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6 - The Canadian Champion, Fnday, October 18, 2002 ** COMMENT +THE CA4NADIAN CHAIION Box 248, 191 Main St. E. Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: Advertising Fax: Classified: Circulation: Ian Oliver Neil Oliver i Jili Davis Karen Smith Wendy McNab Ai Steve Crozier c Teri Casas Tim Coles an 905-878-4943 905-876-2364 905-875-3300 905-878-5947 Publisher A.sse.riate Publisher Edmor-te-Chief Edmnar duertstng Manaeger Cirulatioan Manager Office Manager Proaduction Manager The Canadien Champion, putlisied eeery Tuesday and Friday at 191 Main StE_ Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (Box 248), s une oThme Metroland Printing, Pubishnt & Distributing Ltd. group of subarban comparues inch includes: Ajax/Pickering News Adeetiser, Allston ilerati/Coairier, Barrie Adance, Bays Bay This Week. Bolten Enterprse, Brampton Guardian, Burintun Pos, Buringtorn Shopping News, City Prent, City of Yrk Gardian, ColingwuudiWasaga Cnnectien., East Yoik Miror. rin Advncate/Coetny Retes, Etabîceke Gardian, Flambutoagh Post, Frevep Yung, GergetoneIiependentiActnn Fee Press. atterBsness Tines, Harera Busness Times, Kngsten This Week, Liîndsay This Week, Markam Ecenemit & Suni Midlad/Peretangaishene Mirer, Miteri Shnpping News, Mssissauga Bsness Times. Mssissanga News, Napanen Guide. Nassagaweya News, Newmareet/Aurera Era-Banner, Nrthumberland News Nnnth Yank Mirin, akite Beaver akvitte Shonpping News Gdtimers HoIckey News, Gillia Taday, shania/Whitby/Caingtun/Pert Periy This Week, PeterboreughThins Week, Picter Ceninty Guide, Rchmond iilTherniiiNaughan Lberal, Scaiberog Mineor, Sieatille/Ubridge Tribune. Adeenîsîng s accepted onstheconedition tsiar, rn the event of a type- giaphicat errer. t/tt pention ot the adeertîsîng spuce eccutied tiy the erre- nenes item. tegettier with a reasunabte aliewaece foi signature, oui et bu chargeit toi. but tbe balance eftht/e adveetsemneni miii Se pard for athteeapeti- cabte rare. Tee pubistrer reserves tee rght te categorize adveniereents or dectîre. The Miltoe Canaiian Champion in a ReyctabH ePendat *, Sounds like a plan It's certainly heartening to hear Education Minister Elizabeth Wîtrner say she will consider an alternative diploma for some Ontario high school students. A coalition of school boards, including the Halton District School Board and four of its high schools - General Brock, E.C. Drury, White Oaks and Georgetown District - are pressing the Ontario gov- emrment to develop a system to help those with littie chance of passing the Provinces literacy test. Many of those students are taking basic programs in vocational schools and, in some cases, are several years behind their peers in aca- demic achievement. Some sufer from lower IQs and learning disabil- ities. It would be a sharne for them not to get a diploma since numer- ous vocational students in previous years who couldn't have passed the test went on to successful careers. The alternative diploma would provide a checklist of skills, a co-op education record and a literacy 'portfolio' for employers. We should keep in mmnd that it's equally important to read a techni- cal auto body manual as it is to be able to write prescriptions. Canada needs skilled labourers just as much as it needs lawyers, engineers and doctors. Lets ensure everyone has an equal opportunity for success, no mat- ter their career choice, once they get past the secondary school level. OUR READERS WRITE Reader says teaching public about dangers of unprotected sex is more productive than anti-abortion demonstrations Dear Editor: 'm writing 10 you about the recent photo of the abortion acivists in The Champion. 1 find il unproductive for people 10 have such public displays. This country allows for freedomn of speech and expression and because of that mosl are thankful. Just as tbey have been free to make the choice 10 demonstrate. women are free to make the choice on abortion. Why flot spend your lime more productively by educating the pub- lic on the risks of having unprotect- cd sex, like unplanned pregnancy or AIDS and a montage of other dis- cases? We see enough protests going on in the world right now with anti- war. anti-terrorism, etc. People need 10 be more positive in tbis world we live in today. Be positive and active with your views but do il in a way where you educate flot discriminate. Quite frankly you look foolish standing on street comcrs with littie signs, and it sure does nothing pro- ductive for the cause. T Stuart Milton Former Milton Toastmaster members invited to anniversary Dear Editor: Our club will celebrate ils 20th anniversary meeting October 29 at the Royal Canadian Legion at 7:30 p.m. We would like 10 contact as many of our club's for- mer members to extend an invitation to them 10o attend tbis special event. If you were a member of our club please caîl Sue aI (905) 876-2563 or e-mail me at Lgibson@cogeco.ca for further information. Lorraine Gibson Milton Toastmasters Club School closure opponents are facing up-hill battie The Halton District School Board is facing a îough decision wbcn il votes on Uic fate of two cîementary schools November 20. Over Uie pasl two weeks, angry and frustrated parents have prescnted their cases 10 Uic boards School Closurc/Consoîidatiofl Study Committec, whicb will ultimatcly make a recommnendation 10 Uic board on whthcr to kcep Martin Street and Perey W. Mcrry public scbools open or close Uem. According 10 board policy, consideration of closure is mandatory once a schooi drops below 60 per cent utilization. Thatîs Uic current situation for Pcrcy Mcrry, which, wiUi 92 students, is operating aI 42 per cent utilization, and Uiose numbers arc expected to drop by2010. Parents argue Uic rural school, which serves south Milton and norUi Oakvilie. sisould be used as, a holding facility until a new sehool is built in thc arca in 2005/06. Mcanwhile, Martin Street is currently operat- ing aI a 82.3 per cent utilization rate - well above 60 per cent. However, board officiais say 106 of the school's 250 students are buscd in from oulside thc catcbment arca - mostly for thc French Immnersion program - which significantly drops thc utilization rate. Parenats arc conccmned about wbich sehool their eilîdren wiil attend if thc sebools close - and rightly so. Many parents who bave chiidrcn aI Pcrcy Mcrry dont want 10 scnd them 10o an urban scisool sctting, citing Uicy purposcîy chose thc sebool because of Uic rural amosphere. And parents of Martin Street students cnjoy Uic fact their ciildren are laught in a small school set- ting and appreciate the history of tise 82-year-old scisool, which aI one lime was Milton Higis School. Parents have told committce members Uiey specifically chose 10 scnd Uieir kids 10 Martin Street because of ils French Immnersion programn. Tsvo oUicr publie sehools in town - Robert Baldwin and E.W. Foster - offer Uic programn. But Uat's domng little to reassure parents, as Uiey dont know as of yet where students would be placed foliowing closure. Parents are boping the board will vote agamîst closing both schools, but are baving a bard time remainrng optimistic. Tbey feel Iis is a donc deal, that the decision t0 close bas basicalîy already been made and nothmng can be said or donc 10 change the mmnds of those in power. One thing Ive discovered about Miltonians since 1 began workmng in Ibis town over a ycar- and-a-half ago is how quickly individuals corne together and fight collcctively for what they believe in, wbcthcr or flot thcy tbink ils a lost bat- die. Nobody wanîs 10 sec sehools close, cspecially in a community whcrc thse population is expected 10 triple in the next fcw ycars. So wouldnt il make sense to plan for thse future instcad of making a decision tisat could unneces- sarily affect many lives Ioday? 1