The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-12-13, Page 5THE WINGHAM AOVANCETIMES
i'omen teachers remember
Dec. 6 Montreal Massacre
Dear Editor:
On December 6, Huron Co
women elementary teachers w
rose button pins on their lapel
commemorate Canada's Nati
Day of Remembrance and Ac
to End Violence Against Wom
This marks the sixth anniversary
the Montreal Massacre of 14 yo
female engineering students.
girls were gunned down by a j
ous, misguided young man
blamed their aspirations to a tr
tional male career for his own 1
of success.
Student organizations in seve
local high schools have also b
active in promoting awareness
this tragic anniversary. Seafo
and Exeter high school students
sold rose button lapel pins, w
Central Huron students wore wh
ribbons to protest violence agai
women. At South Huron in Exet
a special assembly program w
held with the same theme.
Violence is a global issue. Wo
en and girls around the world f
emotional and physical abuse, rap
sexual assault, genital mutilatio
dowry deaths, sexual slavery, a
female infanticide. But violence
a local issue as well. Even in a su
posedly "civilized" country li
Canada, our young female univer
ty and college students drive to a
from school on well lit highwa
with their hair tucked into ba
caps. And university escort servic
have had to be made available s
that female students can get safel
,back across campus to their do
rooms atter late night classes.
' Young girls such as Nina De Vi
liers and Leslie Mahaffy are cut o
from their lives, their dreams an
their families by the sick minds o
killers who value their own pleas
ure over human life. Even in our ru
ral community young high schoo
aged girls silently suffer the degra
dation of "hushed up" date rape
while their uncaring molesters g
free to victimize once again. An
the rooms at Friendship House, ou
county's women's shelter, are mor
often than not filled to capacity.
Violence is a chosen response
Those who perpetrate violenc
against others must take responsi
bility for their actions. And vio
lence in the home and society be
gets more violence in future
generations. Every community and
every institution must work to build
a culture of safety, equality and jus-
tice for women and children.
The Federation of Women
Teachers' Associations of Ontario
has been actively involved in anti-
violence work on behalf of women
unty
ore
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onal
tion
en.
of
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The
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and children for many years
has lobbied the government rep
edly over related issues. In the
cent debate over gun -control le
lation the Federation presence
brief to the government which
that teachers see "younger
younger children behaving m
aggressively. We see more sev
forms of violent behavior am
hildren. Most devastating
most relevant to our concern for
ous gun control measures, we
more incidents involving weapo
ven among elementary sch
hildren.
"There is debate about the cau
f increased violence among
oung, but whatever the degree
ulpability of television or ro
ideos, one thing we know: a soc
which tolerates and even glo
es the unrestricted ownership a
se of weapons does not need
ok further for the causes of v
nce."
Another point made in the su
and tion. Ms. Hoshizaki also remarked
eat- that the average child is currently
re- exposed to more time in front of
gis- the unrestricted emissions of the
d a television set than within the se -
said cure, protective educational walls
and of a controlled classroom environ -
ore mens.
ere The FWTAO, in its fight against
ong violence, racism and sexism, feels
and that the CRTC should establish in-
se- dustry-wide anti -violence regula-
see tions and a rating system for pro-
ne, grams and commercials on private,
ool public and cable T.V. Licencing
fees could fund independent moni-
ses toring groups and the CRTC could
the impose fines and suspend or revoke
of licences for non-compliance.
ck This year FWTAO has also tak-
1e- en an active role in distributing
ri- teaching and parent kits to every
nd
school board for groups such as
to Media watch.
10- On another front, women teach-
ers have also been shocked by the
b -
mission was that women face more
risks in relationships if guns are
easily available. And the tragic sta-
tistics of youth suicide become
even more terrible when guns are
present "as it is then all too easy for
momentary despair to lead, not just
to melancholy but to death."
Other action specifically directed
towards violence has been
FWTAO's active campaign against
violence in the media. FWTAO
took a leading role in the recent
CRTC hearings of media violence.
Many studies, and teachers' own
experiences have shown the clear
link between on-screen images and
increased fear, aggression and de-
sensitization in children.
As educators we are aware that
young people require every protec-
tion which °society can manag
against the toxic environment crea
ed by violent, sexist, and racist im
ages in television programs, com
mercials and videos. Of furthe
concern is the availability of suc
harmful images and socially unac
ceptable propaganda over the com
puter Internet.
