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# 6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, June 5, 1984 letters oN Memories of a time ... (From page 5) ed with quiet contemp- lation. The train was very late. The wait became tedious and children fretted as their elders tried to shush them. Children weren't supposed to put on a public display in the year of 1918 and they were expected to behave at all times. | was nearly seven years old and can still remem- ber the let down of long tiresome waiting in the midst of hordes of people milling around. There were a few crowded benches but, . when they were vacated for one reason or another, they were quickly snatched by alert watchers. Oh the blessed relief of sitting down. Sunday shoes reasons to do so. Letters policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and viewpoints on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter to the editor. While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must continue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. were not made for long Was that the train? Evetyone crowded to the gates of this new station with the tracks running over Yonge Street in Toronto. Yes! At last it puffed in, this monster with its own particular groans and squeeling wheels. At this point my only memory is of (hundreds?) of legs bound in khaki puttees and attached to heavy boots. It was much more frightening than excit- ing. Where was Billy? Emotion ran high as everyone scanned faces for their "Billy". The soldiers were dressed very much alike so there were some mis- takes. Three or four years had taken their inevitable toll in the memory of that laugh- ing face that had now grown more mature and certainly more sober. Free flowing tears were mixed with near hyster- ical laughter, hugs and' kisses Being so young at the time I find there were some gaps in ensuing events of this moment- ous occasion but I can well remember the lump in my throat and the hope that if I ever had a "Billy" of my own, | would never want him to leave me and come home with band- ages and crutches. Since that First Great War this scene has been repeated marly times and sometimes \"Billy"' home is also the never came again. This happening in '"enemy" camp. My fervent prayer is that man become a friend of man. Or should I now say woman be- come friend of woman, or better still Nations and God's children try to live peaceably with one another. Yours truly, Mae F. Ham, R.R4, Uxbridge, Ontario. Concern for our teachers Dear Sir: A condition of apathy exists! Due to each ts own reasons, we have paid little attention to teachers' contracts. The reasoning exists, I am not a teacher, there- fore it is not my concern. Because of the introd- uction of new programs within our schools, R.H. Cornish included, we could possibly lose a great deal of teachers in years to come because of a clause which exists now in our teacher's contracts. It states in essence that if a new position becomes available and no members within the school staff can fill said position, then a new teacher will be hired, but what also happens is that a teacher who is on staff must leave, be- cause that school is allowed only a certain number of teachers for the number of students. You may ask or state "So what!" That's the way things are. It does- not have to be that way. When negotiations are done it seems that all the unions main concern is to protect the teach- er"s position and the children they teach are pushed aside. Because the system within our schools now works on seniority basis, our school and others in the region are losing their young, inventive and caring teachers. No assessment of ability or merit is considered. Our very own school is in jeopardy now and the next few years of losing some of its finest teach- ers because of the problem of Pupil-Teach- er ration. "So what can I do'. you may ask? Right now, the time of negotiations are beginn- ing for the 1984-85 teacher's contract. Quite possibly if enough parents stated their con- cern to Stuart Mc- Entyre, our school trustee and Board of Education Director, Mr. Mathers. something could be done. What we need to do is to ask for a new outlook on the Pupil-Teacher Ratio. Instead of taking the number of pupils that exist in masse within the school and subscrib- | > a al ¢é aed : \ Le " Vo. | £8 ing the number of teachers to that number, which by the way looks good. on paper, a solution: could exist in that the pupils be arranged in cate- gories to which they are to be taught, eg. French or English. Therefore quite possibly the Pupil- Teacher Ratio could be greatly altered and the new blood that we are receiving within our schools could be saved. The situation may seem a no win one. But as ,arents I truly believe that if enough parents state their con- cern over the loss of our young teachers due to the way the system is now structured quite possibly a new contract may protect these teachers. We as taxpayers have aright and an obligation to see that the education within our community is at its highest level because the losers in the end will be our children. Yours truly, Bonnie Solomon, A Concerned Parent. Picture perfect One of the nicest presents retiring Cartwright High School prin- cipal Gordon Paisley received at the recent 'Toast to Gord" was a pen and ink painting by local artist Sandra Thompson depicting the school where Mr. Paisley has spent 34 years teaching. Shown with Mr. Paisley (above) is his son Craig and daughter Cathy, who also happen to be his students! HOSPITAL REPORT For week ending May 24 Admissions ............... 21 Births .....coonvnimmmmnnranss 3 Deaths .......coois svsver Nil Emergencies ........... 275 Operations ................ 13 Discharged ............... 26 Remaining ............... 36 \ NEW ONTARIO GOVERNMENT GUIDE BOOKS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED PERSONS. Qemor citizens, disabled persons and concerned agencies will be interested in two new publications published by the Provin- cial Secretariat for Social Development. The "Guide for Senior Citizens" and the"Guide to Programs and Services for Disabled Persons" each offer a com- plete listing of government programs and services available to assist disabled persons and seniors. These guides are excel- Prog lent reference publications for any senior or disabled person who wants to make the most of the many opportunities which are offered in the Province of Ontario. The Secretariat will automatically send the "Guide for Senior Citi- zens" to every person in the province when they reach 65 years of age. To obtain a copy of either the"Guide for Senior Citizens" or the "Guide to rams and Services for Disabled Persons, write the Secretariat for Social Development, c/o Government Services, PO. Box 102, Toronto, Ontario M7A IN3. 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