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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-28, Page 11__COMM UNITY Times -Advocate, September 28, 1994 Page 11 Respect, poverty and course relevance top youth concerns Grand Day The Tinker Tots Nursery School in Hensall held a grandparents day on Thursday. Pictured above is Kelsey Long, of Hensall with her grandfather Al Long, of London. One Foot in the Furrow By Bob Trotter Animal rights group takes postcard to Queens Park Melissa Carrara is a student at a city high school near here. She was one of four students who took a six -foot -long post- card signed by 250 people to Queen's Park to present it to Premier Bob Rae. They were "disappointed" because they could not present it to the pre- mier in person; instead, an aide received it. The poster asked that the province "amend the Animal Rights Research Act to prohibit the use of animals for cosmetic testing." It is a noble cause and I would support it all the way to the top. If an amendment is passed, On- tario would be the first of its type in Canada, perhaps even in North America. It seems to me to be most cruel to subject animals to the Draize test, for instance, just to save big cosmetic companies from being sued. The Draize test is used on rabbits tethered with a restraining collar. Drops of chemical used in cosmetics are put into rabbit's eyes to see if they cause irritation. Get rid of it, I say, and I am not a big supporter of animal rightists. I am a supporter of animals. I love them. But I also love my fellow human beings. In fact, I have been known to mention in public that I have a great rela- tionship with my children and my grandchildren. One of our grandchildren suffered from scoliosis, a crippling backbone problem. At Sick Children's Hospital, he had metal rods fused along his backbone and came out of hospital three inch- es taller than when he went it. He is today, five years later, about as handsome as they some and living a normal life. The op- eration performed on him was possible because it had been tried on animals and perfected. It is only one of many experi- ments involving the use of ani- mals. At my age, I have many friends who need big operations such as heart bypass surgery, even heart replacements, knee replacements and literally doz- ens of other medical miracles, many of which would not be possible without the use of ani- mals. Without question, I prefer to have my grandson here even if it means some animals had to suffer and that is where I part with the animal rights people. They would prevent any use of animals in medical research, none at all. They want all do- mestic animals to be set free in their original natural habitat, no matter that most of them would starve or succumb to predators. They have been known to "Free" animals and then hide them in far worse places than where they were "freed" from. They have been accused of breaking and entering, of theft, and even of murder. They have become fanatics in- stead of fans. I applaud those high school students and their teachers who sent that petition to Toronto. I would have signed it myself. But the fact that the rally at Queen's Park was co-ordinated by the Toronto -area Animal Al- liance of Canada scares me. It is a non-profit organization dedi- cated to "promoting compas- sionate living," a splendid mot- to. But 1 question what compassionate living encom- passes. If it means no longer using animals to test surgical proce- dures and medicines and drugs to save human lives, then I have to start there. I adore my grand- son as a strapping, husky, hand- some, athletic 20 -year-old who has a wonderful future ahead of him. He is not a crooked, wiz- ened, fragile young man, old be- fore his time with nothing but an early death in front of him. By the way, a spokesperson for the animal rightists said that several large companies such as Avon, Revlon and L'Oreal have stopped animal testing of their cosmetic products. Others, such as Proctor and Gamble, Lever Brothers and Gillette are said to be still testing with animals. There goes my deodorant and my shaving cream. Campaign against aggressive drivers TORONTO - Drivers must take personal responsibility for road safety to reduce collisions caused by aggressive driving. Transporta- tion Minister Gilles Pouliot said in launching the annual Aggressive Driver Awareness Campaign. "Driver error accounts for 85 per- cent of all the collisions on our roads," said Pouliot. "The only way we're going to improve this deadly situation is to get people to recognize their own aggressive be- haviour and stop thinking it is other drivers who are at fault." Aggressive driving can take a number of forms -- following too closely, speeding or travelling too fast for conditions, improper lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, and drinking and driving. The campaign coincides with the seasonal increase in traffic and fa- tal collisions on Ontario roads. It is being held in co-operation with po- lice services provincewide that arc stepping up their education and en- forcement activities. Ratepayers Township of McGillivray 3rd Instalment of 1994 taxes Due on or before September 30, 1994 Shirley Scott Cleric -Treasurer carcauccrivort TORONTO - Young people have told the Royal Commission on Learning that teachers and students need to respect each other more. "There's no doubt that. respect is the number one concern of young people right now," said Manisha l3harti, a Cornwall high school stu- dent and the first young person ap- pointed to a Royal Commission in Canada. "Throughout our youth outreach program, we heard about the need for respect everywhere - in detention centres, in Children's Aid Society facilities, on the street and from student leaders at our public hearings. The youth outreach