Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1997-10-01, Page 6Page 6 — Ltaeknow Sentiatet, Wednesday, October 1,11997' Teachers could take Parent, applaud government job action by.. Friday action on proposed education bill by Tracey Doerr Aiea teachers could take job action before Friday if the government doesn't back down from • Bill 160, say teacherfed- eration representatives. The'bill, 'which would reduce secondary school teachers' preparation_ time, reduce class, size, allow non -teacher workers into. the classroom and change some of the, items in their contract is still receiving debate in the provincial Iegisiature. Teachers were- . concerned . the second reading would take. place Monday allowing the bill to become law as early as Friday. Jenji Hanko, political action officer'foi• district 44 of the. -Ontario Secondary • School. Teachers' Federation,. said a membership Meeting will be held Tuesday night (after press time) to talk about the potential changes and. "what action weare going to take." • Bob Richards, president, of the Ontario English Catholic iTe•ach'ers'. Association, said teachers are upset the government„ is planning to cut an, addi-. :,tto:nal $1 ..:b:iliion ,from ToOntario s education sys- tem. r`•`What :people. don't ealize "'i's. that it's the" underlining of ;the • destruction of the 'whole of. education," said Richards, The bill ;is;._not about improving education, .said` `Barry- Wolfe,, President of the Ontario `Public School Teachers' Federation, "it's • • • • • about money." "Bill 160 is about power. If the bill is not amended, then teachers and others will be forced to strike to save public education,' said Wore. Richards said teachers have given upraises in the past in exchange for preparation time. ,They have also fought for small, er class .sizes. He's heard the government is propos- ing a 25 pupil, beard -wide average which• would be an increase for.the .Grey - Bruce board. "The board wide •aver- age now, is around 17.5, we're looking at °an increase in size." MPP Barb. Fisher said there has bee. n no talk of numbers on. this issue yet. "Class numbers are not out there at all. That's nology and chemistry. The bill would elimi- nate negotiations between teachers and the board and require teachers to answer to the government, Hanko said. Fisher said that's not true. "There are a few things we want province -wide policy on. There are many things still within the con - 'tract that will be negotiat• - ed as was always the case," she said, • Hankd said proposing a 'bill without teacher input is wrong: "If you have happy teachers who are involved' in the 'process; you will ,have better teachers," she said. * Teachers are•di scour- aged'and angry• with the •government, say •something that will have. to be• determined,",'she said. "People are jumping the gun on a lot of 'things. They say the issues are 3/4, cast in stone and such is not the case:'' ' She said the govern-.. meant is trying to put out the .bill as itstands and see,, whatpeople think of, it.. "My desire,:is to go to a public. hearing," 'she said ' Hanko said she is con cerned . .this - bil,l.,'wil.l•.. • change the definition of what a teacher is,' "It will allow unqualified. people, into the class- room," she said. Under: the bill, those with-. out a teachers' certificate will be able, to -teach in '• .guidance, library, inusic, drama, arty computer,' tech- the repre- sentatives, and are looking at ways to counteract the For the ,catholic school teachers, there is a 17 -step program that includes lob- bying MVPs, a media -and 'writing campaign:. and talking to parents. "The teachers are get- ting angry about what's happening and withthe government for putting. up the, front that! teachers are just trying to: protect their salaries and that's pot it,, they're trying to' protect the students,":; said' Richards. If a walk out occurs, it will be: province -wide. Richards•`said teachers will not be walking out in. protest of `their •Own Cow - tracts, tracts, but, rather,,. in protest of ,the government bill. Dear editor: A tremendous contro- versy is surrounding the public school educational • system. We hear it onthe radio and read it in the paper everyday. We also hear how terrible and dev- astating the proposed. changes are in the local school itself. One of our sons carne ,home yesterday.'