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ye "A Family Tradition for 128 Year$® PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 1, 1994 - B11 Opinion - by Adelaide DeKoning Independent school supporters seek 'a little justice' Like all Scugog residents, we recently received our municipal enumeration form put out by the regional assessment office to prepare voter lists and to direct our school taxes. The enumeration form lists only two choic- es: the separate (Roman Catholic) or the public. We ask the question, where is the third category? The independent? We enjoy being part of Port Perry, and support its sports associations, in town merchants, and various charitable organizations. Despite the financial support we already give to our community, however, our tax dol- lars are being directed to a school in which our children are not even enrolled. In the early years of Canada, when our nation was first established, our government set up and sup- ported two school systems. They were: the Roman Catholic and the Protestant. The Protestant school has changed over the course of 200 years and no longer exists. What replaces it is referred to as the public school; a religiously neutral system, devoid of many origi- nal Protestant or religious truths. So where does that leave the Protestant sector? Independent schools real- ize the need for the public school, and respect the role it plays in our educational sys- tem. But thousands of Canadians saw the need to offer an alternative and so established the Christian School. The Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (0.A.C.S.) is comprised of 73 schools - 62 elementary, 11 secondary. As part of the Alliance, Christian schools join with half of the 560 independent schools all over Ontario to form the Federation of Independent Schools Associations (F.I.S.A.). OACS schools are paren- tally operated, Protestant Christian schools and are governed by an elected board of trustees. They receive no financial assistance from either local or federal government. They uphold the standards of academic excellence and so follow the guidelines set up by the Ontario Ministry of Education. Every two years their students are required to take the Canadian test of Basic Skills as do the public and separate schools. Let's have a look at the facts: o Each province is provid- ing funding to their inde- pendent school systems already. The two exceptions are the provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick. o In North America, Christian Schools International (C.S.1.) repre- sent Christian schools that have been in existence for over a century, and in Ontario, O.A.C.S. schools have been in existence for over 40 years. o Based on the Canadian test of Basic Skills, O.A.C.S. students consistently score above the Canadian average. o All teachers working in Alliance schools are required to have equivalent certifica- tions that meet Ontario pro- fessional standards. o The cost of education in Ontario (paid by the govern- ment), based on statistics put out by the Ministry of Education is just over $14 billion, which works out to a cost of $7,500 per student per year. o Total Alliance school budgets add up to $38 million which works out to a cost of $3,500 per student per year. o If the 65,000 students presently attending inde- pendent schools were to be enrolled in the public system, the costs would increase the Ontario Education budget by $480 million. o O.A.C.S. schools are not funded by the government yet they educate students who are Canadian citizens, graduating with an educa- tion that either meets or exceeds the standards put out by the Ministry of Education. ~ 0 Should the government agree to provide even 50 per cent of our budget based on the Ontario Alliance cost per student, the impact on the Ontario budget would mean an increase of only 1 per cent. 0 We must direct approx- imately 60 per cent of our municipal tax dollars to the public school, yet our stud- ents are not allowed to use the public school bus. True, the government funded Protestant school has been replaced, but it still exists in the form of hun- dreds of Christian schools all over North America. The costs can be high however for families trying to provide a value based education con- sistent with their religious commitments. Knowing this, many Christian schools offer tui- tion reduction programs aimed at helping families with low incomes. Perhaps O.A.C.S. schools are more deserving of atten- tion. Based on what we know, is it not time for the government of Ontario to recognize O.A.C.S. schools as viable components in the educational system of our province? As a vital part of this sys- tem should it not also be deserving of a category offered on an enumeration form? As parents we made a choice; our choice, unfor- tunately, was not one of the given options. We are not asking for handouts. Far from it, rather what we are asking for is a little justice. Adelaide DeKoning of Port Perry is a parent and sup- porter of Christian schools. Bazaar and bingo at hall on November S Albert A) 1:1) I attended the all candidates meeting Wednesday night and 1 was disappointed as I felt it was only half a meeting with local councillor contestants being omitted. I also like the form where the individual taxpayer has the right to ask the candi- date his questions on particular matters. I am not asking for a free-for-all but I have attended meetings with a good chairman (not saying we did not have one) where things were amicably ad- dressed. With the written ques- tions, I thought this was for sec- retary of the questioner as I didn't sign mine. I was not ashamed to have signed my name if I thought that is what you wanted. Anyway, they didn't ask even one of my three questions. Don't forget to attend the all candidates meeting for ward seats at the Latcham Centre, Nov. 2at 7 p.m. I guess we could say this is the other half of the first meeting. Remember we need strong representation in Ward 4, especially in the dis- trict Wihiwa Nipi. Still on the political line, I'm thankful to our MP Alex Shep- herd for his town hall meetings he has held at Durham College. I' have always found these meet- ings help the MP and also the taxpayer to have a better under- standing of today's problems. We need more jobs, but one has to realize this is an internation- al recession so what is the cause and what is the cure? We attended the Courtice- Ebenezer Church dinner Satur- day night and as usual it was darn good. One couldn't wish for a better dinner and, o boy, what a bargain price. Even two pieces of pie, and you could add your own whipped cream topping. Great going, gang, and be sure to sell me tickets for those three periodic dinners you have planned for next year. Don't forget this Saturday, Nov. 5 at Caesarea Hall - first the bazaar commences at 9 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m., second the bingo starts at 7:30 p.m. We must get more people out to the bingo or terminate the idea, af- ter all there is more than $540 given away in prizes plus bo- nanza, share the wealth, and lucky draw bringing them to DJ TAYLOR INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. 169 North St., Port Perry L9L1B7 Guaranteed Investment Certificates (Rates Subject to Change without Notice) RonFretz Meats over $600. It is obvious that winter 1s just around the corner now that November has turned up. Try and attend one of the Memorial Services Nov. 11 week. They are usually short, sad but remem- ber many a young Canadian lad did not return to enjoy the fruits of our prosperity and happiness that followed our return in 1945. Have you had your car checked for winter driving? There was a good turnout at the recent Halloween Dance, Saturday night at the hall. All tickets were sold! G.1.C. 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CALL US TO RESERVE ADVERTISING SPACE. For Advertising Rates and Information call 852-9141 ACTUAL SIZE (8-1/2" X 1 17) ADVERTISING DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31ST, 1994 - -- ------------ --"* ---------- ---------- -- | --