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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-11-05, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1997. Teachers present arguments at Wingham forum By John Greig Advance-Times Staff Close to 300 people packed the Wingham Royal Canadian Legion Hall last Thursday to hear the teachers' side of the current education dispute. Many in the crowd were teachers, but others included parents with school-aged children, senior citizens and interested members of the public. The crowd was supportive of the teachers, judging by the applause and reaction to answers to questions. Rick Whiteley, principal of Howick Central School, was in charge of the meeting and read out the questions and answered those he could. Whiteley started off the evening by explaining that the Minister of Education Dave Johnston and the media continued to say the "political protest" which teachers call the current situation, which has them out of their classes, is about class size, preparation time, or the length of school day. Instead, Whiteley said it's about democratic rights in Ontario. Wayne Stewart, a Grade 5 teacher at Howick Central, spoke as a representative elementary school teacher. He said the spending cuts, first started by the New Democratic government and furthered by Mike Harris's Conservative government have totalled $800 million. And a leaked memo from the province indicated another $667 million could yet be cut. "It has had a dramatic effect on our classrooms," said Stewart. It's tough to scrounge up enough atlases, dictionaries and text books to use, he said, and many of those are old. As well, class size at Howick Central has risen in the junior division over the past few years from 25 or 26 per class, to 30 or 31 per class. There are three fewer teachers at Howick Central although the school population has remained the same. Vivian King-Sherwood, a languages teacher at F. E. Madill Secondary School talked about her experiences. A French course she teaches has 37 students, a distance education class, 32 and an English class, 29. She said cutting prep time won't mean teachers will have more time with students, there will just be fewer teachers, with those remaining picking up the time the laid-off teachers did teach. A panel made up of F. E. Madill Secondary School teacher Murray Hunter, Wingham Public School teacher Nancy McKeon and Howick Central School teacher Brian Doubleday answered questions. Several teachers said it was section 257.45 of Bill 160 which is most an affront to democracy. It allows the Minister of Education to take over a board of education, if that board is not following the directives of the minister, can charge trustees with an offence if they don't comply with orders of the minister, and holds those trustees liable if they vote against the direction of the minister. It also bars those trustees from holding municipal office for five years. Other questions and answers: Will the ability of Grade 12 and 13 students to get into college or university be affected? McKeon said everyone in Ontario is in the same position and the year can be compressed as has been done with strikes in isolated areas in the past. What could happen to special education and special needs children? McKeon said special education has already suffered greatly and with further spending cuts "those teachers will go". What sort of lesson are teachers giving to students by being on an illegal strike? Murray Hunter said the teachers have taken the action with a great deal of thought and he considers it a political protest. If anything would be illegal, he said, it will be the nullification of teachers' legal contracts in January of 1998 with board amalgamations. What's the difference between class size and student/teacher ratio? Brian Doubleday answered that student/teacher ratio involved figuring out the number of teachers per student board wide, whereas class size is the average number of children in each classroom. What is the Education Improvement Commission? Whiteley explained that the EIC becomes a permanent body under Bill 160 and has the power to close schools, much like the hospital commission. Explain having untrained people teaching in classrooms. McKeon said that many areas such as computers, industrial arts, art, music and physical education have been identified as areas which could be taught by people other than teachers. She said that it's the teacher training which gives teachers the skills to do things such as assess students and control classrooms. Further to that, former Wingham Public School principal John Mann said it was the Conservative government in the 1960s which disbanded teachers' colleges and required teachers attend university, so the teacher pool would be more highly educated. Clinton holds teachers forum By THsh Wilkinson Clinton News-Record Staff It was an emotional night for a group of local teachers Thursday as they tried to explain to their community why educators have walked out on the very classrooms they have swom to protect. Close to 150 parents, students and local community members listened as one by one, the teachers took turns giving speeches and answering questions about why they are participating in the province-wide protest which has shut down every public school across Ontario. "I have always