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SECTION TWO WEDNESDAY, MAY 8,1991 ŒJk Canadian §> ta teaman cn Durham Region's Great Family Journal Established 137 years ago in 1854 a Also Incorporating The Bowmanville News The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second Class mail registration number 1561 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited 62 King Street West, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 John M. James ■ Editor - Publisher Richard A. James Associate Publisher Peter Parrott Brian Purdy Donald Bishop Associate Editor Advertising Mgr. Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Although every precaution will be taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in its columns on the understanding that ft will not be liable for any error In the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof of such advertisement k requested In writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In writing thereon, and In that case if any error so noted is not corroded by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion of the entire cost of such advertisement as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertkement. v ' "Good Neighbors" Now in Newcastle Editorial Comment Educators Don't Like To "Do as They Say" The testing of student achievements in order to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of an educational system ■ is a touchy topic. , It would seem as though, for the most part, educational systems do not like to have their work tested by independent independent observers. This appears rather odd when you consider the fact that so much time in the school system is devoted to administering administering tests. Ask any student struggling struggling to get into one of the more popular popular post-secondary programs whether tests and marks are important. They'll certainly answer in the affirmative. And yet, for some reason, educators shy away from any sort of process which might compare the achievements achievements of students in one jurisdiction with those of another. This has happened in Ontario recently recently when the province decided that it would not be participating in a proposed proposed Canada-wide test for students aged to 13 and 16. Educators undoubtedly eschew the concept of attempting to measure the results of our educational system for valid reasons. For one thing, the process process could, quite easily, get out of hand. There would be a danger that school systems or provincial ministries of education would gear thëir work towards towards scoring high on standardized achievement tests rather than on genuine genuine education. There would be a tendency tendency towards grooming children only for getting high marks on èxams. Ontario's education minister claimed last week that one of the reasons reasons why our province stayed out of the nation-wide test was because it feared the tests wouldn't be fair to students students from ethnic minorities. . Defenders of the testing process argued, however, that this claim begs the question. The purpose of the test was to measure achievement in reading reading and math skills. And it was noted •that if certain ethnic groups had difficulty difficulty in these areas, then the solution is to improve, the educational system so that they no longer have those difficulties. difficulties. There is certainly a flip-side to this argument. The idea of standardized testing can certainly be defended. For, you see, the education system is not 'owned' exclusively by administrators administrators and educators and members of the school staff. Rather, it is in public ownership. And members of the public should have the right to see all government government institutions, including schools, give a satisfactory account of themselves. themselves. Let us keep in mind the fact that schools account for over half of the total total annual municipal tax bill. And that amount doesn't include the funding received received from the provincial government. government. Let's also remember that if our schools are slipping in any way and doing less than what they are capable of doing, the loss is not to just the professional professional educators. Our entire society depends, to a large degree, on the effectiveness effectiveness of formal education in a classroom setting. Many observers have noted that our future economic prosperity, in an increasingly increasingly high-tech world will depend on a well-schooled workforce. So, when parents or members of the general public look favorably on the idea of standardized testing for students, students, they are not doing so out of idle curiosity. We all have a vested interest in the success of our students. In a sense, the administering of tests among schqol systems or provincial provincial jurisdictions is much like administering administering tests to individual students. If the results cause needless criticism and attempts to lay blame on individuals, individuals, then the process is counterproductive. counterproductive. If, on the other hand, tests can measure achievement and help overcome weaknesses and enhance the learning process, then they are of value. value. Educators may not like to see themselves themselves evaluated through tests of the students they have instructed. But it seems to us that this process is one way to measure the effectiveness of publicly-funded schooling. Many Ramifications to Privately Funded Arena Any new and innovative idea that /sees the growing community of Cour- tice get the recreation complex it needs would be welcome. But, the Town of Newcastle must ; also tread cautiously when it enters into a new and innovative undertaking such as the one which has been proposed proposed for the development of the com- ; munity complex in Courtice. A