Times Advocate, 1997-07-16, Page 4•
P:iv 1
Times -Advocate, July 16, 1997
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EDITORiALS
The best again...but
-anada has retained its standing
.is the hest place in the world, according to.
the United Nations Human Development
Report on income, access to.education, and
health care. it's•the fourth year in a row
that Canadians can claim the honor.
Yet there was one proviso:More than .I•5
per'cent-of Canadian children five in pov- -
erty, compared 'to 10 per cent of many oth-
er industrialized nations. ' `
' Let's lookat the positive first;
Despite all -the naysityers, we must he do-
ing something right. Look around you. -and
think about how the rest of.the world lives.
We indeed are blessed with generally good
income. a solid . ducation:systetii: stable
g,.' rnr. cnt...`lreathtaki.- •natural beauty. a
generally •-lean :nvirottment and a society
with.a.nice mix'of collective responsibility
and individual rights. ' - '
We've made_comprnmises and its that
ability toimake compromises which makes
us great. It's alsothose t;dt promises '
which'give- us -problems.- Our medicare sy�s-
tem gives acces...to all persons. but there :
-are-those who, would prefer to he able to;
pay their way to the top: Perhaps'their
rights are slightly depressed, but the bene-
fit to society is worth the tradeoff.:
But underneath 411 the rosy fervor and
generally good living of Canadian•:society
are-the.:I:S-per.-cent of children who_live in
poverty
Now the dehytes over the definition of
povertyy may be as vigorous as those over'
allowing private health care in their respec-
tive circles of expertise.
Some claim that Canada counts its impov-
erished differently from other countries.
But even if the Canadian claim is two -or
three per cent out, that still puts us at more
than the ten percent of, children in -poverty
on average in the world's industrialized na'
tions: . - -
• Politicians:have hemmed and hawed•and .
-expounded on the severity of the problem.
Interest -groups have been outraged. Right-
wingers hive pooh-poohed the numbers.
Little'has happened:
"That's because child Pd "yen); is a -very -
.complex prohlern. it involves split families
•who don't receive child support. it involves
chronic underemployment which threatens
to fritter away our hest in the world status. :; -
it involves healing,addictions and getting -
people offsocial assistance. Cutting welfare
payments in Ontario without,sonie creative
safety net cannot have helped the children.
Perhaps our schools can help, some say.
with breakfast programs and Netter educa-
tion. Our schools' are already overburdened
with duties.
The solution starts with our•local cominu-
nities and societies. Recognizing the- ' everi-
ty ofthe problem is an excellent way'to
start on.the road to solving it. ,
• Winehani :idcnnre,_Time.s .
Nrrg p
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•i•+:,,'.
,iiOS,.••t••
Y9ur Views Letters'to the Editor
•
Thanks' to two hard
"On behalf of everyone still on -
the council and of course the •
newly elected executive, thanks
to both of you: " . •
Dear Editor.
What would we di) without voluntcerse •
V,)iunteers have the personal satisfaction of mak- -
ne -a difference in other people's lives. They donate
their. time and , ncr.ty On certain committees that
they 'feet are important.. The( siren t :asking . for
thanks. but it is sull.nice-to pat them on the track in
appreciation" for .ill the hard -work they offer. ,
Stephen Central Public School's Advisory Cuun-
il has had one exceptional volunteers. on their
.:omnirttee since their inception: hut'due to,
personal
.gid :work commitmepts or relocation. they have had
•o move .,n. they should .he commended for their
issisi;ince.
This year-, twp hard-working members arc retir-
ne. They will definitely he -missed.. not only. for all
•he success stories they have made: happen hut also
r .ill then -Input and experience:,
In the tall of 1995.. Dianne 1=inkheiner rallied thte
student -parent hotly together in an effort to titan a
parent • council at .Stephetl Central School. After .
7.eadinq .shout the k gislatiim from the government. -
Finkbeiner. realited,the need for the 'formation. She
carted the hall rolling• and a grolhp of volunteers
.v c rd-nummated. : •
of only did she 'see the necessity for a council.'
.he ciao spent two„years in the: vtce-president Capac-
ity Hours of hard. work: some long evenings and
working vohrntej s
hundreds 'if cups 'of coffee heing served, over her
kitchen table. cohorts' .tables and around the library
table tilled an .already full schedule for Diannehut
she still helped -unselfishly at Stephen Central.
