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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1971-06-17, Page 16PAGE SIXTEEN ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1971 Two Board Members (continued from page 1) offer was for a $500 increase. "The committee's proposal to withdraw completely the grat- uity allowance was the cause of great concern to the teachers. This sum of money has for many years been paid by most boards to a teacher when he or she react, retirement. It is based on the number of unused sick days he or she has accumulated. It is in effect a bank which the teacher can build up to a maximum of half of the salary for his last year of teaching. While a good case can be made that this plan should be phased out gradually in the light of the pension plans now in effect in Canada, the abrupt refusal to pay the gratuity allowance as of September 1, 1971 is in effect a breach of faith, even when used as a barg- aining item. The fact that its reinstatement was offered the teachers in the last meeting with the conditional on their accept- ance of the board's whole offer, did little to restore the confid- ence of the teachers. "These are some of the main issues at stake. Whether or not teachers' salaries generally are too high or too low is irrelevant here because, in order to give our children equal educational opportunity, we must offer salaries comparable to those in other counties if we wish to attract and hold good teachers. "In spite of continuous efforts by the chairman of the commit- tee and the Director to persuade the committee that this approach must be taken in negotiation, the committee, with the support of the majority of the Board, took the stand that by holding the line on salaries and resisting the insertion of any $500 incre- ments in the schedule (Huron is the only board in Ontario without them - many have $600 and $70( increments) they are registering a protest against the ruinously low prices being paid for agricult ural products. However it is prec• isely because Huron is a low in- come area that we enjoy an al- most 70 percent education grant. The specific aim of this grant is to provide equal educational opportunity. We cannot have this without good teachers. "Many undesirable results have accrued and will accrue if the board persists in using the educational system to fight the battle against inflation, high taxes and low incomes. "The advertisement inserted in the county papers June 3 has presented an incomplete and unfair picture to the ratepayer. It has inflamed public opinion against our teachers at a time when, because of a mistake in some bureau is Queen's Park we appeared to have lost our rnine grant. This mistake has since been rectified. There was in fact no increase in the educ- ation levy in the town of Goder- ich this year and we can expect a compensating decrease in our levy for next year. Meanwhile the teachers have been blamed unjustly. "Pupil -teacher and board - teacher relationships are at an all-time low. Whenever we are able to reopen the schools we will have to equal or surpass the salaries being paid elsewhere at a cost in quality, confidence and rapport whose effects will be felt for years. "Since virtually all the teach- ers have resigned we have no way of knowing until September how many or who have taken positions elsewhere. "The question also arises as to the liability of the Board to pay the tuition of all children who wish to attend classes not provided in the county. "By behaving in this irrespons- ible fashion the Iluron County Board is inviting the Department of Education to take control out of the hands of local trustees and centralize it in Toronto. "It is time that the Iluron County Board of Education stop- ped attempting to sacrifice its school system as a means of protest against low farm prices and high taxes and got down to the businessfor which it was elected. "As a result of this crucial state of affairs we, the elected representatives of the town of Goderich hereby give notice of the following motion which will be presented at the next regular meeting of the board on Mon- day, June 21, at 8.00 p.m. "Although the Iluron County Board of Education Itas acted with sincerity and conviction in using the present salary negotiat- ions with its teachers as a prot- est vehicle to publicize the ec- onomic and taxation plight of the farming profession,. this Board now believes that this was the RIGHT BATTLE but fought on the WRONG BATTLEFIELD and apologizes to the teaching profession of 1 luron County for any ill will and misunderstanding that has arisen. "The Iluron County board of Education re -affirms its belief that the teaching profession of Iluron County is the equal of its colleagues in the surrounding counties of South Western Ont- ario and therefore merits a sal- ary structure based on parity with its rural county colleagues. "Therefore the Iluron County Board of Education hereby re- solves to conduct salary negotiat- 11!1111 llilllllllllllllllllllllltllllllllllllillllllilllillllilllllllllltlllllllllillllillillllilllllilillllllllllllllilllflllll IIIIIIIII�� Fri. Sat. 19 Sun.2© JERRY L: `I� as /411 sOtal Se _r0114 IV11���G� PN�,C GENE WILDER titian n [R out Ot 'The PrUtlucer9out •1 P t dMEQ� DUW1B oUTHERWID e. F���� ...one is indeed made weak with laughter." L A NEAALO EAAMINEF E. PWS Pey‘,17° GOME TO THE OPENS AT SU 11 l,,iltv.,.-r�3:MP.�. SHM1OW VOU 40ETHINGI Ir+ oow1177J7Jl r, Ia• . �t Wit,. • ar PHONE 524-9011 DRIVE'1N TlitATR;' HwY 9 GODEPICH At CQNC6$S!ON PD 4,1 In COLOR WARNING .- ANGEI.IOUE PETTYJOHN • CHARLENE JONES • - BUNNY ALISTER • MICHAEL GREER c f 111111IH11111111Hitt111Ott111tI1lhI11IH11111110IH1111111Htllllllt(Tr ions with the teaching profession of Iluron County now and in the future on the basis of achieve- ment and maintenance of parity with the surrounding rural count- ies and that this resolution be- come policy of the Board. "We regret to inform the public that if this policy is not adopted by the Iluron County Board of Education, then in our opinion the Secondary Schools will not open in September and the trust and co-operation between Board, Teacher and Ratepayer will be non- existant, "This notion will only succeed if every responsible citizen goes to the Board meet- ing at Clinton Secondary School on Monday, June 21 at 8 p.m. and demands that the Board alter it's course. Whether or not a settlement is reached with OSSTF in the meantime, the principle contained in the motion needs your support as shown by your attendance at the meeting. "We your elected representat- ives cart do no more for you. It is up to you! *1401.1011.1. HOTEL HENSALL welcomes visitors to the MARIO L 'S C FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT, ON Fridr y and S!ur+d°'I' Tights ENTERTAIN MENT "Y ''SHE MAITLAND TRIO" NF SWIVEL ROCKER ROCKE RECLINE KROEHLER Signature DESIGNS Exit" Special The Tall Man Char Leather Recliner $19.45 ccasional Chairs priced from $26.95 up Tell Father you want hint to enjoy the soft Iife ... to know that ,luxurious comfort awaits hind every day and night of the year! stlak Furniture Main Street ZURICH Phone 236-4364