The Rural Voice, 1998-11, Page 22With initiatives to keep rural
Ontario alive, encourage job creation
and investment, she questions how
closing schools works with that idea.
"If the children are not educated
in their community, they have no
emotional tie. Why would they come
back after university?"
The stability created by the
school is also a focal point for
LaFontaine, noting co-
operation between the school and
township for upkeep on a ball
diamond, as well as the use of school
facilities for aerobics classes,
volleyball and meetings.
Many parent groups arc
advocating a slowed pace to the
entire approach. "We have a lot of
questions but few answers," said
LaFontaine. "Parents have the right
to all the facts, figures and input.
(The board) doesn't have to look at
the date. Deadlines don't mean
anything. They have the moral
obligation to find another way."
All the figures look good in black
and white, she added, but when it
comes to children, it is not all black
and white.
Waiting to begin the process
would be "unethical", said AMDSB
Chair's Armstrong. Because of the
extent of the problem the board felt
inclined to let communities know
early the possible ramifications of thc
government's policy, Armstrong
said.
Information required to do
accurate calculations was not
Abby
Armstrong:
Waiting
longer to
release
school
closing
lists would
be
unethical
received until late September, said
Armstrong. Because of the
magnitude, preliminary numbers
were used.
Although the early release of
figures got many communities up in
arms, Armstrong stands by thc
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18 THE RURAL VOICE
board's decision. "It was still the
right thing to do. We realized the
potential problem and it would have
been immoral not to Ict people know.
It is horrible what thc communities
are going through. They may be
agonizing' over something that may
not happen."
Armstrong said the people have
the right to express their thoughts,
not just given a report and told this is
thc way it is.
That opportunity to speak out is
currently underway in the UGDSB
region as Trustee Brimblecombe said
public meetings are now being held.
Some people are "not dealing
well" with the eight scenarios, he
said, as thc board is vying to find a
way to treat small schools fairly.
It is in the areas where there is.
only one school where the greatest
resistance appears to be, he said.
A working group for each
scenario, involving the principal of
the school slated for closure or
conversion, principals of affected
schools, parent -teacher council chair
and two trustees, has been set up.
Dealing with school closures is
one which goes far beyond dollar
signs and must be looked at from the
social and economic aspect of the
community as a whole.
For a small community, the
school is more than just a place
to send the children each d2, . It
is often used as the community
centre, a location for the Cubs and
Brownies to meet, a gathering place
for meetings and a site for taking
courses.
It draws people to the community
as they bring children to activities or
pick them up after school.
It allows parents to stay involved
with their children when the school is
only a few miles from home and the
neighbourly atmosphere welcomes
parental participation.
Can small rural communities
afford the loss of one more tie which
holds them together?
The Ontario Federation of
Agriculture is encouraging concerned
citizens to write letters to local
MPPs, the premier and Agriculture
Minister Noble Villeneuve. An
electronic petition is also available
on-line at www.ofa.on.ca. There is
also a sample letter of protest in the
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture's newsletter on page 48.0