loved my profession, and I've made education for my students my biggest priority," Bonnie Jewitt, a teacher at Vanastra Community School, stated in the opening address to the packed Legion Hall. "That is why I feel so strongly that I have to stand up for you and your children and grandchidlren to prevent this government from funding its tax cuts at the expense of our kids." Ward Hodgins, a science teacher at Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS), also gave a short speech noting how Bill 160, which is the motivation behind the protest which started last Monday, would cut even deeper into the already strapped classrooms. "I can not imagine the effects a future $6.7 million (in cuts) would have on our classrooms," Hodgins stated. Already, he continued, there isn't enough money for the textbooks, equipment and field trips that make for the best learning tools. "The little extras are gone. We are buying the basics and that's all, Hodgins said. "The opportunities for enrichment are gone." Other issues brought up by the teachers included discussions on the loss of control over education decisions the local community would face if Bill 160 is passed as written. "The trustees will not have the power to help or even represent you," Ingy Marshall, a Grade 2 teacher from Wingham, said. "I'm afraid for my children." Ray Contois, principal at St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School, elaborated on this, noting that there is a misconception that the power struggle exists between the teachers and the government for control over education. "(Teachers) have never had that power. What we did have was a school board; they are the ones who make the decisions," Contois stated. However, he continued, by way of Bill 160, the government is going to "eliminate our boards down to such small packages that they won't be able to make decisions." "Who's going to listen to (a few) trustees in Huron County when they have several trustees in Metro Toronto?" Contois asked. "We are going to lose our community say." Still on the issue of power, one parent asked the teachers who had the control within their own teachers' federations, and how much of a say local teachers were given in the decision to strike. Teacher Duncan McGregor responded, noting that teachers in the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) voted over 80 per cent last May to allow the executive to make the decision to strike if necessary. "This didn't happen Monday ... this happened when the government took power," McGregor stated, adding- that they regret going on strike ".but we're going to regret it even more if we don't take some action now." Other questions were geared more to individual opinions. Resident Bill Craig asked what the Huron County Board of Education's stand was on the issue. Trustee Abby Armstrong, who was in the audience, noted that the board is finding itself in a very difficult situation. She added that although she can't speak for the board on the issues, they do have a great deal of concerns. "As far as Bill 160, we're concerned with the money being removed from the system," she stated. Another parent questioned howsuch a small per cent of Ontario could vote on an issue that effects everyone's children. Teacher Robert Bondy explained that since no one is knowledgeable on every subject, communities have to rely on people who are deemed experts on certain things. "If we are going to trust somebody to protect the education process that is going to develop and train the children of today to become the leaders of tomorrow, who do we go to? The obvious answer I would think would have to be the teachers within the schools," Bondy stated. Agreeing with Bondy, CHSS principal Linda McKenzie added that this is the problem with any public sector job action. "It does seem that a small number of people have shanghaied your education system and prevented your students from going to school," McKenzie stated. "That's a very unfortunate aspect of a public sector action ... the victims appear to be the general public." Victims, who according to parent Continued on page 32 Christmas Party! At BMG Community Centre November 29,1997 Social Hour 6:00 - 7:00 - cash bar Hot Beef Dinner (wine available) Laugh with Local Comedian Don Vair Dance to DJ Classic Rock from 9 to 1 Christmas Corsages for the ladies $15.00 per person Come as a group or bring a few friends No Group too big or small - Great for Your Staff Christmas Party For Reservations call Rhonda Fischer at 887-6268 Tickets must be reserved by November 20th Proceeds to BMG Recreation Blyth Legion Branch 420 Special dates to remember November 8, 1997 POPPY DAY CANVASS Door-to-Door will start at 9:30 a.m. Those Legion members who can attend will please meet at the Legion at 9:00 a.m. Your assistance will be appreciated. Let us make this another great campaign. November 9, 1997 Branch 420 Church Service will be held at the Missionary Church in Auburn. Church service will start at 11:00 a.m. Please be ready to assemble for the march at 10:45 a.m. in front of the church. Remembrance Day Nov. 11/97 Service will be held at the BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL at 10:45 a.m. with James H. Carne, Pastor officiating. The Parade Parties will meet at the Blyth Legion at 10:15 a.m. YOUR ATTENDANCE SHALL BE REMEMBERED