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. COMMENT + THE CANADIAN CHAMPION àCMSO Box 248, 191 Main Si. E., The Canaiten Champion, published every Tuesday and Frday at1191 Miltn, nt.L9T4N9 Main St. E., Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (Box 248), is one nf The Metroland Milto, On. L9 4N9 Pnnting, Pubisfling & istributing Ltd. group ot suburban companies wtnch inluttes Ajaiuicliering News Advetser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Barrie (905) 878-2341 Advance, Barry's Bay This Week, BotenEnterprise, Branmpton Guariian, Burlinton Pst, Brlingon ShppingNews, Cit aenCty ut York Guardian, CllingwoodlWasaga Connection, Eant Yonk Mirnn, Erîn EditrialFax:878-943 AdvocateCounitry Routes, Etobicnke Guandîan, Fambonnugh Post, Ponenen EditrialFax:878-943 Young, Georgetown Independent/Auton Free Pess, Halton Business Times, A vriigFx87-34 Huronia Business Tmes, Kingston This Weeto, Lindsay This Wnek, Mankham a-a.veILSin Fax 876364 Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishene Mirror, Mton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Tmes, Mssissauga News, Napanee G uide, Classified: 8753300 Nassagaweya Nws, Newmarket/Aurora Ea-Banner, Northumberland Nws, Northr York Mienne. Oulvlte Beaver, Cakoîtte Shopping News, Odtirners Ian Oliver Publisher Hockey News, Orlia Today, OshawafWhitby/Clarington/Pnnt Perry This "vL Week, Peterborough Ths Week, Pîctonl County Guide, Rchmond Neil Oliver A.oîiooe Publie/rer HilfThornhil/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborougl i Mîror, Sloutfillte/lbrbidge Wendy McNab Advetsng ManTgribune tsrog s acceptod on the condition that, in the event ut a typo- graphical o ortirai portion of Oie advonising space occupiod by tire rro- Karen Smith Ed trnous item, logether w ii a reasonable aiowance for signature, will eut be Steve Crozier Ciculatin M anae cged for but thre balanceofothfie aduertisoment will ho paîd ton al the appli- cble rate.Tire publisber oservos tho rglt to categorize adortîsoments or...- Tera Casas OJj ceManage dclne. Ton Coles Productin ManageTee Mlon Canadiae Champioo is a Rocyycale Prodeuct A teacher's skills can't 0 be rated so easily, Mike *OUR RFA !)RÇ, WRITE, In one of bis earlier incarnations, Ontario Premier Mike Harris was actuafly a teacher, albeit for a very short time. And one can't help but wonder exactly what turned him off the profession and why he decid- ed to make teachers the object of bis anger. Few would argue that changes had to be made to the education sys- terr to make it more accounitable and to bring back a degree of stan- dardization. But the relentless attack on teachers since Harris took office is now bordering on abuse. The Province's latest foray along these lines comes with a new teacher testing program that would have ail certified teachers take 14 courses over five years to assess their knowledge and skill. Taking courses and doing well in them has absolutely nothing to do with the reality of teaching in a classroom setting. Many teachers are in classes now because they have the qualifications and tested well. Others may have not done as well in structured settings but are terrific teachers. The students know the difference. If the Province wants the real view, ask them. And whatever happened to board of education superintend- ents? Wasn't one of their major functions to rate a teacher's classroom performance?. Money set aside for this project would be better spent on textbooks. Bill145 ettîong a bad name,, says reader Dear Editor: Bill 45, incorporating tbe "Equity in Education Tax Credit" provision, s getting a bad name, even among those who approve. Typical media beadlines include, 'Private schools are inspected", 'Religious leaders debate Bill 45", and so on. lnterestingly, the Bill itself con- tains no such Ioaded words, refer- ring onîy to -eligible independent schools". This is no semantic niE- pick. Words corne with baggage. Most ot us will neyer read Bill 45. And the mental picture of a "pri- vate school" is of wealthy, dolled- up young dandies getting out of thetr chauffer-driven limos to trudge happily into their very WASPish classes. The mental pic- ture of 'religious ochool" is of uni- formed little atomatons sitting in stunned silence, being brainwashed by fanatical far right idealogues. Please, let us stick with the word- ing of the Act: "eligible independ- ent ochool". Such a school might well be religious, if only because many very conocientious religious people, at heavy tinancial sacrifice, are already willing to psy twice in order to ensure their kids escape the totally irreligious, relative-morality ambient of the public system. But an "eligible independent ochool" could, and in the near future will, also be a school eropha- sizing hockey, or ballet, or phonic instruction, or wbatever. The important thing to Ontario citizens is that the graduates of any such ochool meet or beat Ontario provincial scholastic standards and do not teach anything unwhole- sorne. Just as irnportantly, such schools will enable thousands of low- to middle-income parents to choose the kind of ochool they want for their kids; and will, through honeot competition, also raise stan- dards in the public systern. Most of the supposed disadvan- tages of independent schools are mytho. They remind one of the words of Mark Twain, who said, "I bave lived a long time and have had many troubles. Fortunately, most of hern neyer happened." Frank Gue, P.Eng. Burlington Welcome newcomers - here's our pros and cons If you're one of the new residents of Milton, soon to be one, or are planning to open a business in this expanding town, there are a few hings you have to hear. I know you've already chosen Milton as your new home or workplace, SO you're probably aware of what the town has to offer and dont need me spouting off about it. But I juot can't help myself. Being the outspoken person I arn, I have to inforrn you about a few little hings you may not have discovered yet. ' ve worked here for 13 years and resided here for tive, so I think I have a good handle on the pros and cons of everyday life in Milton. I've compiled a list of three positive hingo you'll find in tbis town. However, because I'm an objective journalist, I've also included three things I feel you should be wamned about. l'Il start with thern first. Three bad things about Milton - If you're looking to get somewhere in town in a hurry, avoid the intersection of Ontario and Main streets. If you get stuck at a red light there, you'Il feel like you sbould have packed a lunch. Instead, take the side streets in the ares, but don't drive toc, fast, as it's a quiet residential neigb- bourhood. * Anoher frustrating driving experience in Milton is stopping aI the railway racks for a train and the bamrers don't corne up after the train bas passed. Or, the train stops while passing and then starts up again travelling at rive miles an bour. If you corne across this at about noon, you'll prob- ably wish you really did pack a lunch because now you won't have tirne 10 go home before heading back to work. - Often it's the same group of local communiîy Prom the Ieditor's desk members who take on the responsibility for vol- unteer activiies like fundraising for the hospital or ones that ensuit the town bas events Rie the Milton Santa Claus Parade, Steam Era, the Milton Faîl Fair and Canada Day. Their efforts are amazing, but maybe you, as a new resident of Milton, could inject some fresh blood mbinthe countless causes local volunteers contribute their tirne to every year and give some of the aIder volunteers a rest. Now on the brighter side. Three good things about Milton -If you're walking down the street and some- one you' ve neyer seen before smiles and offers a friendly greeting, don't be alarmed. They haven'î mistaken you for sornebody else, hey're not off their rocker and hey're not going to try to selI you something. It's just part of the friendly, small-îown atmosphere here. (Hopefully that won't change.) - If you're starting a new business in Milton, Mayor Gord Krantz is always available for a nib- bon cutting. - The town has a great twice-weely communi- ty newspaper that will keep you informed of al the local events. (I couldn't help myself.) j