preliminary proposal explained at a public meeting last week would see the Courtice community facilities developed developed as a joint undertaking between between the private and the public sectors. sectors. , We should stress that this is only a proposal, because there's no guarantee that such an idea will work. But the concept is being seriously considered by Town of Newcastle officials. Our gut reaction would be to suggest suggest that since community recreation and sports facilities are not built by developers as profit-making enterprises, enterprises, it's unlikely that investors would want to sink money into the Courtice partnership proposal. Think of it. How many arenas, libraries, libraries, or community centres can you name that are privately owned by profit-making companies? Not many. Perhaps, not any. So why would a private entrepreneur entrepreneur want to invest in a sports complex? complex? Would he want the municipality to make up any shortfalls in his revenues? revenues? Or would he merely want to own the money-making parts of the complex, complex, leaving the municipality to foot the bill for tne community-service side of the undertaking? Also, there would be the question of i civic responsibility for this kind of a development. i. If the public doesn't like the way a muniçipnlity runs its community recreation recreation complex, it can vote in a new set of elected officials who will, presumably, presumably, make some changes. But would tne public have the same degree of control if a community recreation complex were partly controlled by the private sector? Public officials are responsible responsible to the electorate. Private investors investors are not. It would be difficult (but perhaps not impossible) to arrive at an agreement agreement which could accommodate both. Of course, it goes without saying that the time which is spent on exploring exploring these new options is cutting into the amount of time that might be spent creating the Courtice community community facility by more conventional methods. methods. We would hope that funding options options being explored by the municipality do not unduly delay the development. As we have said at the outset of these comments, new and innovative ideas are welcome. Any idea which would give Courtice the community fa- . cility it needs at a minimal cost to the taxpayer would be especially welcome. If nobody had bothered to explore new ideas, we would probably still be living in drafty caves and devouring uncooked meals. But new ideas also present risks ns well as opportunities. When someone tolls you that something something has never been done, there arc two possibilities. Perhaps the concept has never been put into use because it isn't a workable workable idea. Or, perhaps the concept is a good one, but has never boon implemented implemented because nobody has thought of it before or because those who have thought of it have lacked the initiative to act, The Town of Newcastle must decide which of these categories its proposals for the Courtice recreation complex fit in I n Dear Mr. James: The Town of Newcastle has officially become a "Good Neighbour". The municipal council has endorsed the provincial "Good Neighbours" promotional promotional program initiated by the Ministry of Citizenship through the Office for Senior Citizens' Affairs. A good Neighbours Committee made up of a cross-section of the community has been working to develop the program program for the Town of Newcastle. Newcastle. Good Neighbours was designed designed by the province to promote and encourage neighbourly acts in our community community and to provide the reassurance ana the push that will motivate people to do what their instincts bid them to do - to make it okay to offer a little assistance or encouragement to someone who needs it. This can be done in many ways, sometimes sometimes as simply as friendly visiting, the act of a young person who rakes leaves for an ill or elderly neighbour, or a senior who picks up mail for a working mom. The theme for the campaign is "Good Neighbours Standing by each other". day, May p.m. at the Bowmanville Museum. The launch will include include displays regarding good neighbour activities that are presently going on through agencies and individuals, individuals, awards, and refreshments. refreshments. Although the purpose of the Good Neighbours Program Program is to promote public awareness and to encourage people to "stand by each other", other", we are aware that there are many people who have been practicing this for a long time. We are now going to offer those people an opportunity opportunity to give their good neighbours some recognition. recognition. As part of the kick-off, the committee is asking the public for short stories of anecdotes about how their MPP Admires Writer's Ideas Dear Sir, I feel obliged to write to you about the article under the by-line - Outlook - By Andrea Adair (Canadian Statesman April 23,1991). Since the introduction of the discussion report "Back on Track" and the recommended recommended actions contained therein, my office has been swamped with calls and letters letters from indignant people who claim that this socialistic socialistic program is, and will, destroy destroy our country. Some people have said that they will make sure that I never get elected again. These letters and threats caused me to have some grave concerns as I reflected upon the thoughts crossing the minds of some of my constituents. constituents. How could I reply to these concerns? Then, on Wednesday last, I read the article by Andrea Adair. This article should be affixed affixed to the door of every refrigerator refrigerator in the Region of Durham. Andrea speaks to the issue issue of fairness in a manner everyone should understand, understand, and hopefully