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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-11-12, Page 24A job well done "... the crews of Bomber Command and the pilots of Fighter Command were heroes..." Dear Editor: On.a TV program the other week, I was reminded of the fact that a number of people have called RAF crews of Bomber Command, butchers and even worse. This was because during WWII, Bomber Command devastated a number of German cities killing a large number of civilians. To my mind, the Germans deserved everything they got. l lived in the outskirts of London during the so called blitz and I was visiting a city called Sheffield when that was devastated. Towards the end of the war, it gave me great pleasure and even pride to see aircraft amassing over southern England in preparation for a thousand bomber raid. What a sight, the sky seemed full of aircraft. An eye for an eye? You betcha! Give it to them lads! No, to me the crews of Bomber Command and the pilots of Fighter Command were heroes, doing a job that had to be done and some paying dearly for it. I shall be eternally grateful to all of them. God bless all those who are left. Yours sincerely, John Sanderson, Amendments to Bill 160 Dear Editor: There has been substantial discussion with respect to Bill 160 and I believe that it is important for a few items to be clarified. The recommendations for this bill were formulated by the Education Improvement Commission (EIC) and released in their report "The Road Ahead". The document is available at the con- stituency office or through the EIC, Mowat Block, 13th Floor, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario. This Commission is headed by David Cooke, the former Minister of Education and an NDP MPP, and Anne Vanstone, the previous Director of the Toronto Board of Education. The people of Huron County were repre- sented by the following groups: Huron County Board of Education; Huron -Perth County RCSSB; Huron County Board of Education (non -teaching staff); Huron -Perth County RCSSB (non -teaching staff); Huron County Board of Education (school council reps); Huron -Perth County RCSSB (school council reps), Huron County Board of Education (teaching staff); Huron -Perth County RCSSB (teaching staff); Huron County Board of Education (students). The Ministry of Education used this report to develop the first reading of Bill 160, The Education Quality Improvement Act. On October 30, 1997; Minister Johnson announced a package of government amendments to The Education Quality Improvement Act. These amendments were the product of consultations heard by the Standing Committee. During public hearings, the government was urged repeatedly to enshrine in legislation its intent concerning class size, instructional time, and differentiated staffing. There were suggestions that while these quality measures should be set provincially rather than remain a by-product of collective bargain- ing, the government was giving Cabinet too much power by having the ability to set these through regula- tion. Shifting these powers from regulation to legislation was a common theme from many presenters to the Committee. The government accepted -this -advice. As we_have_always said, while our goals_of limiting class size, increasing instructional time, allowing our students access to qualified individuals to complement our teach- ers in the classroom, and ending increasing education property taxes through legislation are firm, we are open to suggestions on how to achieve them. Should these amendments pass when the Committee recon- , venes for clause by clause consideration of the Education Quality Improvement Act, any future changes to these quality measures will have to undergo the scrutiny of the legislative process, including public consulta- tion, rather than the quick and easy change possible by regulations. Another common theme during the consultations on this legislation was the request for more detail as to the government's intentions. The amendments, which was tabled clearly states, for example, that the average class size,'in the aggregate, shall not exceed 22 students at the secondary level and 25 at the elementary level. , The amendments also mandate provincial standards in instructional time. The amendments state that ele- mentary teachers will spend at least 1300 minutes per week providing instruction, and secondary teachers will spend at least 1250 minutes a week providing instruction. These figures represent the current national average. This translates into no increase in time for elementary teachers, who are already at the national aver- age, and an increase for secondary school teachers of just under 30 minutes a day. Further, our amendments provide for flexibility at the board and principal level to use their discretion to assign less instructional time to teachers - for example, less experienced younger teachers who need more time to prepare for classes. The issue of differentiated staffing has been under discussion. Our amendments, which has the full support of the Ontario College of Teachers, has been worded to ensure that professionals and para -professionals are used to complement - not replace - certified teachers, and that they have appropriate qualifications. It is our hope that this amendment will end the ongoing speculation that it is the government's intention to replace classroom teachers with unqualified personnel. • 1 have attached the thirteen proposals of the teachers union and the government response. The government has been very careful to listen to all partners in Education. The EIC report involved much consultation and the public hearings were listened to, and acted upon. The government introduced 109 amendments.'I dope this will allow parents to consider carefully Bill 160. The quality of education must change as our children face competition in the global economy. The status quo is not an option. Union demand: Only qualified teachers in charge of classrooms. Government offer: The Government has proposed amendments, with support from the Ontario College of Teachers, to have other professionals complement, not replace, work of classroom teachers. ,Union demand: Protect secondary school teachers' preparation time. Government offer: Legislate minimum amount of time teachers spend with students within current school day to bring Ontario to the national average: Union demand:' Protect elementary school teachers' preparation time. Government offer: Accepted Union demand: Unions maintain right to negotiate higher class sizes. Government offer: Legislate a limit on average class size. Union demand: Do not set class size and teaching time by regulation. Government offer: Accept the teachers' recommendation and replace regulatory power with legislated lim- its on average class size and minimum standard for instructional time. Union demand: No limit on right to strike. Government offer: Accepted. Union demand: Teachers' jobs be protected Government offer: Voluntary early retirement incentive program would promote employment for younger teachers. Union demand: Unions maintain statutory monopoly on representation of teachers. Government offer: Accepted. Union demand: Time to phase in changes proposed in Bill 160. Government offer: Accepted where appropriate to protect existing teachers' rights. Union demand: Seniority guaranteed during transition. Government offer: Accepted. Union demand: Education spending be maintained. Government offer: Education spending has been maintained at more than $14 billion per year since 1995. Union demand: Teachers not subject to Dispute Resolution Commission. Government offer: Accepted. Union demand: Teachers demand quality education reinvestment. Government offer: Government offers process to consult with stakeholders on quality reinvestments. In total, the teacher's unions have requested that the Government respond to their concerns in several key areas; some of which involved numerous technical revisions to the Education Quality improvement Act. To date, the Government has accepted the unions' position on eight areas, including technical amend- ments related to collective bargaining. in the other areas, the government has demonstrated flexibility, but remains committed to its goal of improving the quality and accountability of Ontario's education system. • Helen Johns, MPP for Huron Times -Advocate, November 12, 1997 Page 23 COLDWELL BANKER ALL -POINTS REALTY SERVICES EXETER OFFICE - 147 MAIN ST. EXETER, ONT. 235-1449 Pat O'Rourke CALL OUR EXETER OFFICE TOLL FREE FROM M.J. Chad (RES) 237-3762 (RES) 235-1077 e -mall: porourkeehaynet GRAND BEND & ZURICH AT 237-3182 VISIT OUR VVEE SITE AT www_mis.ca TO VIEW ALL OF Olin LISTINGS AT YOUR LEISURE Jerry Zehr (RES) 236-4712 e-mail: zehrOhay.net direct line toll free 1-800-342-7217 ZURICH OFFICE - 16 VICTORIA ST. ZURICH, ONT. 236-4712 Days & Evenings NEW LiSTiNG UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF SPACE - in this attractive 1-1/2 storey Dashwood home. 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