program was organized in consultation with six- teen student leaders and young peo- ple from across Ontario, who met with Bharti last August. They told her that special outreach activities would be required to ensure the Commission heard from a wide cross-section of young people, in and out of school, since many teen- agers would be intimidated or ex- cluded by the public hearing pro- cess. The findings of the outreach pro- gram were presented to the Com- mission by Selwyn J. Hicks, the Commission's youth outreach co- ordinator, at a special meeting to- day in Toronto. "Young people have many valu- able insights into our educational system, and they are surprised and pleased that the Commission took extraordinary measures to listen to their views," Hicks told the Com- missioners. As a result of the outreach pro- gram, the Commission heard from more than 250 young people during public hearings last fall. Another 500 disadvantaged youth participat- ed in 36 meetings and focus groups held in detention centres, homes for pregnant teens, alternative schools, and other social service agencies for young people across the prov- ince. There was wide support for man- datory language courses, but many felt that languages other than French should be available. Young people also called for more classes in Canadian history, and new cours- es that reflect modern day Canada and include the contributions of ethnic and cultural groups. Some young people believe that increasing the links between social service agencies and schools, set- ting up more alternative programs, and extending compulsory school attendance to include 18 year-olds would help reduce the drop out rate. Students also feel they should be allowed to participate in all deci- sion-making bodies, right up to the Board level. "When it comes to making decisions it's like we're in- visible of something...they never ask us for our opinions," said one teenager. Many young people feel most of their teachers are doing a good job, but that more teachers from visible minority groups are needed. "Give us teachers we can relate to," said one teenager. Students also said they would like a say in hiring and evaluating teachers. Young people told the Commis- sion they need some kind of inde- pendent complaints body to medi- ate problems between students and teachers. "Teachers cover for each other...it's like complaining to one of their friends...nothing gets done," said one teenager during a focus group held at Woodgreen Community Centre in Toronto. "Being the first young person ap- pointed to a Royal Commission is a tremendous honour, but it also car- ries a tremendous responsibility to make sure that the voice of young people is heard by the other Com- missioners," said Bharti. The outreach program found strong support for zero tolerance programs for violence, drugs and weapons. Many made a connection between racism and violence. The Royal Commission on Learning was established in May 1993 by Education and Training Minister Dave Cooke with a man- date to consult widely and recom- mend changes to legislation, struc- ture, policies and procedures to improve elementary and secondary education in Ontario. The Commis- sion's report is due in December 1994. NOMINATIONS Notice to Public School Electors In the VILLAGE OF AIISA CRAIG TOWNSHIP OF EAST WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP OF McGILL1VRAY TOWN OF PARKHILL TOWNSHIP OF WEST WILLIAMS TAKE NOTICE that the period during which nomination papers may be filed in the office of the Clerk for lbwnship of McGillivray, (located 1/4 mile off County Road #24, south of West McGillivray) to fill the office of (1) Trustee to represent the above-mentioned area collectively on the Middlesex County Board of Education for the three (3) year term 1994-1997 from 9:00 o'clock a.m. to 4:00 o'clock p.m., October 11, 12, and 13 from 9:00 o'clock a.m. to 5:00 o'clock p.m. October 14, 1994 on nomination day. The prescribed forms for the registration and the nomination of persons to any offices are available at the office of the Clerk. If a greater number of candidates than required to fill the said offices are nominated and make the required declarations, polls will be opened on the dates stated below for the purpose of taking the poll: Advance poll - Saturday, November 5, 1994 (being 9 days before polling day) from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Advance Poll - Wednesday, November 9, 1994 (being 5 days before polling day) from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Polling day - Monday, November 14, 1994 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. . Shirley Scott Clerk & Returning Officer L T M E S WITH INSTANTOLOVEONE$ Enlarge family or team photos to 8-1/2x11 or even 11 x 17 instantly with our outstanding results. Ideal for business presentation materials, even colour transparencies 424 Main St. Exeter 235-1331 0 0 o 4. 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If a greater number of candidates than required to fill the said offices are nominated and make the required declarations, polls will be opened on the dates stated below for the purpose of taking the poll: Advance poll - Saturday, November 5, 1994 (being 9 days before polling day) from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Advance Poll - Wednesday, November 9, 1994 (being 5 days before polling day) from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Polling day - Monday, November 14, 1994 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. . Shirley Scott Clerk & Returning Officer L T M E S WITH INSTANTOLOVEONE$ Enlarge family or team photos to 8-1/2x11 or even 11 x 17 instantly with our outstanding results. Ideal for business presentation materials, even colour transparencies 424 Main St. Exeter 235-1331