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14-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 27, 2001 Pu"ttîig rar-de-s 7 and 8 in high sehools is a bad move, says leader of elementary school teachers Moving grades 7 and 8 students to, high schools could have serious consequences, the Halton District School Board has been warnied. Early adolescence is a critical developruent phase and nurturing, secure environnients are nceded, an clcmcntaey teachers' leader bold trusteces Wednesday. "If prolenis are not prevcnted in these ycars. there arc signifi- cant cconomic and social consequences - increased drop out rates, teen pregnancy and mothcrhood, substance use and abuse, and life-long violent behavioums," noîcd Kathy Clarke. She said elemcntary teachera ledl 12 bo 13-year-olds don't belong in an environmcent with 18 10 19 year-olds. Ms Clarke added secondary sehools are designed for more inde- pendent activity and don't provide special adult support necded by "Left oS their own or wit peers they have a sgnScntly greater chance of engagîng lI risk behaviour than do their counterprt involved li activities under aduit gudace:" the young adolescents. 'Left on their own or with peers, they have a significantly greater chance of engaging in nisk behaviours than do their coun- Tired of the disappointments, Ian Kayhan of Sarnia dumps satelite for COGECO Digital Cable TV AiSi, «,Iiiig Si Diietai 051, TV iois C5GEC. lin SARNIA .It ail stairted whcn Ian Mr Kayhan is also impressed by the Kaya a finaJiy relax and eniay relabl TV sri Kayhan of Sarnia %wanted high speed Digital Navigator, an on-screen interac- Internet access. tise s'iewing guide. 'Wr love the seaech cable lie under our home wasn't opti- "I got such a run around with the by name feature. mal for Digital TV COGECO came over phone company over their Internet Digital Gable 'TV from COGECO and repLiced the wholc line, jusi for service, I said, "That's it!" includes 40 digital music channels bu,. us!' Now thaïs service. Mr. layhan dccided tu switch to "Il's Ct)'quality, sound, 24-houes a day COGECO higli speed Internet accesa and best of aIl," Mr. Kayhan points out, oser cable. "there are no commerefals'" But that's nul ail he decided 'I dumiped their satellite service lo "COGECO'S BEEN PHENOMENAL" Mr. Kayhan said. Whereas the frustration wîth the "PICIRE AND SOUNDARE FANTASIC" Me. Kayhan slgne up for COGECO Digital Cable TVY, and lies beeîi sery happy eser since, "'Ibe picoire and sound are fantassic and we pet our local statons now" billing him for their Internet service even though if's been cancelled for oser thre îonths now), Mr. Kayhan is more than pleused with COGECO. "COGECO's been phenomenal," smilcs M. Kayhan." As il happened the terparts involved in activilles under aduit guidancc," said Ms Clarke, who's president of Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario for Halton Local 1. She said the federation fecîs kindergarten t0 grade 8 or grades 6 Io 8 schools are best for intermediate students and asked Ihat fed- cratlon concerns be considered in future decisions. 'Me board plans t0 add grades 7 to 8 to Aldcrshoi High School in Burlinglon for the 2001-02 school year Two other higli school buildings, Central in Burlington and Oakville's Q.E. Park, have houscd grades 7 go g for ycars. Ms Clarke said this trend may continue because of provincial funding criteria (requiring elimination of space surpluses for new school grants). "Boards are looking 10, fi1 their empty secondary classrooms with grades 7 to08 students in order 10, avoid closing high schools," she noted. Ms Clarke said elimination of grade 13 will further reduce enrol- ments and could lead to grades 710o 12 schools across the province. "Mhis may secm like a reasonable solution, but there are real consequences for the education, hcalth and social welI-being of our young adolescents." she said. Ms Clarke said research shows stable teacher-student relation- shîps. smaller schools, an intellectually-stimulating cooperative leaming environment and significant parental environmcnt are needed for young adolescents. These features are provided in elec rnentary scbools, she added. "Grades 7 to 8 students need leadership opportunities that will build Iheir confidence and encourage independent behaviour," said Ms Clarke. "Being the oldest students in elementaey school gives theru these opportunities." Females often lose estecm and self-confidence in carly adoles- cence, she noted. Ms Clarke said grades 7 10 8 programs in high schools should be separate entities with their own entrance. Elemcntary teachera aren't raising the issue because of staffing concerus, added the teachers' leader. "The Education Act ensures that students from kindergailen 10 grade 8 are elementary studenta and our own collective agreement states that elementary students will bie taught by elementary teach- ers," she said. "We wilIl not lose elementary staff if our students are placed in secondaey schools." Nor docs raising the issue involve resisting change or school closures, or undcrmining the saving of taxpayer dollars, said Ms Clarke. "Wbat il is about is the education, health and well-being of our adolescent students," she said. CN development causing concerns - tram RESIDENTS on page 1 bIc on their part. "The bottom mie is 1 love the area and want 10 stay. 1 hope we're not pushed out." Allen Brownridge is also concernied about traffic. "T'he roads in Milton were not developed for traffic," said the Tremaine Road resident. "From a traffic vicwpoint, (the dcvclop- ment) will only add 10 the already congested roads." Traffic was also a concerni for Mavis and Anton Hutter. "When t firat read the story (Friday's paper) my immediate con- cern waa traffie," said Mms. Hutter, who reaides on Tremaine Road. "With the truck traffic, il will be impossible 10 live here. We'll have 10, wait and sec what happens. We don't really want 10 move." Mayor Gord Kranlz said he only became aware of the CN development Febeuaey 16. "A few representatives froni CN called a special meeting with myscîf, <Regional Chair) Joyce Savoline and (CAO) Maiio Belvedere," he said. 'l'bey informed us of the plan. 'Ibere was no discussion. 1 was disappotnted we weren't consulted for askcd for input. AIl the planning we've donc wîth Milton wcnt out thc door." Mr. Krantz said there would bc both negative and positive impacts the devclopmcnt would have on the iown. 'There will bc a disturbance for the rural communîty clown there," he saîd. "On the positive sîde. jobs will be created. t haven't had a chance to masure the positive and negatîve impacts, but I'm hoping thc positive outweigh the negalîve. "T'hc bottors mie is, (CN) is going ahcad wiîh this whether wc lîke tl or not." Mr. Krantz saîd. "Whcn it's aIl sortcd out, nol cveryone will bc happy, includîng myseîf"- at ewmasw. ONLY MONTHI ààeW MM M At UM cWM OM WW~~oesooTLaui IM OW iAND MaUaRiiicwolI 'A-6wa , $$un xigiém MUlC mm USfALCI auI 15114. 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