everyone everyone can share in. Well done! Bravo Andrea Adair! Yours truly, Gord Mills, MPP Durham East good neighbour has helped them in some way, big or small. Elsewhere in this edition edition is an entry form. Prizes will be awarded for the first 12 stories received. We encourage encourage the public to tell us about their good neighbours and, as well, to attend the launch on May 31st. In addition, as part of the municipality^ Heritage Week activities, the museum museum will be open for free tours on that day. For more information please contact Roxy Barnes, Community Care 623-2261. Good Neighbour Committee. Sidewalks are In Bad Shape Dear Mr. Editor: Some time ago I wrote you about some curbs leading leading out from the sidewalk to the street. At that time they were in a bad state, and they still are deplorable. Now I find that as a person in a wheel-chair I simply cannot navigate the set-ups and set-downs that one must encounter in order to travel from one curb to another. another. The trouble is that the depth of the step-downs is too o great for the wheelchair wheelchair to manage. Put yourself in the predicament predicament of the person in a wheel-chair. Just try to go anywhere without encountering encountering these curbs that I have mentioned. In fact I have a great idea. I would like to go on record and invite invite our Mayor, Marie Hubbard Hubbard to borrow a wheelchair, wheelchair, and publicly wheel herself from City Hall down to the Bowmanville Mall, and back, without losing a wheel or falling out of the chair, because of rough sidewalks, sidewalks, and disastrous curbs. She will be very lucky. I make this'appeal to you on behalf of all tne people in Bowmanville who are confined confined to a wheel-chair. I have just recently been sentenced sentenced to spend the rest of my days in a wheel-chair and I dread the thought of being confronted by this seemingly unsurmountable problem. Yours for better sidewalks sidewalks and curbs. Yours gratefully, Queenie Fletcher. Igloos are Not Made at Home Dear Sir: ; While reading the May' 1st edition of the Bowmanville Bowmanville Statesman, I came across an article on the front page which made me rather upset. The article was about the installation of recycling "Igloos" "Igloos" at Wilmot Creek. I am not against recycling, I am all for it. The parts that made me upset are: (1) with all the plants shutting down in the Durham Region, and the layoffs going on, why did the Durham Region staff and Newcastle Town Council Council have to buy recycling bins from Germany? Are the German people more important important than tne laid off tax paying citizens of Durham Region? (2) These plastic "Igloos", are they made from recycled plastic and if not, why not. Could they not have been made from sheet steel that has been recycled and made by someone in the Durham Region? Thank you for letting me air my views. T. Kindratiuk P.S. I live in the Durham Region. I work at G.M. and I drive G.M. products, not . Volkswagens. MOLD ON, PAUUNE... I'LL HAVE YOU our IN A moment/ mm - pill 1 OU. rLOOK by j Andrea Adair The "Home of the Marigold" Marigold" is making the "Apple "Apple Blossom" town look like a dried up core. With six months and four days before the next municipal election, names of candidates are landing on the municipal ballot in Whitby faster than mosquitoes to bare flesh. Three candidates have filed their papers to run for the municipality's top job. And one could easily lose track of all the interested interested citizens vying to represent wards in that boom town to the west. But Newcastle, gateway gateway to the east, land of opportunity for business, developers and landfill site operators has had one person declare. Why? Some might say those planning to run don't want to give away their secrets until later in the race. ( Politics, I believe, has been known to turn muddy. muddy. Maybe it's like a poker game, too. Don't let your opponents know what you've got until you have to lay your hand down. Or there could be other reasons. New municipal election election laws, for example, state that before a candidate candidate can accept any campaign campaign donations, the candidate candidate has to declare that he or she is running. Perhaps, over in Whitby, Whitby, they need to start seeking donations now. Apparently, it doesn't cost a great deal to run a campaign here. Maybe in Whitby it does. Or maybe the folks in the county town believe, more so than the folks here, that they have a role to play in deciding the manner in which their town develops. Whitby boomed years ago. Aftershocks of that boom can still be felt and the municipality, it seems, is still struggling to provide services to its new citizens. Newcastle has been feeling the pains of growth for the past couple of years. The Courtice community community cropped up suddenly and the town appeared to be caught off guard. It wound up scurrying to solve the area's water, identity, and postal problems. problems. The issue of a new community centre is still in the process of being sorted out. Newcastle Village has matured and Bowmanville, Bowmanville, too, is facing problems problems of its own because of population increases. The town needs some innovative representatives representatives on council who aren't afraid of challenges and changing the status quo if such changes will lead to a better community. community. Newcastle is young. It needs some young blood to reflect that. It doesn't need someone someone "wet behind the ears." But it also doesn't need someone unable to accept possibly new and progressive initiatives. I've had the benefit of seeing this council up close since their term in office began. Some of the councillors are ready for other challenges. challenges. Some still have work to do here. New blood, in this last decade of the