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RI Vol. 132 Number 42 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - WED., SEPT. 9, 1998 ON STF High School teachers man the picket lines... Instead of classrooms By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star It was anything but business as usual when the beginning of the new school year arrived in Durham Region yesterday. Public high school teachers in Port Perry joined their colleagues across the region on the picket lines as their strike, which began Aug. 21, contin- ued. There were no classes at Port Perry High School and other high schools in Durham, which meant the summer holiday continues for the foreseeable future for some 21,000 students. Meanwhile, separate school trustees decided yesterday to close schools and send students home after being informed that their high school teachers would refuse to teach the extra class many of them have been assigned this fall. Schools were open yesterday morning, but board officials are concerned about the safety of kids being left unsupervised if teachers refuse to be present in the classroom. Neither board had talks scheduled with the teachers as of yesterday. Talks with teachers have been hampered by disagreements over teaching time, salaries and benefits. A huge sticking point is the instruc- tional time legislated in Bill 160, the province's controversial law which created an overhaul of the education system and precipitated a two-week strike by teachers last fall. It calls for teachers to teach the equivalent of one more class per day over the level at which they've previously worked. The teachers say that's an unrea- sonable demand which will prevent them from doing their jobs properly; board officials here respond that they have no choice but to abide by the leg- islation, and insist on the extra class as they attempt to reach collective agreements with the teachers. Despite the seemingly intractable positions taken by both sides, officials with the Durham District School Continued on page 11 Gun legislation rises ire of hunters and shooters By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The federal government's new gun registration law was the target of anger during a meeting last Wednesday night. More than 120 angered hunters and target shooters jammed into the Oddfellows Hall on Simcoe St. last week to voice their concerns over Bill C-68, which comes into effect Oct. 1. The new law will require gun owners to register their firearms, including rifles and shotguns, by 2003 or face criminal charges. Paul Briggs of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) says the the new rules being imposed by the Liberal government are way out of line. "Jean Chretien thinks (Canadians) are unworthy of trust and responsibility," he said. "They want to saddle you with reams of red tape, expenses, and bury you in complexity so that you'll roll over and give up hunting, target shooting and Continued on page 16 II yg CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR STRIKE... TWO: Teachers from Port Perry High School joined all other secondary teachers in the region yesterday when high schools across Durham closed their doors. All 65 teachers were out on the picket lines and more than 1,100 students got an extended summer holiday. Talks are continuing between teachers and the Durham District School Board and both sides, including music teachers Gordon Girvan, left, and Charles White, hope staff are back in the classroom soon. Motorvac Fuel Injection Service Sat., . 4 Dr Pr % ; SE Spec al 0 a U =. y ; Expires ept. 1 { 11) \ toiAtial ae ILC CL LNA EILEIC WESTIE LHULRQ aE