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2 Friday, February 2, 2018 brooklintowncrier.com Where will you stand on this story? About 120 km northwest of Brooklin sits the wee town of Mono, Ontario. Its sister community, Stereo, is nestled on the eastern side of the Hockley Valley. (Stop! The second sentence is fake news.) In Mono, population 7,546, there's a wiz-bang of a basketball player named Bryce Dennis. Brycey Buckets, as he's called, just turned nine years old. In community ball, he plays with older kids because the rules permit it. In his elementary school though, he's been deemed ineligible to play for the grade 4-6 squad since he's only in grade three. His dad, Elvis Dennis, is furious at the school, St. Benedict, for barring the child from trying out for that team. So he's claiming age discrimination. He's also threatening to take the issue - now it's called an issue instead of a difference of opinion - to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. The board says if it opens the team to any age, the precedent would mean both younger and older children could play on it. Since the school is K-8, a 13 year old grade 8 child might play with Brycey Buckets or perhaps an even younger phenom in grade one or two. Safety issues anyone? Social issues? A board spokesperson said, "It's very simple, it's a matter of eligibility…it's based on grade." The dad, in his finest pontificating tone, commented, "As a parent, my job is to constantly support and push my child in whatever avenue he chooses." Support? Sure. What about supporting the school and a rule that was put in place for good and logical reasons. How about climbing down from your 18-hand high hobby horse and not wasting people's time with threats centered on denial of human rights? Your child has the benefit of community basketball and is thriving there. In exactly eight months, he will vault into grade four and be eligible to DeMar DeRozan his way into the hearts of every grade five girl around. In the meantime, dad, your preoccupation with your child's prowess is garnering you (and him) exactly the wrong kind of headlines. You will become the parent from hell, the one coaches and teachers will cringe at having because their every action will be in your crosshairs. Today, it's the grade four team. Tomorrow, he won't be the starter on the high school squad. The day after that, the colleges you wanted him to go to are staying clear, not because he can no longer sink baskets but because they don't want to deal with you. Indeed you are welcome to share your misguided hysteria with the Human Rights Tribunal which, I hope, will give it the 45 seconds of attention it deserves. Now go away. Less than Half the Picture: By Richard Bercuson A Cautionary Tale? "Proud to be a Brooklinite" Founded in 2000 • Published 24 times annually Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: 905-655-7642 Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, February 16, 2018 Deadline: Friday, February 9, 2018 The Region of Durham would like to advise the public that the hours of operation for the front counter services for the Provincial Offences Act (POA) Offices are changing. The new hours of operation will see the front counter services close at 4:30 p.m., effective February 5, 2018. The front counter services of the Provincial Offences Court offices located at Regional Headquarters, 605 Rossland Road East, Lower Level. The Provincial Offences Court front counter services will now be closing at 4:30 p.m. A drop-off box is available for payments after hours. It accepts non-cash payments after business hours. This box is located on the left-hand side of the south entrance doors. Payments can also be made online on the Paytickets website. The opening hours for the front counter services are expected to change to 8:30 a.m. in the near future. Please check durham.ca and social media for updates. Offences Act Office Hours To Change