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e - The Canadian Champion, Tussday, Oclober 22, 2002 ~'COMMENT ~NW~U~ ELIU Evilcan urk AYS WOMEN Chan ca nsidyur me ter's home ARE UNPER Chacesare inideyou hoe, her'ssomething that could put your children at great risk, yet this item has no locks and is likely easily accessed by them. If you're the owner of a home computer with Intemet access, and a paient, it's imperative that you know what your kids are viewing on the information highway. Recently in Etobicoke, an Il year old girl A went missing for 16 hours after arranging to meet a man she "met" on the Intemet. Luckily the girl was found and the man was charged with a variety of criminal offences. As home computer use becomes more commonplace, stories like these are also becoming less uncommon. The Intemet, when used properly, can be a wonderful tool, but there'sç$.\r.N an element of society that uses the information highway illegally. n; On Tuesday, the provincial govemment gave the Metro Toronto Police Service $2 million to help officers fight child pomography on the 'Net. As Attorney General David Young said at the announcement, "Children become victims behind closed doors. Their predators oper- ate in dark and shadowy places. Today's announcement will serve to shed some light on those dark and shadowy places." And it's the responsibility of parents to police their children and ensure the home computer doesn't become "a shadowy place." * OUR READERS WRITE Regadgr sys sheu'd rather pay more taxes lt's too soon to close Percy Merry: reader in ornerr o recive Douner neaun cure Dear Editor: iis tetter is ini regard 10 The Chamion's October 15 article announe- mng more layoffsat M on hospital by Halton Healihcare Service& in my own daily life 've leamwd tat you gel what you pay for. I almost neyer pays t0 do lhings cheaply -- you run a suaons is* of gel- ing shoddy merehadise or servicestaI don't meet your iseeds. Therefore, 1 wonder wby governments tlink that they con underfund public services 11k. ItospiAls and achools and get away with it Maybe they fiink taIlIte people of Ontario aren't paying attention or don't care. If necessaiy, I would ralitr psy more in taxes 10 gelthe quality of service tat we could be proud of. We lime in one of lte most affluent parnsof one of the richest countries in the woid.' Surely we can afford 10 pay for ade- quate essential services. W.ndy Sohau Milon THE CANADi4v CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neli Oliver Associate Publisher Jili Davit Editor-in-Chief Karen Smith Editor Wendy McNab Adventising Manager Steve Crozier Circulation Manager Teri Casas Office Manager Tion Coes Production Manager The Cnadian Champion, publishint eoeny Tuesday aid iriday ai 191 Main St. E . Milton, tnt., L9T 4N9 (iox 248), is one oi The Meinoland Printing, Pubihing & Distriteuting Lt. îroap o suburbain companies which inclades: Aa/Pickerng News Adetser, Alistoin Herald/Counien, tarrie Adance, Banys Bay This Week, tole, Enteprise, Bramptons Guandian, isniingion Post, lulngion Shopping News, Ciy Parent, Ciot onor Guandian, Colingwooc/iasaga Connection, tast York Minnor, riii AdocaeCoatiy Routes, Etobicoke Guandian, Flambonough Post, Foreoin Yoasg, GeogesonndependentlAton Fee Pess, Halton Basiness Times, Huonia Business Tmes, Kingston Ths Week, Lindsay This Week, Makiam tEonomisi & San, Mlant/Peneangaîsiiene Mi, Miton Shopping News, Mississaaga Businness Tmes, Missiosauga News, tapanee Guide, Nassagaweya News, Newmanket/Aanona En-tannen. Northeumbeerland News, Noith Yonte Mirro, ateoile Beaven, tiakilile Shopping News, Oldtmens Hockey News. Oillia Today, OstawaNWihtbylinigonlPoot Penny This Week, -PeiteoroughTh Iis Week, Picton Coaoiy Guide, Richmond Hil/Tonhilaugtai Libeal, Scanteonougte Minno, StouiivilleUebiidge Tribuane. Adoenising s acceptent on the condition thai, in the event o a typo- giapiical enno, thai pontion othte adetising opace occupien te the eno- neous item, togetteen wh a easonahie alowance ion signaure, will 001 be changent io, botte balance otihe anvetelsemont wll be paint ion ai the appi- cabe ate. The pablîshen eseines the ighi to categonoze anvtotsemets on decine. The Miiiee Canadien Champion, la a RoopoiblePodact 0 (The following letter was addressed to A! Greyson, chairman of Halton District School Boards School Closure/Cons/lidation Study Conmittee, and a copy was filed with The Champion.) Dear Editor: l'm writing this submission as a concemned Percy Merry School par- ent. My daughter attended Percy Merry for grades 4 to 6 and is fl0w enrolled aI Sam Sherratt School. My son attends grade 4 aI Percy Merry and has since grade 1. 1 realize that the difficult decision regarding the closure of Percy Merry Sehool is flot yours alone, and 1 trust you will convey my con- cems t0 the other members of your committee. 1 undersîand that if Percy Merry Sehool is closed in June of 2003, al of our students will be temporarily relocaîed 10 an as-yet unnamed achool, then possibly 10 the ncw north Mattamy sehool and fmnally 10 their permanent new home at the new south Mattamy ichool flot scheduled 10 be completed until 2007/08. This is unacceptable - whatever your financial reasons for closing the school. The rural community which comprises the population of Percy Merry School has deep and far-reaching roots in Milton, with a long history aI this school. We joined this rural community in 1999 in order 10 become part of a close-kniî faniily whose children attend a family-oriented small tchool. 0f course, 1 would be thrilled 10 tee Percy Merry remain open indefinitely, but if il must close, il shouldn't do so until our children's permanent new school is ready 10 welcome them through ils doors. No child should be asked 10 relocate two or more times, and be a polilical pawn in order 10 serve this or that funding formula pur- pose and float indefmnitely until a permanent sehool is ready for them. Our children aren't second-dlata citizens and their education, self- esteem and sente of belonging can't be toyed with in this manner. It can only be detrimental to intel- lectual and social development for these precious children to have 10 try to re-adjusl to a temporary new school in a community 001 com- prised of their peers, only to have t0 go through the process ail over again. Our children have the right 10 feel respecîed and settled. Stop this political play. The decent and logical thing to do is 10 place the new south Mattamy chul- dren int Percy Merry School to mees and interact with the children who wiIl be their neighbours and classmates in the new permanent sehool and leave Percy Merry Sehool open until that school is buit. As a parent and a taxpaying member of this community, 1 believe that if Percy Merry School must close, il muat be at the right time and that lime is when the new south Mattamy school is buit. Mamni McEwen Milton Pud m by Steve Nease