. with •"facts" from his•teacher. Apparently classroom time is being used to dis- seminate the teachers opinion of the proposed changes. In my opinion, these are incorrect and we can hardly afford that waste of classroom time. I have not looked at all the fancy studies that have been reported upon. but I know from the experi- ences of our children that our schools need rnajor • improvement. In my opinion • the pre- vious provincial govern- ment helped put our chil- dren even further behind in part due to their collu- sion with the big unions. This government is trying to recover the lost, ground and put our kids back at thehead of the Canadian class, I applaud them for it: Ed McGugan. One teacher's voice Deareditor: ' T `I believe in providing, adequate time in the work day for teachers to do their job effectively. I believe in the many years of training, courses and experience I have as impor- tant to a teacher's role in education. Most important of all, I believe in the educational freedom: enabled by the pro- tection of teachers' contracts. Like judges in the courts and university professors, i1 teachers are without that protection edu- cation is vulnerable to control by the beliefs and political philosophies of whatever government is in power. a very. .dangerous concept indeed. Shelia Clarke, Library Resource/Teacher, Brookside Public School Farmer. drovers back .for fair Former Purple trovers Rosalyn Sutherland of Newmarket, Peter Leeson, Barbara Taylor, and Corinne Of Elmira, Kerry and Kevin Harrigan and family of Palmerston; and Corinne and John Louther and family of Walkerton were seen at the fair. Our community was shocked and saddened at the deaths of Rev. Vincla Wilkie, Ivan Cook .and of Bill McCreath: Weextend our sympathy to ;these families. . Get well Wishes are sent -to Alma Gill•ies.,. a patient in Kincardine hos pital. Carl Strathdie from BI STARS An instinctive act of bravery and courage;,. f acne &fly -are stars..._.: .. Running• down a:muddy bank ,' Jamie and Billy saved a.six year old; boy from a fast. flowing' creek Last year they were recognized. as OntarioJunior Citizens and'honoured byhe Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Lt. Governor of Ontario'," We•know" there are stars in our community t• oo, If you know a young person, aged 6, to 18, who has performed an- act of heroism, g special person who is contributing while living with ... limitation, or a youth Who.ii involved in w,orthwhile'community service, help •us make them stars, in Toronto next spring. ti Nominations will be accepted until October 31,1997.' Contact this newspaper or the OCNA at 905-639-8720, Loc. 230.. JUNIOR JUNIOR CITIZEN -1 'croft AWARDS bntario conlmunity nowspassoc Mae. Osborne, of Hanover, Stewart. Winnie and Douglas MacDonald of esi London Joan Black and �•.' f 'G Goderich. Radisson, Saskatchewan, John and Barb Gamble, Allan and Alice Gamble and Wilfr.ed. and Diane Gamble had supper .with Marion Gamble on Wednesday, night,' Edna Stanley attended the Stanley gathering; at. the. home • of Gord and .Carol `Shantz.on Saturday. evening. Larry and : Donna. Traher of London spent. the weekend with Edna. ° On Sunday • Edna visit ed Bob' and Helen Farrell of Sarnia at_the Antree. Trailer Camp., • Irene and Elmo Colwell,, of North Brattleford,. Saskatchewan, visited with his brother Frank Colwell of Kincardine. They spent some time with. his:. Ann e' -M os h and Mary Anne.Kukoly, One gathering included some, of the Colwell con '. nection Jean MacDonald, .Marion Cliffe, Lynn. Geddes . ,and Currie: Colwell,. Gladys Arnold enjoyed' renewing their friendships..' :. . The annual after :fair. . gathering 'at the McCosh's .included' the Clifford fami-. ly,'the John. Farrell family of Wingham, Janet and Jud Maillette of Waterloo, Jli.ne and Earl ' Elliott, Isabel Brook, Bernice and Bill Burt,' . Everyone wished Anne a happy 87th birthday. On Sunday : Gladys Arnold, :Mary Black, Isabel Brook, . Kay Collins and. Marjorie Thompson gathered to help Anne cel- ebrate. , Visitors with Isabel Brook were Wray and •`1 Helen Graft of � o erich. Dorothy and Henry Wardell, called On Gladys Arnold on Thursday. Gabrielle • Fi,nnie enjoyed:. a ,15' day, trip' ':with . her aunt to;, Portugal., France and England and will be home on Tuesday. Irene and Francis Boyle are, spending ;a few days with Kevin and Tracey Boyle , and family. at • Keswick: • Mandy • Rhody' : of, London; spent the week end with. Wayne..and Janet. ' • 'Jim and Fran r Farrell :went to Mississauga :last.' weekend to attend' the wedding OfBrenda.Grice and Douglas Anderson. who live i.n Nanaiirto; B.C.; On Sunday . -the. Farrells went to Gerry ,aneK•ay Logtenberg s .to ,celebrate .the September birthdays. appy birthday to Glen • Farrell, Jamie Farrell -and, ' Elizabeth: Simpson.:' Gary Moulton visited' ;with the Farrells during ' the week. • Karen Leonard . and Marsha Farrell were at., Jim's° for supper Saturday night. ,Tim•and LesleeBlatt, and ' Jonah of Shub'enacadie, Nova Scotiaare visiting -friends . around the area. Helen Smith of London 'spent the weekend with Marjorie Thornpson. Wray a.nd. Linda Thompson of Mississauga; Joan MacDonald of South Porcupine, and Nell . and ,Richard Murphy of ' Mississauga , visited Harvey .and Wilda. We extend congratula- tions to loan' who. is a recent graduate. of ,•see ',"More' page 14