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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-03-01, Page 23Babies on the bus (go Wahl Wah! Wahl) I didn't think I'd be writing about this topic again, but when the notion of sending three- year -olds to school came about, I just couldn't help myself. I kept thinking of that song, "The Wheels on the Bus" and the line that says "The babies on the bus go, "Wah! Wah! Wah!"" It does indeed sound like uni- versal daycare thinly disguised, and as long as we are stuck with this particular government, it seems we must also endure hav- ing junior kindergarten and now the idea of three -year-olds in school, shoved down our throats. Oh yes, I know, attendance is optional, for now. We went through all this before, but pay- ing for it hasn't become option- al. You can't tell me that a school can add such a program without making cuts and com- promises in other areas: Perhaps our premier could take a few lessons from Alber- ta's premier, Ralph Klein. In an attempt to trim his province's debt and save money, Mr. Klein not only scrapped junior kinder- garten but is considering cutting out regular kindergarten or else having those who want it, pay for it. I'm not sure if this plan has actually taken place or if it still is just being considered. It might seem a little harsh but it makes more sense than spend- ing non-existent money on un- wanted programs. I've written to the government four times about this issue and have only received the same form -type answer about having mandates and a right to govern. But wait, a glimmer of hope has appeared. A little while ago, a letter came home via the school from the Ontario Parent Council. This council was estab- lished in 1993 to "advise the Minister of Education and Training on education policy from a parent's perspective." The Council now recommends that every school in the province should have its own parent council that is not limited to merely an advisory role, but would have a real say in how the school is run and how the children are educated. Now there's a novel idea; tax- payers actually having a say in how their money is spent and parents' wishes being listened to by the school, the school board and even the ministry of educa- tion. It sounds too good to be true. I'll believe it when it's leg- islated and working. I think it's a wonderful idea to have a partnership among par- ents, teachers, and administra- tors in which we all work to- gether for the good of our children. The partnership shouldn't just mean that parent volunteers provide extra man- power in the classroom. It's very important to be involved in the decision snaking as well as the classroom setting. If the government is I onestly going to listen to the parents, it's about time. For now, we'll have to keep writing letters and hope they fall into the hands of some- one who will read them and consider what is being said. The Parent Council is no guarantee that we'll get what we want. You can't please everyone and issues will still be voted on. Those of us who want to make changes will have to continue to build our cases. So, let's take a look at some of the aspects of having three -year- olds at school. First of all, if they are to start the year they turn three, some of them will still be two when September ar- rives. There will be some kids who haven't even been toilet trained for very long. The Royal Commission on Learning states that we don't want to "add new responsibili- ties to already overburdened teachers". So why are these two and three -year-olds being sent there? Who is going to help these overburdened teachers clean up a kid who has had an accident in his pants? Perhaps they'll call on the ever - dwindling pool of stay-at-home moms to come in and volun- teer. I can just see the appeal in the school newsletter: "Parent vol- unteers are needed in the Early Years room". (they can't call it a OPEN HOUSE and BREAKFAST Sponsored by Dashwood Firemen's Association at the DASHWOOD FIRE HALL, "Colne Tour the Recently Renovated Hall AND New Expansion to Sat. Mar 4 Breakfast Served: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sausage & Pancakes, Coffee, Juice Cost: $4.00/ person • $2.00 (children 10 yrs. & under) ,•OFFICIALOIFININOtil A.M. This ad and event soonsored by the following businesses; • Brian's Service Centre • lim Becker Construction • Don Bender Electric • T. Harry Hoffman & Sons • Becker Farm Equipment • Hensel! District Co-op (Exeter branch) • Norman Fischer & Son • Steve Schroeder Design Build • Hayter's Turkey Products • Memer's Meats • SATURDAY AFTERNOON MEAT DRAWS, Exeter Legion, 4-6 p.m. Proceeds to Huron-Middksex Cadet Corps. 8,9.10c HENSALL COMMUNITY CENTRE will be hosting a Bingo, Sunday. March 5. The prize board will be 53500.00...a $1,000.00 jackpot must go! Other upcoming events at the arena include: Teachers' Hockey Tournament, Novice House League Tournament, Line Dancing and Free March Break Skating. Details on these events are available from Tom, 262-3206. • FIRST DEGREE will be conferred on Tuesday, March 7 at Exeter Oddfellows Hall. All Brothers welcome lunch will be served. 9c REBEKAH-ODDFELLOWS DINNER March 10. 1995. Potluck. Exeter Oddfellows Hall. 9.10c WORLD DAY OF PRAYER to be held in Caven Presbyterian Church. Exeter, March 3, 1995 at 2 p.m. Nursery available. 7.8.(9)c IRELAND • Presentation plus details on May 1995 tour. Friday, March 10. 7 30 p.m. at Ellison Travel office. Register with Angela. 235.2000. 9,10c 501.0 TOURNAMENT, Saforth Legion. Saturday, March 11, 1995. Registration 12:30 p.m. Tournament starts at 1 p.m. Entry fee $5.00 per person. Ml proceed.