Huron Expositor, 1999-11-17, Page 3News
Parents protest UNICEF vote by children
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Staff
Parents in the Seafort.h.
Clinton and Bayfield areas
arc concerned about a
national "children's rights"
•vote to he held Nov. 19 in
Canadian schools in
conjunction with UNICEF.
But; a motion by trustee
Abby Armstrong to give,
parents more • input inti) such -
issues by directing school
correspondence through,
school councils was defeated
at last week's meeting of the
Avon . Maitland District
Schix►I Board. ,
. Armstrong made the
motion , in response to
'concerns from parents. in
Central Huron.
"I'm concerned when
things come in through the
hack door onto the principal's
desk and haven't been
appru‘ed by anyone." said
Armsi rung. •
"I don't think our students
.should he participating unless
the school councils want
them to; " she, said.
The vote. eligible to all
Canadians under the age of
IK; will ask children to vote
on questions based on the
United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
The vote. which will deal
with rights such as•the "right
• .to he. given a name" and the
"right to expressour views
and Opinions and to have
theses ()pinions listened to. in
matters that affect us," was
announced by Elections,
Canada in July. .
A letter from Huron -Bruce
MP Paul Steckle questioning
the vote. since the convention
was never debated_ in the
House of Commons, was
published recently in local
ne« spapers.
Armstrong said • she
received eight phone calls.
and a dozen e-mails from
ratepayers and the issue was
discussed at every school
council meeting she attended
recently.
"It seems to he a growing
•concern in my arca." she
said.
Education Director Lorne
Rachlis said only two Avon
Maitland schools will he
participating in the vote.
while seven will he using
some of the materials about
the vote in the classroom.
"Fifty-two schools decided
not to use it, which shows
how major an issue it is in
our schools." he said.
facctiougIy.
Rachlis added that since
schools receive all kinds of -
correspondence from groups
such as • TVO, Heritage
Canada and Canada Post,
hoard practice is' to let
principals decide which
materials they receive
support the curriculum
"It's our feeling that they
know the parents and the
community," he said.
Trustee Maggie Laprade
said 'she was "quite
comfortable" that principals
and staff know what
materials are appropriate to
use in the classroom- and
trustee Atje Tuyten added
that she's satisfied the issue is
"being dealt with school 10
school."
Trustee Ray Ford asked if
parents have a right to refuse
to allow their •children to
participate and Rachlis added •
that each child has a right to .•
refuse to vote.
'"Not everybody votes in an
election." said Rachlis.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, November 17, 1999-3
Plan to attend
PUBLIC INFORMATION
MEETING
for the proposed amalgamation
of the Town of Seaforth, Village of
Brussels and the Townships of Grey,
McKillop and Tuckersmith.
Wednesday, November 24'h
8:00 PM
Seaforth Arena
For further information,
please contact any of the above
municipal offices.
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