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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-03-04, Page 3Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Page A3 high schools told to list students at -risk of not graduating MAW Meter special to the signal star Big or small, and regardless of the social realities in the surrounding community, each secondary school has been told to provide a list of 20 Grade 11 students who are at -risk of not completing their diplomas. The Ontario Education Ministry decree came to light at a regular .meeting of the . Avon Maitland District School Board on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and trustees wondered about the wisdom of such a requirement. Goderich representative Al Sygrove was first to raise a question, following a pre - Stakeholders Choryll Hsi sun media One man's "slippery slope" is another per- son's "quantum leap:" Those were among the terms used, Sat- urday, during the Huron County Federation of Agriculture's annual MP/MPP luncheon, which saw the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act, effective this April, a hot topic of debate. Crop 'specialist Mery Erb was among sev- eral ag-industry stakeholders that took to the mic in order to speak out against the ban, which already allows for an exemption for farmers. Part of the problem, said Erb, is public per- ception. Erb expressed particular displeasure with the province's willingness to bend to the pesticide -ban suggestion since it was put forth by the Ontario Medical Association, which is not a regulatory body. Erb said if Health Canada said pesticides are OK when used according to guidelines, then it doesn't make a 'lot of sense for the province to "trump" the feds' findings. Noting Health Canada is staffed by highly educated scientists and medical professionals, Erb expressed "shock" the push by medical doctors is superseding medical research. Arguing the province's ban is little more than bowing to public pressure, Erb said once in place, the ban would eventually impact ag- riculture since the public will be questioning why one sector is allowed to use something it cannot "The new law is popular to a vocal mi- nority," said Erb. "The Premier is posing as a white knight protecting children from evil chemicals." Further, argues Erb, Canada allows the im- port of foods from countries that use chemi- cals banned here. "It's OK to have [pesticides] on food but not on lawns?" he asked. In short, said Erb, banning pesticides in ur- ban areas while allowing their use in farm set- tings ettings will only lead to a further outcry. 'Me govt seems all too willing to jump on the public -hysteria bandwagon," he said Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell told Erb thatby his own logic, the province should move forward with a complete ban on pesti- cides, including one for the agriculture sector. "That's what you just said," she replied. Further, said Mitchell, the province is mov- ing forward with the ban because doctors have identified pesticides as one of the po- tential triggers of carr, which is something that is becomingly increasingly problematic for Ontanans. sentation by education superintendent Ted Doherty about his recent visits to secondary schools. "This year, there is a new focus on Grade 11 students who are at -risk of not graduat- ing in five years (of attending high school)," Doherty's report states. "Each secondary school has a list of 20 students and has put individual plans in place to help each of these students." "With the student success teams for Grade 11's, was any thought given to the enrolment levels of the different high schools?" Sy - grove inquired. speak against "What we're addressing today is one in four families has cancer," said Mitchell. Mitchell said the province cannot look at the ban as an either or question. Rather, it must enact the legislation in a method that is the most logical. She also notes the ban was part of the party's platform and, therefore, has support. Erb, however, said there were a number of platforms in the Liberal campaign, any num- ber of which could be pointed to as a reason for the party's success at the polls. "This thing is a slippery slope for agrioul- ture," he said. "This is a very dangerous thing we're headed for here, and I'm not too happy about it." Varna -area farmer Bev Hill also spoke out against the. legislation. "Clearly the OMA has been able to trump the science -based federal research," he said. "Your government has clearly demonstrated that they lack confidence in one of thoseor- ganizations." Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson; meanwhile, notes that fanners must, by legislation, regu- larly take courses on proper pesticide applica- tion, which is something the general public is not required to do. 'Pumas are not slack. They have a strict rule to follow,' he said. Mitchell stood fine to the province's find- ings on the issue. 'The OMA has looked at all the factors af- fecting health. This is an item that can be ad- dressed in battling cancer," she said. Meanwhile, soybean farmer Bob Hallam also spoke out against the ban. Doherty agreed that administrative staff had asked the same question, but that the directive from the Ministry is clear: 20 stu- dents per high school. "We certainly have some schools where we could have provided a list of 40," the superintendent said. "And we have other schools where we struggled to come up with 20. But that was what the Ministry wanted, so we put 20 names on the list." In an interview after the meeting, Doherty noted that the Ministry has repeatedly stated it wants to see an average 85 per cent high school graduation rate across thepraince pesticide ban Bowes Publishers Limited A Sun Media Corpora Atom Com The Goderich Signal -Star, published every W rimes year, at Goderich, Ontario is one of The Group of Community Newspapers. The Signat-Star shall riot be liable lor.failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors in pubicarion except b the extern of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error ooaxred. The Goderich Sig Star reserves the right to reject or edit any Subecription rale is $40.00 per year plus GST. The Goderish Signal -Star is a member of The Canadian Newspaper Association (CCNA), The Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA), and the Ontario Pilose CcuncN. For any non deliveries or delivery concerns please ca$ 519- 524-2614. Return all undelivered copies, changes of address and sub- scription order to address below, Publications Mallpeement No. 40064683 PAP Reg titration N o. 76012 Return undewverable Camden addresses to Ckariaiion Dept. P.O. Box 220,120 Hucidno St, Goderlch,Ont., Ao4B6 519) 524-2814 email: solidly We oda owledde the financialu� d nxr the Goverent of Canada through the Publications 11e nos Program towards our mailing poets. Canadtt "Mery is trying to present some of it isn't science based," said Hallam. "It's your spin doctors that are causing the grief." Hallam said Erb is likely right that agricul- ture will eventually be forced to forego the use of pesticides, something that would be a major blow to grain and oilseed farmers, among others. • Huron County Warden Ken Oke said while he has witnessed the wrongful application of pesticides in urban centres, it seems question- able to enact a ban while continuing to allow the importing of pesticide -laden foods from other countries. • However, the MPP notes border restric- tions are an issue that falls under the federal government's jurisdic- tion. She said the prov- ince is looking at other methods; including investing millions into Buy Local strategies, to ensure Ontarians are consuming safe produce and meats. While giving ku- dos to Ag CARE, the group ming the pesticide ban, she said it's a "quantum leap" to assume a pesticide ban will lead to an out right ban for pesticide use on farmers' fields. by 2010-11. That brings this year's Grade 11 students — who would graduate that year if they take five years — into the focus of the government. "I guess, if you multiply every high school in the province by 20 and increase the gradu- ation rate, (Ministry officials) believe this will have a significant impact," Doherty said. Funding is being flowed from the Ministry for the extra assistance being given these stu- dents. But Doherty reassured trustees that, in the cases where more than 20 students need special attention, those students will also ben- efit from the ideas put in place. "They're not being ignored. It's just that we have to report on 20." . And in smaller schools, where it's difficult to find 20 struggling Grade 11s, "you have to broaden your defini- tion of `at -risk'." NON -DENOMINATIONAL WEDDINGS CHRISTENINGS Your Location or Ours Rev. 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