% go to prize money. Everyone welcome. 9,IOc ROAST BEEF SUPPER, Ailsa Craig United Church, Thursday. March 16. 5 to 7 p.m Adults $8.50, children 6-12 $4.00, S and under free. Tickets available from United Church Women or Margaret Tweddk 232-4707 or Mary Sutherland 293-3194. No tick- ets after March 14. (8,9,10') THE WINDOW TO YOUR FUTURE could be lust a telephone call away. Nothing to lose, a possibility much to gain. PrivMe bookings March 17, 18. Phone 233-7195. 9c HENSALL UNITED CHURCH Annual Beef Supper, Apri126, 1995. 9• Kindergarten room anymore) "If you have an hour or two to spare during the week, please contact the school, and if you have any extra size 3X or size 4 pats, bring them along." If I'm going to babysit, I'd rather do it at home. People who are in favour of three -year-olds going to school say it would be an educational experience. What about the stress and anxiety it causes for the child? One of the biggest fears a small child has is being separated from his parents. Last summer, I talked to a four-year-old who was going to start IK in the fall. "Do you think you will like school?", I asked him. "Maybe," he replied, "but I'll miss my mom and dad." No one thinks to ask the child how he feels about it and the people in charge don't consider the negative effects it will have. It's another case of the govern- ment telling us what is best for our children. It reminds me of the case of the Dionne quintuplets who were whisked away from their family "for their own good" and as a result, had their lives ruined. The government is great for poking its nose in where it's not needed. It's natural fol• little children to be with their parents. That's the way it's supposed to be. I remember a meeting in Mitchell several years ago that tumed into a JK debate. After quite some time passed in which we received no straight answers from this particular government representative, a gentleman in the crowd stood up and asked, "How long will it be before the government comes into our nur- series to take our babies away?" It sounded a bit far-fetched and humourous at the time, but it doesn't seem funny anymore. Editor's Note: Val Thomson is a Granton -area farmer, home- maker, wife and mother who en- joys writing in her spare time. Margarine can look like butter • Times -Advocate, March 1, 1995 Page 23 Your Views Letters to the editor Re -regulating our banking system The absurdity grows as banking and government roles are revers- ing.... Dear Editor: Either we use the Bank of Canada now or we sit and watch the national debt soar out of control and our economy wither. There is no common sense rea- sons why our own Bank of Canada doesn't create at least half of our money supply at cost of 1t2% to taxpayers.Private banks have bought up $30 billion in Canada Savings Bonds already, up from only S4 billion, 4 years ago. Their safe and guaranteed re- turn (100% backed by taxpayers) looks great to the private banks compared to riskier small business loans during a recession. If Bank of Canada held those CSBs itself, all interest would revert to our government treasury and we'd be $2 to 6 billion dollars ahead each year. What sovereign nation with money creation powers should even borrow at all from private banks? Ottawa, are you still there? The absurdity grows as baking and government roles are reversing. We taxpayers reduce bank risks and even subsidize their immense profits (they hold safe CSBs remember!) while banks ride out the re- cession years in relative security. This even explains why our recession drags on. Meanwhile, our gov- ernment must assist those small businesses finan- cially while the banks shy away. Only in Canada! The C.B.A. (Canada Bankers Association) has be- come a highly influential lobby. This past summer, government was persuaded to reduce the already low rates of the "fractional reserve system" to zero percent. Now,' private banks no longer need keep a supply of cash on deposit with the Bank of Canada as a fraction of their total liabilities. In other words it became easier than ever for pri- vate banks to simply "create" new money, just by loaning it into existence~ (letting out more consumer loans).Commercial loans still require 8% equity held by bankers. Frighteningly, at the best of times already only 5% of bank liabilities are matched by hank equity so let's hot all ask for our deposits at once. In 1980 Canada circulated $9 billion in real coins and minted bills but bank deposit "cheque money" equalled $135 billion (a multiple of $ 14 loaned out for every "legal dollar"). Does this sound secure'? Sustainable? wise? Slowly, step by step, Ottawa has weakened her own financial controls by re -drafting our Bank Act and de -regulating the industry every 10 years. .Why doesn't Ottawa regulate the financial specu- lators since our banks are into speculating on cur- rencies, hedges, money wraps and ever derivatives? Bankers now buy and sell money daily (in billions) to make money. Since money is a human creation, no longer pegged to gold silver etc., its value is de- termined by investor confidence or lack of it. (note our yo-yo dollar!). How can CDIC guarantee depos- its (at 10% taxpayer cost) where financiers can free- ly gamble with our deposits? Only in Canada. Canada's Federal Superintendent of Financial In- stitutions said in the Financial Post (26/11/93) - "Canadian banks are already overspeculating... everything is in place for the next financial melt- down. " Our foolish abdication of reserve require- ments is creating near inability. Ottawa, are you still there? Under Mr. Mulroney we allowed foreign investors to absorb up to 