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A6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 5, 2001 T h e O a k v il l e B e a v e r Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver .Associate Publisher Norman Alexander Editor Kelly Montague, .AdvertisingDirector Steve Crozier Circulation Director Ten Casas OfficeManager Mark Dills Production Manager Riziero Vertolli Director ofPhotography Metroland Printing. Publishing & Distrtouting Ltd.. indudes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance. Barry's Bay This Week, Bolton Enterprise. Brampton Guardian, B u rlin g to n Post. B u rlin g to n S h opping N ew s. C ity Parent. Cdlingwood/Wasaga Connection. East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country R outes. E tobicoke G uardian. Flam borough P ost, G eorgetow n Independent/Acton Free Press. Hamston Review. Huronia Business Tmes, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Week. Markham Economist & Sun. M idland/Penetanguishine Mirror. M ilton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Tmes. 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V J^thaw JAmard (tyaki'Me ^ h m r d s F O RB U SIN E SS E X C E L L E N C E THE IRONTE BUTTERFLY O N T A R I O ffr u t | oakville galleries SKi Suburban New spapers ol Am erica moa HririvUM Editorials O ff t o a g o o d s t a r t The recent announcement that teachers with the Halton District School Board had come to an arrangement with the board regarding extracurricular activities is a long-awaited, welcome bit of news for students. By being able to free up more teacher time in the school day, it is expected more staff will have the time and opportunity to resume after-school academic assistance, coaching duties and coordination of various clubs. For the hundreds of Halton high school students who last year found them selves without many of the extracurriculars they had come to take for granted, it must seem like they've awakened from a nightmare. The nearly unanimous acceptance of a contract amendment will give the public board's high school educators the time to volunteer for the sports and clubs they didn't have the previous year. While the vote doesn't guarantee all teachers will be back to volunteer, it provides a beacon of hope that previously cancelled extracurriculars will soon return to Halton schools. We hope students and teachers, tom apart over this divisive issue last year, can wipe the slate clean and get back to forging the rewarding relationships often realized simply by participating in these school teams and clubs. We realize ill feelings between Ontario's teachers and the provincial gov ernment remain and are likely to require far more effort and time for any heal ing process to begin. Still, this sign of cooperation between Halton's board and its teachers is an important first step on the road to restoring and improving such valuable com ponents of a well-rounded education system. While we realized there are still some unresolved issues between the teach ers and the provincial government -- teacher recertification comes to mind -- we hope the latest compromise on extracurricular activities bodes well for the new school year. Suddenly there's reason for Halton's athletes and academics alike to have renewed hope that the start of a new school year will offer something tangibly more than the last. Letters to the Editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be typed, signed and include the writer's address and phone number. Send to: Letters to the Editor. The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville. Ont. L6K 3S4 Cyclist fears for safety on Oakville's bikepaths With the recent death of yet another fellow cy c list, 1 feel I m ust v oice my co n cern s regarding a few things. Four out o f five nights, I ride my bike hom e from O akville to B urlington, using Lakeshore Road. My first concern is, why Oakville does not c o n tin u e it's b ike p ath. It ch an g es sides numerous times and som etim es there is no evidence of one at all, which can be very dan gerous trying to cross over. Burlington doesn't do this. Their path stays on the same side all the w ay fro m B u rlo a k to Jo se p h B ran t Hospital. My next concern is, when I use the bike path on the lakeside betw een Burloak and Appleby, there are quite a few condo's, the sidewalk, bikepath, grassy verge and then the road. Nine times out of 10, the drivers leaving and entering the condo's never look to see if anyone is on a bike or walking for that matter. M ost tim es if they are com ing out o f the condo's, they zoom straight over the sidewalk and bike path never even looking before they do this. W hile being grateful for the path, it is quite rough in spots and hard to ride on. When I first started riding my bike, I used to see quite a few bike riders using the road. My thoughts were, are they nuts; they have a bike path why don't they use it (now I know why). I now use the road, especially near the condo's and driveways coming from the lake side. M ost drivers are quite courteous, but you get the occasional person who drive the huge boats on wheels who quite frankly think they own the road, that will come excruciat ingly close to me (I'm sure just to see what my response will be). I love riding my bike and let's face it, we are in one of the most beautiful areas in the world. But it is getting scary out there. So next time you see a cyclist, please give them lots of room and give a smile and a wave. T. Bvram, a scared bike Letter of the Week Tips for a son entering high school Dear son: Don't buy lunch in the cafe too often: most of it is bad for you