The Citizen, 1997-10-29, Page 1Longtime
Brussels resident
turns 99
See page 2
Blyth Midgets
begin season with
taste of victory
See page 9
Candidates from
4 municipalities
have their say
See inside
John McDermott
to appear at
Memorial Hall
See page 27
Seaforth
A Seaforth girl died tragically in
a single vehicle accident in Hibbert
Twp. Early Sunday morning.
Sebringville OPP are investigat
ing the accident which occurred at
1:30 a.m., Oct. 26, on Hibbert Twp.
Road 182, Perth County, approxi
mately 10 km. south of Seaforth.
A 1990 Chev, driven by Rachel
Anne Broome, 16, of Jones Street,
Seaforth, was northbound on Twp.
Road 182, when she lost control,
teen dies
entered the east ditch and struck a
tree, said the OPP report.
Broome and passenger, Theresa
McClory, 16, of Patrick Street,
Egmondville, were taken to
Seaforth Hospital.
Broome succumbed to her
injuries at 4:40 a.m. McClory
remains in hospital with serious
injuries.
The Seaforth Fire Department
assisted at die scene.
CitizenTheNorthHuron
| Vol. 13 No 42
Classrooms empty in Huron
Wednesday, Oct.29,1997 700+ 50 GST 750
Jest for fun
This jester (Jenna Rinn) was among the many ghosts, goblins and colourful characters,
taking part in the fun and games sponsored by the Blyth Optimists this past weekend at their
annual Halloween party.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
There are empty classrooms
across Ontario.
And for those on both sides, and
in the middle of the province-wide
teachers' strike, there are questions
and concerns.
Paul Carroll, director of educa
tion with the Huron County Board
of Education, admits that the board
is prepared to act "if necessary",
through injunctions and additional
penalites besides loss of pay. But,
he believes the government is the
only one with the true authority to
take action.
"This is not a fight with the local
boards. It is unfair that their means
of action affects children and the
community. However, I don't think
we gain anything by the board
jumping into the fray."
Carroll said the strike is a touchy
issue and the board is going to do
the best they can. "I hope it's short.
Our concern is for the children."
That concern is what prompted
the board's decision to close all
Huron County schools. "For the
younger children we have a con
cern for their safety and at the older
level we have a concern about the
safety of the buildings. I couldn't
imagine leaving the doors of F.E.
Madill open with a handful of staff
there."
With the doors closed, some par
ents were faced with child care
concerns. The province made a ges
ture last week announcing that fam
ilies could petition the boards for
$40 per day to cover expenses.
This, Carroll said would apparently
come from the savings in not pay
ing teachers' salaries. "We have
already had calls about his. Obvi
ously the government recognizes
child care is a big factor. However,
I find it strange that during the min
ister's meeting with directors there
was never any mention made of
this."
For the teachers it was not an act
taken lightly, says Huron Women
Teacher's Association (HWTA)
President Alma Westlake. "We are
not a group that does illegal things.
But the dollar signs for the educa
tion system are not there at all. We
keep hearing different things. And
at the heart of the issue is the fact
that so much of what has been han
dled before in the democratic pro
cess is now reserved for one
individual. It seems an erosion of
that system."
Westlake said, "Most teachers are
having a difficult time. They are
committed to their profession and
to their responsibility to their stu
dents to go against an illegal action.
But they also have a commitment
to stand up for what's important."
Westlake said the association had
made provisions so that any teach
ers not wanting to join the walk-out
could have a central location to go
to and work.
She said she felt her role was to
educate the members by making all
information available, then letting
them make their own decision on
whether to join or not. "Whatever
they choose I want them to make a
decision one way or another and
not avoid the issue."
Should the strike drag on too
long, Westlake said she believes
the teachers will do whatever they
can to get the students back on
track. "I believe the responsibility
and integrity of Huron teachers will
ensure the 'catch-up' will be thor
ough."
Ontario Public School Boards
Association (OPSBA) President
Lynn Peterson found the sugges
tion disturbing. In a press release
issued last week, Peterson said that
while she shared Education Minis
ter Dave Johnson's concern, she
was disturbed that he would offer
this figure when, according to the
Association's research of the Min
istry's financial statements, it costs
$33 a day to teach the children.
That both sides agree to disagree
has been a big problem. "We are in
a position where it is a power strug
gle on the part of the federations
and the government," said West
lake. "It is not a good situation for
either side."
For its part the government says
the-teachers are being stubborn. In
a phone interview Friday, Huron
MPP Helen Johns expressed con
cern for students. However, she
said that the fair funding model in
the bill, which sees a more equi
table division of funds for educa
tion between rural and urban
Ontario, plus the 3,000 parents'
names on a petition supporting this
was loo important to Huron to just
let Bill 160 be scrapped.
Westlake agrees that Johns has
worked to achieve benefits through
funding, but says this protest is not
local. "Il is for the broader sense,
for things that are not too important
in the short run, but to achieve and
maintain in the long run."
Johns expressed frustration at the
federations. "We have asked for
proposals from he teachers -on what
they would like to see changed.
Everything is up for negotiation.
We asked them Wednesday, Thurs
day and Friday and have heard
nothing."
Huron OPSTF President Paul
Dyck said this was untrue, that the
Federation had taken dozens of
proposals back last week, which the
Continued on page 26