Dianne' also was -a definite plus' in several of the
fundraising events ,n the school. She, was -.i key
.ptaver in organizing the yearly Chnstmas dinner for
all the tudents.and staff and helped make the job,
easier with her organizational skills at Stephen's Ex-
travagania Night - Time and Talent.Ad kin just to
name .J..:ouple
i'hanks'Dianne, you are one in.a million. You will
definitely he missed.
Alter Dianne's organizational skills 'were put to
work. • a president was elected. Charlene- Edwards
took the reins for thenewly-lormectcouncil.
Charlene filled -the spot ,if president ;perfectly:Ai-
ready having experience.on a PTA in London. she
camn tumidetumidWith great ideas and organizational
skills. -She helped to forrnthe group intora very prof -
rt -making and supportive group
•
•Attending meetings on hehatl of the committee.
keeping the agenda running smoothly. keeping On
top of all the events at -.the school and also working
hard at all the fundraising happenings kept Charlene ,•
very busy.
.Thanks Charlene. your hard -Work _ is definitely sip-.
prcciated.. .•
9n behalf of the everyone.still'on the council and
of course -the new)y elected. executive. -thank .you to
both of you. You have helped to make ,our. parent
council a `strong link in the 'excellent educational
chain at Stephen Central School. .
Deb Lord
Sent Employmmt
By Carrie McCone
Education: an important part of our future
', Have you ever, wonder -ed why . mercial Artist, ,-\rt Historian.
ypu.had to take curtain courses'' MUSIC - Sound Maker: Mu;
Well,'there'” are many reasons Mu -
.why
sic Therapist. Disc Jockey. u -
why ° we -have to take certain sic ,Arranger,; Record Producer.
courses and there are also , rea- Music Store Salesperson. _.
soriS why certain courses exist. - A commonly asked ,question.
Here are just a few occupations fry .many students is "why
each school subject can lead.tol should we stay in, school?"
MATH - Computer Program- This is a simple question that
mer, • Architect. Statistician: has some.vdry,sirnpleanswers, '
Plumber, Air Traffic - Control=- * The .majority Of new . jobs
ler, Tool and Die• Maker, Elec- created .in Canada will- require
tronic Technician. - more than 12 years- of educa-
. PHYSICS - Audio Recording tion and training.
Technician,. Electrician; Pilot. *[f you drop out of high
Firefighter, X-ray• Technolo- .school, you will probably be out
gist, Civil Engineer, Geologist. of work about twice as oaten ;IS
j.IOLOGY - Veterinary Tech- .a high school graduate. • .
nician. Pharmacy Technician. - *High school' -graduates are
Park Worker,"Surgical Assist= -twice as likely to he employed.
ant. Paramedic_ and change jobs- less frequently
CHEMISTRY • Film bevel than high school. drop -guts. '
opment Technician. Environ- -• *High. .school graduates earn
mental Engineer, Nuctear Fuel . more 'money on= average than
those who drop out: -
Processor, Pharmacist. • -
SOCIAL STUD[IrS*- Rehabil- • *Finishing high school means
taction
.Counsellor,,' Museum ` you will have mote career ''op
Display Designer, Lawyer. 'De- tions to choose from. Dropping
tective. Urban and ' Regional , out closes doors. ' • - -
•
Planner. ' , " • *You may be sickf school.
ENGLISH - Journalist; Broad- but if you drop out. chhces are
caster, Librarian. Speech Thera- : you` II only be . able to Lind a
pist, Editor, Teacher. • minimum ` wage 'job. - and it
LANGUAGES- - Translator," . Won't take .tong, for you to get
Phone Operator. Sign Language sick- of That!. -
Teacher. Customs_ Inspector; In• order to get where you want
Linguist. Flight Attendant.
ART - Stage 'Hand. Furniture
Designer. Projectionist. Photog-
rapher. Cinematographer. Com -
A View From Queen's Park
By Eric Dowd
TORONTO -- Not many people can bring the
Queen home for lunch and it should be worth a
few votes for Premier. Mike Harris in the next
election: •
The Queen. who charmed wherever she
• went. had time for only four stops in Ontario. at
Ottawa. the national capital. Toronto. the pro-
vincial seat, the London area and North Bay.
population 54,332, which just happens to be the
•home town of the Progressive Conservative
premier.