and it costs more than it's worth. Be extra courteous to the custodians and secre tarial staff; th ey 're the ones w ho really run the school and will do anything for you in a pinch. Keep your locker organized; not only will you be able to find things when you need them, but strange creatures w on't feed on leftover sandw iches and grow to alien proportions and ferocity! D on't o ffer excuses fo r hom ew ork not being done; you'll only com prom ise your integrity, and. let's be honest: most of the time you don't have one. Never take the full period for eating lunch; it's a good tim e to look up th at re sea rc h info on the library's CD ROM, or arrange extra help in English. Try to find a moment each day to be by yourself in the chapel or out for a walk; your heart has a lot to tell you, but it needs some quiet. Sit near the front o f the class; who's kidding who on this one? If your teacher does a good job, tell her; it's not an easy profession in spite o f the holidays, and they're never thanked enough. Bring extra pens and paper to class, but do n 't lend them ; aside from never seeing them again, people will continue to take advantage o f you. Don't give your locker com bination to anyone; 12 people will know it by lunch time! Avoid gossip: not only is it cruel and founded on insecurity, it's a sure way to lose your true friends. Write your assignments down on a separate pad; forgetting is inexcusable, and it's good practice for not missing your honeymoon flight someday. Attraction to the opposite sex is natural, but keep it in its place; your hormones will never get you a diploma. O utside o f class, get involved in som e w eird things like the chess club or field hockey; it's a great way to meet new people and discover some talents you might not know you have. During the week, forget the television and tele phone even exist; they are insidious corrupters o f one's true abilities and potential. N ever be afraid to say you don't understand; remaining confused and ignorant is the real weak ness. Share each day's joys and frustrations, successes and failures with your parents; you'll never be too old to benefit from their experience, wisdom and love. Finally, choose your influences carefully; you learn from the company you keep. Have a great year, son! Love, Dad John Picone Teacher -- St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School Teachers praised by Anti-Homophobia Committee The Elem entary Teachers' Federation o f Ontario merits congratulations on its recent voting in favour o f a resolution calling for pu b lic S ch o o l B oard s to fund and m ake accessible, literature reflecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered lives. The overw helm ing positive support for this resolution by this federation is ground breaking and reflects a deep concern for equity and human rights. The Halton Anti-Homophobia Committee is a community group comprised of educa tors, health p ro v id e rs, p o lice p erso n n el, social serv ice p ro v id e rs, v o lu n te e rs and Halton youth. We are committed to raising community awareness around the very real concern over prejudice and violence directed at the homo sexual com m unity, as w ell as to serve as advocates for anyone who has been victim ized or is vulnerable to homophobia. We are involved in many initiatives in the Halton region including educational presen tatio n s in schools w hich includes factual information on the reality of many different family structures, none of which presented as better or more "normal" than the others. This human rights perspective allows for discrimination based on sexual orientation to be seen as related to any and all types of dis crimination and equally as deplorable. Our committee is open to any concerned citizen who shares our concerns. We meet once per month and can be reached through our website www.haltonpride.org/hahc or by calling 905-825-3622. The support o f the teachers' federation enhances and validates the hard w ork of committees like ours. Thank you. Julie Pehar Chair Halton Anti-Homophobia Committee Make Oakville Humane Society your pet project There is a place in our community that is full of love, but it can be full of hurt too. It's a place o f hope, but som etim es hope feels lost. Yet every day, the people in this place, the staff and volunteers rally to continue to serve and protect those creatures who live to serve and protect us. I am talking about the Oakville Humane Society, and I am one of its volunteers. The staff at the OHS are am azingly dedicated people who work tirelessly beyond their paid hours, because while the m oney may stop, the job doesn't. Recently the volunteers were invited to attend a m eeting with the staff. Sadly, the news was not good. Financially, the OHS is in crisis. We live in an affluent community and yet, our humane society in the heart of Oakville is struggling. The town is growing and the need continues to grow, but not the staff, or the budget to run the shelter. We are asking Oakville for help through donations of funding, and time if you have it. I am aware that there are so many people with causes all vying for your hard-earned m oney, b u t th e se c re a tu r e s h a v e no voice...but ours to speak for them. If you can give, if you can volunteer, maybe you have some old blankets or towels for us. If you're part of a corporation willing to make us your "PET" project so to speak, we are waiting with wet kisses and floppy ears and soft paws for you. Denise Gaze SIGH,,, ITH A PPE N S bm 'm -sse' OF SUMMER,I erTHEENP^ c a n 't w a it for THE KIDS TO (3o BACKTO "'S C H O O L . , ^ / then, W HEN .THEY 00.,