FWTAO rejects the argumen
that violence in the media canno
be controlled in Canada because s
many programs originate in th
United States. "Just as we have
identified the dangers of toxic
emissions in our joint waterways
and the common air of the North
American continent,...we can influ-
ence our neighbors on this issue.
There is growing pressure in the
U.S. for exactly that kind of ac-
tion," claimed Sheryl Hoshizaki,
president of the women's federa-
Tory government's apparent insen-
sitivity to violence against women.
The government decision to end
second -stage housing funding for
battered wives trying to get a new
start, came on the same day that
Wife Assault Prevention Month
started. The federation and many
other women's support groups are
fearful that the situation will put
battered women and abused chil-
dren at greater physical risk as in-
terval housing ends.
FWTAO has provided funding to
women's crisis, counselling and re-
ferral centres since a study on
Women in Crisis was done in 1978.
The Huron Women Teachers' As-
sociation has also supported our
own Survival . Through Friendship
House through an annual auction
e and through donations of consuma-
t- hie supplies. FWTAO has consis-
_ tently lobbied the government con-
- cerning the importance of these
r initiatives. They believe that
h cutting funding to related services
- is a callous act which leaves wom-
_ en without a safe haven when they
and their children are most is need.
t While organizations such as
t FWTAO continue their anti -
O violence efforts, it is important to
e remember that violence against
women is not just a women's issue.
It is a societal issue that affects
women, men and children alike.
We can all contribute to making
our society a healthy one by sup-
porting anti -violence work in our
communities.
Wilhelmina Laurie
President
Huron Women Teachers' Assc.
North Huron region
seeking Big Brothers
Dear Editor:
We are presently looking for
candidates to be Big Brothers to
boys in Wingham and surrounding
area.
Here are some interesting facts
about being a Big Brother: Big
Brothers spend an average of a few
hours a week with young boys from
their community. Big and Little
Brothers participate in activities
they both enjoy. These experiences
can be: bowling, yard work, watch-
ing a movie, fishing, going to a
baseball or hockey game together
as well as sharing other life experi-
ences.
Our waiting list of Little Broth-
ers in the Wingham area continues
to grow. Men from our community
are needed to step forward and say,
"Yes, I think I can make a positive
difference in the life of a young
boy."
There are many ways that you
can assist North Huron Big Broth-
ers. Being a Big Brother is just one.
People are always welcome to join
our Wingham Committee, the
Board of Directors, assist with
fundraising and other activities.
If you are interested, or wish fur-
ther information, please call Dave
Shaw at 357-1524.
Wingham Big Brothers Committee
Send dto
Chretien
in
protest owork
Dear Editor: $60,000 a year pays $9,368 in tax.
MP Jim Silye is urging Canadian A family with two children and one
mothers who work at home raising parent working in the paid labor
their children, and mothers who force and one parent working full
would prefer to be at home raising time at home raising the children
their own children, to get involved pays $16,148 in tax. The one -
in his Diaper Campaign. earner family at the same income
Silye started this campaign after level pays $6,780 more in tax.
being outraged by a Parliamentary Is it any wonder that although 70
Secretary's comments that contri- per cent of Canadian women (as in-
butions made by stay-at-home par- dicated poll after poll) want to be at
ents don't constitute "work" is the home raising their children, that the
eyes of the federal Liberal govern- tax system actually contributes to
went. their not being able to make this
These comments fall on the heels choice?
of a Premier's Report in Alberta With this information under their
that identified what so many Cana- belts, several politicians including
dian families have known for years Jim Dinning, Alberta's Provincial
that one earner families pay signifi- Treasurer, Mississauga MP Paul
cantly more in taxes that a two- Szabo and Calgary -Center MP Jim
earner family at the same income Silye are continuing their efforts to
level. Case in point: a family with have this situation rectified and
two children and two parents in the they need your support.
paid labor force making a total of Silye asks parents to send a clean
diaper to Prime Minister Jean Chre-
tien, House of Commons, Ottawa,
Ont. K 1 A 0A6. Be sure to enclose
your name, address and signature.
No postage is necessary.. Chretien
will get the message.
Szabo .is circulating a petition
which calls on the House of Com-
mons to end this tax discrimination
and to recognize that managing the
family home and caring for chil-
dren is a valuable, honorable pro-
fession. For copies of this petition
call Szabo's office at 905-822-
2211.
Phone calls or letters to your
MP, MPP and Ernie Eves, Onta-
rio's Finance Minister, in support
of these efforts would make an im-
pact.
Cheryl Stewart,
Member
Kids First Parents Assc.
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