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ORONO WEEKLY TIMES, TIJURSDAY, JANUARY 25th, 1968 Alex Carruthers, M.P.P., Durhamn COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS The.- announcement by Prime Minister Robarts, that, commenc- ing on January lst, 1969, the b)asic unit for the administration ûf' education wil be the county, bas created considerable discus- -!on among various educational groups. The decision has particular sig- nificance in this area due to the fact that D)urham and Nôrthum- >berland are United Counties. Recent statements would mndi- cate that these counties are to be cornsidered as a single unit und- er one elected school board to ad- miinisterý both' elementary and _ýecondary schools. Certainly, before any final de- cision is made, there wîli be op- portunities for discussing the ad- v-antages and disadvantages of Lhe proposed change. The local boards, both elementary and sec- onidary, shouid, and I amn sure will, p lay an important role in reaching a final and satisfactory decision. As a background for future dis- cussions and consideration, I-am listing a number of objections be- ing raised as well as some of the advantages. Objections~ (1) The legislation may ease school administration at the ex- pense of education, (2) School descisions 'will be removed from the people. Local boards have been able to select teachers who wili fit into the local scene and earn the respect and admiration of their students. (3) It will force children to ride long distances by bus to -chool. ( It wil tend to lessen the interest in schools and educationi. (5) County school boards will not besensitive to the education- ai needs of the comimunity. There will be too many people between the decision making and the classroom. (6) The integration of educa- t.ion from Kindergarten to Grade XIII will resuit in problems of bigness. (7), Counties no0 longer have ainy economic, geographic or soci- oýlogicai entity. Great disparities exist in size, population and num- bers of pupils. (8) County school board plan- ning wili interfere with the pro- gramme of regional government now undertaken. (9) Educational authority will be centralized in the hands of a few people. (10) Placement, implications ýouid resuit in recruitment prob- iems. School boards depend 'to a great extent on married women to staff their schools. Te achers forced to travel long distances 'Would, an many instances, hesi- -tate taking positions. (11) The question arises as to what wiii become of the hund- reds of area superintendents, con- sutants and other administrat- i ve staff. (12). The majority of, schooi b)oards have various agreements, with their teachers. Thèse includ.-e -gratuitieson__etiremen4 a-d4ot4- which are unialile to suppiy their own supervisory and administra- tive staff. A large unit, administ- ered by a Board of Education, makes it possible to employ a professional staff under a direct- or of education with out the pres- ent duplication of personnel and the multiplicity of schooi areas. (2) The Director of Education, under the jurisdiction of a Board, of Education, can be responsible for the supervision of thel pro- gramme fromn kindergarten to Grade XIII. H1e is thus able to an- alyse and co-ordinate the total programme. (3) It is possible to appoint specîalists in particular subjects, thus providing needed assistance to teachers - in both the element- ary and secondary fields. (4) Policies can be established by one board over a large area. This wili eliminate the differenc- es that have existed fromn section to section, grade to grade, and schooi to school. These differene- es have frequently been the cause of confusion, compiaint, and ill will. (5) County boards will be able to'provide the full range of el- ementary, secondary, speciai, and further education to mee t the in- creasing complex needs of an -area. (6) Larger administrative un- its wili be able to provide a wide range of services such as guid- ance, Schooi Libraifies, Librawy services, Special Classes for the slow learners, physically handi- capped, emotionally disturbed, disadvantaged and, gifted.' Child- ren .will no longer have to travel to find school areas to meet their Report From Queen's Park the present inequaiity that exists in tax rates between one area and another. The cost of educa- tion will be spread over the whole county. Uniform tax rates~ will 'be the resuit. This wiIl pro- vide for a system of priorities and will enabie a realistic pro- vision for the financing of both capital and operating costs. (15) The new school boards wili be directly responsible to the electorate, and will levy their own taxes. County boards will thus result in increased responsi- bility for education at the local level. (16) Coûnty boards wîlI allow a greater range of grouping and- wil make it easier to selI debent- ures. (17) The establishment of county boards wiIl not resuit ini the dislocation, of students who, must move across county bouznd-i aries to reach the school most ac- cessible to them. (18) Children should be able to attend the school nearest te their hiome and, instead of spending long hours on a bus, they wili in most caaes be trave- ling shorter distances. * @4 new Pmo2dels to chiose fron eooh quioet ride and so nscran-g4 petsicld onoe You've never had sugïa itoC tn~n fv rft ia~dn . na )G ahtfC 01i~ ot iQlijded. Thi' v V a.ve [)luxe rives yu evha Iý Uxry anticot r '11-0; c~ad tiWj 2' h i~ble at iitqîtiy ThL Viva Estate Wagon offers 43&41ou. fi n c Of oacThe [Jeluxe ant L dn r now available wvith a new high peýïrrmance pukaancidng a 69 h; -e' we r a-r ne. disçbrakes. extra instrutaîtion andi Iow-pronfi îrx on vide-rim wheels. Autometo B uH t and bakdb crrlIFlSor tratnsmission andJ front disc brukes are available on -71J Vhta nodels. You cue pet a Viva now vou auhr oYin tat's perfect for yuu-equipped just the way yudlike it-nuw at a 0v'awPrice! OI, rsMAK0 n. .,,MAC-__'-.F 166 King St. E. Bonwmanville, Ont.Ph e A-36 particular neerd§- In the past par- ents have. oftë!" been forced to move ini order t!o obtain these fac- ilities. Staff promotions, trans- fers, change of grade level, change of subject are ail possible within the system wlthout losing the teacher. (7) Teacher transfers can be f acilitated without the, loss of accumulated sick-leave benefits, tenure rîghts, experience aliow- ance, etc. (8) Teachers can be assigned where their abilities can best be used, and they thus have a better chance to develop a career with in the system.1 (9) Teacher morale will be improved, and those wishing to specialize wllbe able to do so within the system. (10) Larger units will provide for better utilization of profess- ional and non-professional, em- employees. Most of the clerical staff thus releasing prof essional work can be done by the office personnel for ,educational leader- ship. (11) One conmittee will be able to n egotiate salaries for the whole area. Fewer people will be invoived, less time wasted, and boards will' not be competing with each other. (12) A uniforma salary scale and related employment practic- es are achieved with a larger un- it of administration. (13) A more efficient use of transportation facilities can re- suit. It will put an end to over- lapping, and larger units can mean more economical purchase of equipment and supplies. (14Y- Lar-ger unîts will remove 801 BEST ME-MORlAL TOURNAMENT MIDGET HOCKIEY Friday, February2 ORONO ARENA- Pirst Game at 63 ORONO VS. PORT HOPE NEWCASTLE VS. LINÇDSAY Littie N.H.L.Atom'Tourmament Saturday, February 10 Starting 'at 9:00 Phoiie MA.3-3396