40% of our national debt. Mr. Mar- tin feels great pressure to keep interest rates high to please those bond holders, so we've literally lost our financial control to foreign interests. Our children will remember our folly without question. If our banks hadn't written off billions in bad third world debt in the 1980s, their tax revenues could have helped balance our budgets here. Now they've offered Mexico's already insolent banks, 2 1/2 bil- lion to stabilize their peso. Meanwhile 320 Canadi- an food banks assist our own needy, and Ottawa watches from a distance. Ottawa feeds the banks while they service foreigners. Geometric growth of national debt is already self- consuming. Each new year's deficit now equals the interest only on our 20 years of accumulated debt. We pay yearly and thanks to high interest we get further behind as the debt is left to compound any- way. Sadly, new debt isn't even used to create es- sential new economic activities. The answer is waiting already for MP approval! Re -empower the Bank of Canada to finance our ex- isting national debt at cost (1/2 of 1%). This imme- diately frees us from high marketplace interest rates made now unncessarily to our already fattened pri- vate banks. Only your MP has this constitutional power today. Defaulting on our national debt only welcomes the International Monetary Fund (Bank) to gain control of our national finances. That would be the saddest day ever, yet totally unnecessary. Yours truly, David Hern RRI Woodham TORONTO - Queen's Park has dropped requirements that marga- rine sold in Ontario be coloured to distinguish it from butter. The changes were made because of margarine imports now allowed under the new General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) deal, said Agriculture Minister Elmer • Buchanan. The Ontario Milk Marketing Board wrote to Buchanan express- ing its disappointment with the government changing the legisla- tion. The Board felt it provided needed colour differentiation in the spreads market, said OMMB chair- man John Core. Buchanan has said that Ontario will take the lead to establish na- tional standards for blends and imi- tation products, as well as strict la- belling requirements for such products. Lucan Community Centre Bingo Wed. Mar. 1 Bingo starts 7:30 p.m. Regular Games $1000 Jackpot Game 55 calls or less S1200 bonus Total prizes $3000 Due to the Ncence regulations, no one under 18 Mowed to pay Liconoe 0537495 Sticker Helps Protect Companion Animals These cards will only give you some "peace of mind". Dear Editor: The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA) is offering a free Animal Alert Sticker to pet owners. The attractive sticker alerts people to the fact that there are animals inside the residence. This information is important and could save your pet's life should an emergency situ- ation arise. The adhesive is on the front of the sticker so that it can be affixed to the inside of a window. 'the stickers are produced with inks that contain protec- tion against ultraviolet rays to minimize fading. It is very important that if the situation changes and pets are no longer kept in the residence, the stickers be removed. We certainly hope that you will never have an ac- cident or experience an emergency situation that will jeopardize you or your pets and these cards will only give some "peace of mind". However, should these cards need to be utilized. they may save your pet's life! If you would like to receive a free Animal Alert Sticker for your home, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with your request to: publi- cations department, Ontario SPCA, 16640 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 4V8. While these stickers are free, any donation to help offset the printing cost would be appreciated. Sincerely, N. Glenn Perrett Publications Coordinator Looking for graduates "...attempting to locate graduates in order to forward information about the upcoming June Reunion." Dear Sir: The Alumni Association of the Faculty of Educa- tion, University of Toronto, is attempting to locate graduates in order to forward information about the upcoming June Reunion. It would be greatly appre- ciated if the following information could be placed in your next publication. Free membership in the Alumni Association is be- ing offered to graduates of the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto, the College of Education and the Ontario College of Education. Fax, (978-8382), or mail your name, address, telephone number and year and program name to Dr. Gary Hunt, Alumni Development officer, 371 Bloor Street West, Toron- to, Ontario, MSS 2R7. Thank you for your assistance. Yours truly, Laurel Bresnahan Tracking Committee Dr. Gary Hunt Alumni Development Officer School reunion in Chesl "We are trying to contact as many of our former students and staff as possible." Dear Editor: Chesley District High School will be holding a school reunion on Sunday, July 2, 1995 as part of the Chesley Homecoming Celebrations. We are try- ing to contact as many of our former students and staff as possible. We hope that any of your readers who attended or worked at Chesley District High School will contact us' and ie us know their ad- dresses and the names and addresses of any friends and relatives who came from the Chesley area. The success of our reunion depends on our being able to contact as many of our former students and staff as possible. Thank you for your assistance. Yours truly, Dale N. Ahrens and Ruth M. Ferguson, Co -chairpersons of CDHS Reunion Chesley District High School Box 310 Chesley, Ontario NOG ILO news tip? 2354331