Why North Bay? Harris's staff explained the
monarch travelled from Toronto to Ottawa and
had time to stop somewhere and they don't
know who suggested North Bay, but it won the
luck of the draw (although only a badly diso-
riented crow would.fly this to,. •.) .
Itineraries for royal tours are drawn up first
by royals mentioning places they would like to
see, the federal government adding suggestions
where it would like them to go and the provinc-
es contributing weir ideas and 'Mr Hams, I be-
to go, there ate tnany'steps that.
- you.:can:- take: Firstly: you -must
begin by taking the right coots -
es. finish high ;chooi and never -
fie afraid to ask your counsellors'
or teachers for. advice. - Try to
find- yourself a guide to help
you: Communty'organizations.
local industries 4nd.individuaFs
. are often willing to help you or ,
'your,schoot Mass by becoming
-mentors. .Get some. free ,schodf
experience by becoming in-
volved with extra -curricular ac=
-tivities.. Another good way to
become involved is by volun-
teering your time to• local organ-
izations. •Lastly, think about
co:op education. This allows
you.to work as you Team. . •
These .are 'all important areas
that every. student must exam-
ine. By keeping -yourself fo-.
cused and by doing some of the
things' that I have mentidned,
..you. will become more involved
-with the public -and more 'aware -
of what you enjoy: •
' Next week [ will be . talking
about what factors. you should
'consider when choosing' a ea-
reer path, some statistics about
unemployment and what leads
to it and finally: 1 hope to.dis-
cuss what the approximate earn- .
ings will, be •for students from
secondary school: to a special-
ized degree. Until ..then. . good.
luck and gf• you have any ques-
tions either contact me by phone •
t---2-35 1 11-1 or trop=into--the=: _ --
office at 28,1 Main St.
lieve. suggested North Bay.' said a federal offi-
cial.
This may not be quite as useful politically as .
Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien's promise'
around the same time to build an armory in his
home town which will provide jobs.
..But the residents of North Bay will not for,.
get quickly the Queen' visited and Harris their
MPP brought her.
The Queen did a walkabout and had Harris at
her table for lunch and the local paper noted
she spent most of her time talking to the pre-
mier, who must have shot up a notch or two in
the admiration of residents because of his abili-
ty to mix with the world-famous.
Also at the table was Deputy Premier and Fi-
nance Minister Ernie Eves, who is not seen at
the legislature as often as opposition parties
would like but also interrupted his hermitage to
join the Queen in a clubhouse in Toronto be-
fore a horse race. '
Harris was everywhere in photographs.,The
-
Harris takes Queen to North Bay
local paper commented the visit should put this
city. however Fleetingly. on the national and iin- .
ternational map and a Toronto paper had a
headline. 'Queen basks in hospitality during top
to premier's home.' -
Premiers like to be seen with royals because
they want to show courtesy to important visi- -•
tors but also know many Ontarians have deep '
affection for the monarchy and British tradition
and resent attempts to'erode them. ,
But Hams is the only premier in memory to
use his weight to steer a monarch to his home
town. He still fell far short of the zeal his pre-
decessor, Ontario's first New Democrat pre-
mier, Bob Rae. showed in wanting to be seen
with royal visitors.
Rae had abolished the requirement police
swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen short-
ly before the Prince and Princess of Wales
came in 1991.
Political opponents and Harris• particularly •
accused Rae of being lukewarm to the royals
and not planning a proper welcome.
Rae.'stung and realizing there were votes to
he lost, stayed with the royals as if stuck to
them with krazy glue in church, which he rare-
ly attends: schools, universities; science shows
and mines and no fewer than 16 events, far
more'than any previous premier.
Rae and Princess Diana were reported by a
society columnist as even having "performed a
mean jive" ata charity ball, which many who
think of Rae as a stuffed shirt would love to
. have seen.
Rae's wife, Arlene, was dubbed 'the shadow'
• because she stayed so close to Diana and also
showed unsocialistic leanings by wanting to
ride in the royal car -and getting 10 members of
• her family into the lieutenant govemor's 'small'
and exclusive reception for the royal couple.
Rae wanted to show the whole province he
was not the anti -monarchy ogre he seemed --
Harris has been content with impressing the
folks back home.