The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Province's teacher testing creating more uncertai nty in profession, say unions BY 71M WHITNELL Special to The Champi on Parent and student input on teacher performance and s new qualifying test for incoming instructors arc creating even more anxiety and uncertainty in thse pro- fession, say tise heads of some teacher unions in Halton. Last week the Ontario govem- ment introduced new measures for the performance appralsal of teach- ers. Tiscre yull be more intensive involvemrent cf parents and stu- dents in the overall evaluation of a teacher's ability. Titere will be also a mandatory teacher qualifying test for those who have just completed teachers' college. Halton's public elementary teachers lederatton president, Kathy Clarke, is concemeti about what formn botis new endeavors will take and thse impact tisey'll have on teachers and their ability te work. "It's a political thing," she said. implying thse Ontario govemrment is trying te influence tise electorate. "Let's vote for the Conservatives because they are giving us thse rigit te evaluate teaciters. I think the majority cf parents are satisfied with their teacher and what hap- pent within tise boundary cf thse classroom. "We ativise teacisers titat you have te meet witis parents (occa- sionally or when nccessary). You can't teach in isolation. im net denying a parent's right into having input, but yeu can't have parents filling eut an evaluatien form. You might have a wonderful teaciter andi one kidi wiso migis net like him or her and tisat coulti leave a black mark tisat could stay on their record er even leati te their dismissal.' Halton public sccondary sehool teachers union heati ice Harwooti has concems similar te, those cf Ms Clarke. "Do they want an evaluatien cf cvcry teacher by cvcry kidi in Uic classromr? Wisat weight vil it carry? it makes it more like a pop- ularity centcst. We want a qualified person (deing Uic evaluatien) oUi- levalutathi forun." erwtsc it becomnes a perception game," sai Mr. Harwocd, noting teachers respenti to parental con- cems on an ongcing basis. Thse Ministry cf Education says parents cf students in ail grades anti students in Grade 1l, 12 anti OAC will have input in teaciser appraisal in areas like teacher/parent anti teacher/student communication and a teacicr's ability to promote learmng. Just isow tise evaluation will be tione anti what weigist it will carry in a teacher's overall job appralsal isot known. Tise ministry is stil working eut thc dtils. "It wiul not be a mark systcmn se, to spcak," said Rob Savage, spokesperson for the Education Mfinistry. *'lt (framnework) is cur- rently being developeti. ItîIl basi- caliy be a survey provideti te par- ents and (senior) students." Mr. Savage said Uic student/par- cnt teacher performance appraisal will start wiUi Uic ncxt scitool year anti likcly occur every two to tisrcc years. He wasn't sure how or whcn tise forms wculd be distributeti. "lt is important to remnember titis is just one compontent cf teaciser evaluation -principals and vice-principals are involveti as well," said Mr. Savage. Halton's teaciser union chiefs empisasize tisat teachers, vice- prin- cipals anti principals have always recciveti ongcing constructive cnit- icismn cf their work. "Yeur supervisor neetis te evalu- ate how ycu de your job - that's what Uic principals do," Ms Clarke said of teacher performance. She noted there's already in place province-wide a two-part expectation relating to, thse appraisals of teachers, vice-princi- pals and principals. There's annual co-op supervision where a principal meets during the year with each teacher in his or her school. They have a one-on-one at the stars of the school year te dis- cuss goal setting and meet through- out thse year, as needed, to assess and re-evaluate progress or tise lack of it. The formal evaluation process occurs every three years, said Ms Clarke. The Province requires new teachers and those who have moved to another board to be appraised twice in cacit of tie firnt two years. Ms Clarke said thse evaluation process is like a professional audit entailing thse presence cf the princi- pal in a teacher's class several times during the school year. The analysis of what they observe is kept on file for later review. Those teachers who nced guid- ance or help to improve their skills are offered it by thse principal them- selves or through professional development opportunities. Ms Clarke admitted some can't adapt. "We don't support incompetent teachers. We support a process (to make them better). (Some) teacis- ers are tennainated, even if the pub- lic docsn't betieve it." As for new teachers coming out of teachers' college, Ms Clarke said the new qualifyîig test seems redundant and a vaste of taxpayer money and a new teacher's time. "Titey have final exams in the college. We spent aIl this time training themn on these things and now we're telling themn wc don't know if they're ready (to be a teacher).