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: Question of the Week... -- & ey 3 A OR / fai Saas What did you Durham Region? think of the " Sor Haiiis : ought it was great. Ontario Summer They should have Games in more of it. Truddy Telfer | went to the water skiing and it was excellent. It added to our vacation. Peter Brown | think it was a great opportunity for our athletes, and for the public to be involved. Don Forder It could have been Rick McCoshen Any event that draws tourism has to be better publicized, but beneficial for all of if it helps the commu- us. nity, that's the main thing. Letter to the Editor Terry Fox committee issues appeal To the Editor: Last year, 1999, was a truly remarkable year for the Terry Fox Foundation. Increases in both participant and fundrais- ing figures were achieved, with more than $17.9 million raised worldwide. This represents a 16.6 per cent increase over the $15.4 million raised in 1998. These results are tes- tament to the 20,000 volunteers around the world who con- tinue to 'go the distance' each year in pursuit of Terry's dream of finding a cure(s) for cancer. The Port Perry/Scugog run yielded $21,965 last year, with an additional amount of $18,342 raised by area schools! During the past six years more than $205,800 has been raised by Port Perry/Scugog. This could not have been achieved without the support from hundreds of residents and businesses. The Port Perry Terry Fox Run Committee is busy making plans for this year's Terry Fox Run. This special anniversary marks 20 years of running for cancer research. For the past six years, we have been blessed with a tremendous amount of community involvement and have been able to offer run participants and volunteers a barbeque lunch immediately following the run. We are once again asking for your support, either financial or in-kind towards the community barbeque. Tax receipts will be issued by the Terry Fox Foundation for monetary and in-kind donations. If you are able to assist, please contact me at 985-2571 (please leave a message). Cheques may be mailed and payable to "Laura Elliott, 88 John Street, Port Perry, Ontario, LOL 1)5" Laura Elliott, Terry Fox Run Committee Member Port Perry Some thoughts upon returning from a motoring trip in America... a Forget what we all say about Canadians being so nice, polite and oan demure, and Americans being such brash, pushy, boors... on the road at least. With a few exceptions | saw, American drivers seem to be polite, patient, and law-abiding. There's the odd wanker in every town and city, of course, but by and large, | found, once again (lI often drive into America, just to see what's really going on) that people are more interested in arriving safely and avoiding state troopers than beating the next driver. Upon returning to Canada and driving from Gananoque to Whitby on the 401, | was once more assailéd by tdilgating, light flashing, finger-flipping, rude, obnoxious drivers with Ontario plates, hell-bent on getting to where they were going 20 minutes before they needed to arrive. And they literally don't mind if they kill you in the process. a Americans like to talk. And talk. And talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk. Wander into a bar with a newspaper under your arm, settle into a stool and order a beer, and by the time you're midway through today's top story, someone will strike up a conversation with you. Failure to reciprocate will mean you're branded anti-social, or dangerously unstable. | mean, who doesn't want to talk about Firestone tires blowing up, or the weather, or some rela- tives you'll never see, right? They're just trying to be friendly, | reckon. But Good Lord! How much talking can anyone stand? a There is a palpable sense of freedom just about every- where in America, even in a grocery store. Wandering around wide-eyed, a Canadian in a town deep in the mountains of New Hampshire will find himself considering the purchase of T-bone steaks, jumbo-size Gatorade jugs for $1.97, bags of Page Seven BEER, LIVE BAIT, AND GUNS by Jeff Mitchell potato chips as big as pillows, cartons of cigarettes, live bait, cheap beer, wine, and ammunition... often all of this coming in the same aisle, one amazing item after another. And drugs, just steps away from the booze! Drugs to wake you up, drugs to put you to sleep, drugs to clear your sinuses, drugs to take away any pain, anywhere in your body, no matter how agonizing. All these items, in any series of combinations, mean certain death, and yet just about anyone can stroll in and buy as much as he wants, providing he's got the cash. Or can write a personal cheque. | In Canada, we regulate everything short of aspirin, on the assumption that people must be protected from themselves. In America, you can go ahead and kill yourself in any number of ways, and nobody will infringe upon your right to do so, as long as your cheque clears. a There is a certain thrill that comes with flying down a sharp grade, around a 40 degree curve on a Vermont freeway at 70 miles an hour in your Oldsmobile with a log truck in the lane beside you and gaping chasms on either side of the high- way, and discovering a large black spider has crawled from the shoe you left outside the tent the previous night, and is making his way up your thigh. What to do? Try to flick him nonchalantly onto your wife's side of the car? Consult your state guidebook to determine whether or not he's poisonous? Just say the hell with it and drive into the gorge? It's at times like those a man finds out what he's truly made of, you know? 0 Americans like bricks. And lawn ornaments. a And trucks. a And fast food. : aWe're not as different from them as we like to think. Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten SCHOOL DRESS CODE A GOOD IDEA A short while ago a report was released outlining new dress codes for students returning to class at Port Perry High School next month. The code, developed by the SCC (School Community Council) in consultation with staff and par- ents, is designed to help train students for what is expected in the work force when they leave school. While most parents will likely applaud the efforts of the SCC, there's little doubt the tough regulations will raise the ire of those who will suggest their freedom of expression or individuality (or some other freedom) is being taken away. Even before school begins, the reaction of some stu- dents is negative. This writer has heard first hand that some students are prepared to defy the new dress code. But this reaction could have been predicted, and no doubt was expected by those who designed the code. The new regulations, as outlined in the dress code portion of the PPHS Student Code of Behaviour, require students to "dress neatly and in good taste, and in a manner which is appropriate for work place or school activities". Among the most noticeable policy changes when the kids return to their classrooms about three weeks from now are: 2 Students will not be allowed to wear coats or outer- wear, including jean jackets and down vests in the classroom. 0 Skirts, dresses and shorts must be hemmed at mid-thigh, and must be no shorter than the length of the arm, including fingers. 0 Shirts and tops must be tucked in, or fall below the waistline of pants or skirts, and the midriff must be cov- ered. They must also have adequate coverage over shoulders and around armholes (gaping basketball shirts, spaghetti-straps and tank tops are not permit- ted). 1 No headgear, including hats, toques, hoods, visors, bandannas, or sunglasses will be allowed to be worn inside the high school at any time. 1 Clothing determined to be suggestive or offensive in nature, or symbolic of gang membership, is not allowed, and chains of excessive weight to secure wal- lets or used as jewelry are also banned. | believe that most parents will agree 100 per cent with the new codes, and will do all they can to make sure their children obey the rules. If they don't, the school is prepared to notify parents, and go so far as to confiscate items which have been banned, and if necessary suspend the student. There will be teenagers returning to school who will no doubt "test the waters" to see what they can get away with, but this will be a small minority. While students attending school like to have fun and hang out with their friends, ultimately they know they're going to school to further their education and prepare themselves for the working world. The SCC attempts to create a more comfortable and safe learning environment should be applauded. The elimination of distractions, by way of the new dress reg- ulations, should be a big help to not only the students, but the teachers as well. At least that's the way | see it!