century, might help to lead the community into the future. future. If no one comes forward forward with an interest in the future of the Town of Newcastle and its residents residents though, don't be surprised if the town shrivels like the apple core, while the "Home of the Marigold", and other communities like it, continue continue to bloom. New Manage?' at Darlington ifS* ... Ontario Hydro has appointed appointed Allan Holt as Darlington Darlington Nuclear Generating Station manager. Vern Austman, an Orono area resident and Darlington Darlington station manager from 1984 to 1990, is tackling special projects at Ontario Hydro's head office prior to his retirement. Mr. Holt comes to Darlington Darlington with a great deal of experience in nuclear generating generating stations. Most recently, he was manager of Bruce A nuclear generating station, but he has also been station man- '/ . £ • ' :. ■■ -• 'I/!?. //:/: //v./ : $5// • SV;./linger SV;./linger at Bruce B and Douglas Point. After graduating from the University of Toronto in electrical engineering, Mr. Holt began his career at Douglas Point as an engineering engineering trainee. During his 26-yenr career with Ontario Hydro, Mr. Holt has held a variety of positions, but all have been at the Bruce/Douglas Point site. Mr. Holt, his wife, Rhoda, and two • children, will be moving to the Newcastle/ Osliawa area in a few months. Pressing Matters In One - by John E. James - "Mow the Lawn Slowly" (-- News Item: 122 cm of rain fell on southwest Ontario during April, 1991. That figure is more than twice April's average during the last 100 years. --) ** Oboy. Put a mark on the wall. The sun came out today. No big deal, under normal circumstances. But, after the butt-kicker bout of rotten weather over the last, four (was it five?) weeks, a little sun in anybody's life merits mention. No matter, as Senator Teddy Kennedy once said: "That's all behind us now." Amazing what one dose of Sol's rays can do, huh? Four weekends back wo braved hour after hour of wild winds and relentless rains to drag a water-filled 600 lb. roller across James Achcrs. That's the way Acres is spelt after two of the most bone-chattering soggy days in history. The only highlight worth mentioning that weekend was a tub of hot water. Some "do-it-yourselfers" may bo wondering: "Hnimm, whero'd ' this sucker find a water-filled 600 pounder?" Believe it or not, lotsa lawn nnninmnnt dealerships rent them, for $15/$20/day, With that much weight, once a year rental is more than plenty. Tip of the week: - Don't go blow your brains out and buy one for $300 (yes, that's what they cost!), or waste time buying a 200 pounder for $100. Eventually, you'll discover only the big boys are worth the trouble. No kidding. Even as lawn rolling's response to the Monster Truck fad is being unloaded in your driveway, (La Difference" is très apparent. One envisions the neighbours muttering behind their curtains: "Martha! Lookit that than g Harry got for his lawn!" Or, several hours later: "Omigawd. lie's still FILLING it with water! 7 ' An overwhelming aura of superiority invades the persona when you mount trusty steed, and proceed to drag 600 pounds of anything along behind. Anthills arc history, bumps and ridges nre toast, the guy who borrowed your ladder two years ago shows up to talk swnpsies for the roller, and you just absolutely know each and every worm lurking underfoot is suffering Exccdrin Headache No. 237. The following weekend saw The Missus artfully dodging downpour after downpour as copious amounts of the best fertilizer VISA can buy wore applied to the spongy tundra. For hrovitv's sake, vmi'11 lm snared details on attempts to "de-rust" the family fertilizer spreader. Suffice to say we'll fight to be the first buyer when a Teflon-coated machine appears. Besides, the 'Spreadata' is much more important than the 'Sprcadorum". (Latin teacher and basketball coach Bobby Sheridan learned us good). If this stuff turns out to be half as good as the fine folks at Fern's Herbs & Foliage claim, Prairie farmers are in for a Bad year, and we're negotiating direct with the Russian wheat board. All that remained was to wait for Mr. Sun to take Arthur Mometcr for an upscale ride in his Mercury, so wo could reap the rewards. So wo waited. And waited. Then waited some more. The rain kept coming. The wind kept blowing. The only surprise was it didn't start snowing. Wo fantasized about the incessant deluge: all that fertilizer would wash straight down the _ slope into the Detroit River, turning our annual Spring walleye run into a school of steroid-sized Swarzonncgors, Any fisherman foolish enough to hook one of these monsters would receive a hnnd-on lesson in the art of barefoot water skiing, Pardonncz-moi? You find that suggestion a tad ludicrous? You obviously haven't seen Bob Rae's new Ontario budget, Pal. That's ludicrous. Finally, the clouds break up, a strange yellow ball appears in the sky, weary faces pop out from behind closed doors, and guess what, those zillion grains of fertilizer didn't wash away. Nossirce, Two hours after the first little sunbeam danced its way down to earth, our magic dust kicked into Hyperdrive. By. 4 p.m., "watching grass grow" has new meaning. We have a situation here: either harvest the first crop now, or find a thrashing machine to deal with what dawn brings. It's Mower Time. Which takes us back to the caption of this week's column. Our latest'Helpful Hint' for coping with Nature's great outdoors is a revelation particularly pertinent for owners of large dogs. Anyone in that category (we recently qualified) quickly learns a few vital survival tips. Mow the lawn slowly: never _ - ever - - use a reel type mower; and if unavoidable, at least try to hit suspicious lumps while headed in an upwind direction, You can thank us Inter.