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Orono Weekly Tlmes1 Wodnosday, FeI~ruary 15~ 1*95 - 3 Oh No! Julie's feeling poor cause she's fot 39 any more! Happy 4Oth, Julie!!! e M ........ .........s . Parkm The Report from the Royal Commission on Learning still remains the main focus for discussion during the last week. Last Friday the Premier and Education Minister Dave Cooke, hosted a lunicheon for parents at Queen's Park where parental and cominunity involvement in the education system was the topîc. The roomns were filled to overflow indicating the level of public interest in the proposed changes. Reforming the education system is another good example of a tough challenge our government has faced up after previous governments dithered. We asked the Royal Commission on Learning to tell us what the public had to say, they heard from more than 1,400 groups and individuals and received more than 3,600 written sulimissions in the Most sweeping review of education in years. Their report received a lot of attention and there is broad support for the changes it suggesls. For example, it makes more sense to have a common instructional goal, or 'curriculum' for the whole province. We don't need a different group of educators staring from scratch in every school board to figure out what basic to teach our children; it wastes tax dollars and the quality of education varies too much from board to board. AI] chiidren need to learn the same basies, such as reading, writing, science and math. However, Ontario has not had the benefit of a provincc-wide lcarning curriculum. Students in one school board face different expectations about what thcy will learn than students in the next county, or even the next school. This can be unfaîr for parents and students, and it certainly is inefficient for aIl taxpayers. 'Ne are ending this waste. The Ministry of Education will take responsibilîty for curriculum development in a move that will save taxpayers $30 million a year. School boards will still have flexibility to add to some local programs to reflect a community's unique needs. If ail Ontario students have a common curriculum, then the way we report a student's progress should be standardized too. That's why, we are preparing a commoni report card for use in ail schoois across Ontario. The new report card will mean that a student mark means the samne thing no matter where a chiid attends school. t wili be used for the September 1996 school year. For those parents looking to be kept informed of the upcoming changes, A Report to Parents on the Common Curriculum will be distributed to ail parents through their schoois in a few weeks. The document wili be wîdely accessible to everyone. The Common Curriculum: Policies and Outcomes Grades 1-9 (112 pages) will provide a useful overview of what the system expects our children to leamn. This is written in plain language but at the saine time it is a technicai document, not a breezy brochure. Most constituents will prefer the upcoming Report to Parents as being more useful for their needs. Last week the Solicitor General announced details of Partners in Community Safety, a $67-miliion initiative which increases provincial funding for community policing measures for the nexi five ycars. The special objccts of thc governmcnt investing in this initiative are to assist police services in the transition to community policing. To develop partnerships with municipalities to increase police service delivery hours for Council Briefs, At the meeting of the General Purpose committee Iast week the committee tabled a recommen- dation from the Community Services Department that the Brownsdale Community Centre be termed surplus and sold due to the lack of interest in its operation. The coinmittee further asked that the Department meet with members of the community. Monday night at council meeting Counc. Dreslinski moved that the departmnent be asked to see if there was enough interest in community policing, crime prevention and focused enforcement initiatives. Funding for the R.I.D.E. program is being doubled, and extra funding for the O.P.P. will speed up the hiring of additional officers to undertake community polîcies, crime prevention and focused enforcement. Municipalities can apply for grants, and if accepted, the proposals will be funded 50 per cent by the province. The grant programn will begin this Fait. I have had a chance to look over the federal governxnent's Bll C-64 - An Act respecting employment equity. The objectives are the saine as those in our Bull 79 that is to correct the, conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorîties. The federal legisiation received First Reading on December l2th and is expected to become the law later this year. Both Bill C-64 and our Bill 79 subscribe to the philosophy of menit being the final factor for consideration in any employment. Anything less than that would be an affront to the personal pride of persons designated in the legisiation. Last Wednesday afternoon, 1 had the opportunîty to speak to close to 100 members of the Port Perry Seniors Club. 1 spoke about health issues, out-of-province health benefits and our new Trillium Drug Program. A question and answer period followed by talk, and then ice creami and cake. It w~as enjoyable to be able to mingle and chat with other seniors. 1 happened to sit and watch some television one evening last week. As I watched 1 couldn't help but think back to the days when 'Leave it to Beaver' ran each week. The plots were straightforward, the themes transparent but always upliftîng, the settings familiar, the main characters innocent and non- threatening. Even the obnoxious Eddie Haskeel, that "creepy wise- guy rat," does not have an evil bone in his skinny body. Wouldn't it be great to escape the violent, trash-talking, zany world for even a littie while, and to bc able to smother the howls and grunts of Rush Limbaugh and his legions of brain-death Dittoheads. Until next week - an appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, the community to continlue the operation of the Centre and to pay the outstanding bis. The treasurer said that bils pertaining to the centre amounted from $3200 to $3300 at the present time. The Centre had received no grant in 1994 but had received $3500 in 1993 to pay outstanding bills. Mayor Hamre said council would have to have some guarantees that the centre could be operated on revenue that would be available. Although hours open to the public was reduced slightly in 1994 at the Clarke Museum in Kirby attendance at special events held sky-rocketed to near 5000 the largest number by far, for almost a decade. Book sales continue to be one of the most popular events at the museum. In total over the years some 85,000 books have been recycled. 1994 saw, the Regional Police open volunteer service On Tuesday, February 7th Durham Regional Police cut the official. ribbon opening their new Neighbourhood Service in the Oshawa Mail. The Service is almost entirely operated by volunteers, who have undergone taining at the Durham Regional Police Learning Centre. The volunteers won't be walking the beat or investigating crimes. They will, however, be completion of the Blacksmnith shop. The Clarington museums took part in the Clarington Day at the CNE and the Halloween event was once again a popular event. The residents' association of Liberty Village in Bowmanville at Liberty and Freeland Avenue have informed council that they are proposing plans for a non- profit Community Centre to be built in Liberty Village and are negotiating with Melody Homes to facilitate the Centre. The Centre is to be a two-storey building including a gymn, swimming pool, snack_ bar, meeting rooms and a banquet room with kitchen. Other areas of concern is that of the lack of public trans- portation. They also would like the municipality to consider rezoning the fire building to be used as a strp mail. assisting by helping to take calis of complaints and direct them to the proper police officials. Newcastle Family Connection workshop The Newcastle Family Connection group offers Love, Learning laughter, a workshop including video clips from Barbara Colorosa's Winning at Parenting Without Beating Your Kids. The workshop is being held from 5:45 to 8 p.m. in the Newcastle Community Hall, Centennial Room. Please register by calling 987-7767. Frec child care. SHOP AROUND, GET YOUR BEST PRICE THEN CALL US FOR YOUR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. BOWMANVILLE- In preparation for the Annual General Meeting of the Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville Corporation to be held in June of this year, the Nomination & Development Committee would like to hear from local residents who may be interested in becoming a member of the Board of Directors. Candidates should have knowledge, skills and experience with some of the following: government relations; finance; business; law; social marketing; health care; vulnerable populations and community issues. Please send a letter describing your background and your interest in becoming a member of the Board by March 8, 1995 to: Chair, Nomination & Development Commnittee, Memorial Hospital, 47 Liberty Street South, BOWMAN VILLE, Ontario. LiC 2N4