowledge
able and responsible that Huron
County Warden Bob Bell conced
ed, following the meeting, that the
exercise was very appropriate with
elections coming up this fall.
“You’ve done an excellent job,”
he said. “Some of our board
members may not feel as comfort
able as they did before.”
Replacing Blyth, Morris and East Wawanosh trustee John Elliott for the day, F.E. Madill’s Katrina
Somers argues her point, while South Huron District High School’s Ross Keller, replacing HCBE trustee “Trustee” James Cook votes on a contentious Issue, while “Trustee”
Dr. John Goddard for Hay, Hensail and Zurich, listens attentively.Mary Katherine Stapleton abstains. The motion passed 12-1.
In the above photo, acting “Director of Education” Rhonda Farag,
second from left, and “Chairman of the Board” Lori Bromley study the
issues before them, flanked by “Vice-chairman” Mary Jo Evans [far
right] and “Secretary” Marina Rawlings. In the photo at right, Lisa
Bosman and Jerry Lamport replace Superintendent of Operations
Paul Carroll and Superintendent of Personnel Gino Giannandrea for
the duration of the mock school board
Letters to the editor
Citizenship Week is our way of celebrating
THE EDITOR,
From April 17 to April 23, 1988,
Canadians will participate in Na
tional Citizenship Week - a cele
bration of our citizenship and what
it means to be Canadian.
Although in law Canadian citi
zenship has existed only since
1947, the spirit that gives Cana
dians their special identity has
lived since the earliest days of
Confederation. Equality, diversity
and community are the essential
ingredients of that spirit, and basic
principles of Canadian society.
Whatever our heritage, wher
ever we live, we share a common
vision that Canada is a compas
sionate and vital nation a place
where equality is an integral part of
our society. Every Canadian
should have the same opportuni
ties to participate in Canadian life
and every Canadian should accept
the same responsibility to speak up
and make his or her opinions
known.
Acceptance of differences is
central to Canadian life. The
Fathers of Confederation acknow
ledged Canada’s diversity in geo
graphy, language, religion and in
traditions.
The Canada of today is a thriving
multicultural society. People from
many different origins, cultures
and backgrounds call Canada
home. This diversity gives Canada
a fresh and vital wealth of skills,
experience and knowledge that
enriches all aspects of our Cana
dian society.
At the heart of Canadian society -
in our schools and neighbour
hoods, in business, politics and the
arts - is a sense of community.
Canadians take pride in their
communities; in their clean, safe
cities and friendly neighbour
hoods. We try to help those in need
and support international efforts
for human rights, freedom and
justice.
A great Canadian, the Right
Honourable John G. Diefenbaker,
speaking in the House of Commons
on July 1,1961 said, “I know there
are some who feel a sense of
embarrassment in expressing
pride in their nation, perhaps
because of the fear that they might
be considered old-fasbioned or
parochial. I do not belong to that
group. I realize that a warped and
twisted nationalism is productive
of tyranny and war, but that a
healthy loyalty and devotion to
one’s country constitutes a most
fruitful inspiration in life.”
Being Canadian means finding
strength in diversity, enjoying rich
cultural traditions of others and
respecting each community’s con
tribution to our national life. And it
means being proud to live in a free,
united and tolerant country.
National Citizenship Week - a
Sunday shopping confusion explained
THE EDITOR,
I would like to clear up the
confusion about the Ontario
government’s plans for Sunday
shopping legislation.
On April 14, the government
unveiled its plans to change
legislation in order to provide
Ontario residents with a new set of
rules which are fairer, more
coherent and can be enforced.
The amendments are not likely
toresultin major changes in the
current Sunday shopping situation
in Huron County.
The new rules will allow Ontario
communities freedom of choice in
determining their own individual
needs. Local governments will be
able topass bylaws permitting the
opening or requiring the closing of
retail establishments on Sunday in
keeping with their own values.
time to celebrate our citizenship
and what it means to be a Canadian
- is now an annual event, which
coincides with the anniversary of
the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms on April 17, 1982.
National Citizenship Week is
As a result, Huron municipali
ties will be able to allow the present
situation to continue, if they wish,
or, they will be able to make
changes, if they wish.
Currently, some - such as Blyth,
Bayfield and Goderich -- allow
varying degrees of Sunday open
ings, while nearby towns such as
Clinton, Wingham and Exeter are
far more restrictive.
The new rules are an extension
of the current practice, which
allows municipalities control of
store hours six days a week and
partialcontrolofSunday hours.
The new rules give municipality
more control over Sunday hours.
The new laws will also have clear
advantages over the current chao
tic situation. The new rules will be
coherentandenforceable-- and
treat retailers more equitably.
Canada’s way of celebrating what
being Canadian means to all of us.
Spread the word. Speak up! Join
in! Be proud - to be Canadian!
Murray Cardiff,
MP Huron-Bruce
In addition, amendments to the
Employment Standards Act will,
for the first time, provide effective
protection for all retail workers,
who will now have the right to
refuse unreasonable assignemnt
of Sunday work.
The amendments also provide
protection for religious groups,
while allowing for an orderly
transition to the new rules over a
five-year period.
Overall, the changes proposed
by the Ontario government will
provide a number of important
benefits while leaving the deci
sion-making powers in the hands of
the locally-elected councillors.
Jack Riddell, Minister
of Agriculture & Food
MPP for Huron