- The Mlinistry of Education now requires those coming out of teach- crs' college te write a four-houe test. The ftrst one is slated for April 27. e sua THOSE on page il The Canadian Champion, Fniday, March 29, 2002-G Chud1eilgh says I3ves 18 the man to lead Ontarjo lio MM 1[W QluI4lg xas OubeffWi MlssiaStaChwe pkse w p m~ e Ê=IVi *w M H 9m Oc IWda rl* n ftm e bit ~ >û inue crLw W* o 4 i n~ ov9c Mrd p ty mf* b se*ea kte Mo fut Pm" itBc~ i.C~do of the votes casl to37.8 petrcent. Oder with te panvusce's àraafa parties Ont candidates were '[bny Clament, #»s las. Thne __7 Gosp)el Lighthouse Milton Gospel Lighthouse, situateti at 164 Main Street (heside Knox Churchi has been in operation now for 14 months. 0cr historie downtown location is awaiting the completion cf "The Main Event" transformation, being chronicled in the Canadian Champion news- paper. Since placing our ativertisernent in this newspaper, we have iteen very busy with an increaseti number cf customers coming to the store. 0cr sales reflect thîs increase also! Please drop in andi visit us. We would lie pleased te see you. 0ur friendly staff would lie glad to assist you in your needs here. We look forward te seeing ycu, andi to meeting cur Milton newcomers! Ruth, Marilyn, Ruth and Wendy! Commercial St. Gospel 1 Knox Churh* el Lighthoue Main Si. O Marlin St. Hours: Mon -Thura. 9:30 - 5:30 Fri. 9:30 - 6:30 SaS. 9-5 Closeti Sunday. (Of Course!) 164 Main Street East, Milton 905 875-1683 Colorectal Cancer: What You Need to Know A free public education semninar presented by Halton Heaitheare as part of their "Living Healthy" series. Individuals interested in colorectal cancer are invited to attend a free health seminar entitled "lColorectal Cancer: What You Need to Know" to take place on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Milton District Hospital Ciassroomn. The seminar is being presented in partnership with Haiton Healthcare Services - Milton District Hospital site and thse Canadian Cancer Society. It is made possible due to a non- restricted educational grant fromn Roche Oncology with appre- ciation te, Milton District Hospital Foundation. ASL interpre- tive services are available for thse hearing impaired through sponsorship of Siemens Hearing Instruments. Colorectal Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deatis amnong men and women in Canada. More titan 17,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Despite its itigh incidence, colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable, and, if found eariy, most treatable forms of cancer. Advancing age, diet, per- sonal htstory of poiyps and bowel disease, itcreditary factors and faniiy isistory are tomne cf the risk factors for developing colorectai cancer. Colorectal cancer, like otiter cancers. responds best te treat- ment when it is found and treated as early as possible. Treatmnent is most effective before the disease spreads outside cf tise colon. Colorectal cancer screening is advised and part cf routine medical care visen tisere are ne symptomns present. Thse Canadian Cancer Society recommends titat ail men and women talk with tiseir doctors about colorectal screening. Drs. Gulsitan Sawisney (Intemnist) and Jeif Kolbasnik (Gencral Surgeon) at tise Milton District Hospital vilI provide information on tise prevalence, carly detection, diagnosis, and treatment cf colorectal cancer. In addition tisere wilI be lots cf time for participants te have titeir questions ansvered. Titis free seminar will be iseld on Tuesday, April 2nd at the Milton District Hospital, visich is located at 30 Derry Road east. Dispiays and light refresisments yull be available fi-cm 6:30 p.m. and thse seminar wili commence at 7:00 p.m. To reserve a seat, please cail 905-338-4379 or send an e-mail to Iroism@italtonhealthcare.on.ca. Seats are limited, 50 cali today. Titose rcquiring interpreter services please fax 905-878- 0498 or email cpopp@italtonhcalthcare.on.ca by March 29. If you are unable to attend this event and weuld like more information on this topic speak to your pitysician, caîl the Cancer Information Line at 1-888-939-3333, Cancer Connection at 1-800-263-6750 or the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada at 1-888-318-9442. Relevant websites to visit are; www.cancer.ca, www.ccac-accc.ca and www.well- spring.ca. For more information, contact Cindy Popp, Health Promotion Coordinator, Halton Healtiscare Services - Milton District Hospital site @ 905-876-7045 or cpopp@halton- healtiscareonca