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red Gore, operator of St Flude's tutoring school, in an interview in â€" the Nov. 7 Chronicle, makes a strong pitch for supporting government fundâ€" ing of private schools, claims that the new tax credits will not take money out of the public system, and that competition will benefit the public system. Schools are more than a market place for commodities The new tax credits are in fact taking money out of the public system since provincial funding of the public boards is based on the number of students. If more depart to the private schools, there is further erosion of the already meagre funds to the public sysâ€" tem. The chronic, anorexic funding policies of the last few years have left the system so starved that both basic resources, such as counselâ€" lors and librarians, as well as innoâ€" vative and creative programs, like outdoor education and music, have been cut back. There is no level playing field left between the public system, which has deep responsibilities to support the public good and every child that come its way, and the private schools which often serve an elite client and are under no obligation to accept all applicants, or, in most cases, cater to specific religious preferences. The Economist magazine, a reputable conservative institution, reported on a study of learning outcomes in the U.S. Students from private and charter schools did well â€" but so did those from school systems where the local school boards retained powers for funding and setting the curricuâ€" lum. Schools in those jurisdictions where a central government had taken over all decisions in funding and curriculum did most poorly. Restructuring in Ontario has now thrown our public schools into this last, unproductive category. And so we struggle year by year. [ didn‘t used to have to plead to the cashâ€"strapped school board You said it QUESTION ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT AIR You could consider it the profit from wise investment over many years in good facilities, dedicated consultants, and energetic and gifted teachers. Now that is almost gone. There is not a penny extra from the public purse for our almost â€" incapacitated outdoor education system, yet the dictaâ€" tors of our tax revenues in the provincial cabinet have enough to throw to the private schools and provide more tax breaks to private corporationis. each year to preserve the outdoor education program, one of the great strengths of the public sysâ€" tem. Gore implies that competition is what we most need. There is good evidence to refute this. What is needed is a chance for gifted and committed teachers and adminisâ€" trators in the public system to have the institutional and finanâ€" cial support they need to give their best, and a chance to collaborate with other spirited colleagues across the system. A city communications officer may help, but it‘s not the answer For example, Waterloo region schools have led the nation in natâ€" uralizing their school grounds. Green Teacher magazine recently published a book on greening school grounds, and some 80 per read with interest that Waterloo Icity council is taking steps to improve communications with the citizens of this city ("City looks at better ways to get the word out", Nov. 7). It‘s about time. It must have been an epiphany for poor Coun. Bruce Anderson who admitted "maybe we should have taken a step back and been a little more open." Unfortunately, he still has a long way to go and his behaviour doesn‘t inspire much confidence. "No, I wouldn‘t have any problem with getâ€" ting on a plane. What‘s the chance of that (Sept. 11} happening again?" "Yes, because of all the things that are going on. But I think you‘re beating the odds when you fly." THE CHRONICI COMMENT Jackie Estey cent of the 40â€"0dd contributions are from teachers in the U.S. and Canadian public school systems, and not the private. Gore mentions that there is "going to be greater competition getting into university and colâ€" leges and more and more families are going to be looking for that extra five to 10 per cent they can get from private tutoring." We should not discount the creâ€" ative possibilities of a spirited commitment to the public good, of a teacher‘s hopes to provide the best to all children and not just a few. What this really indicates is that the universities and colleges in Ontario are almost as badly starved as the public schools {in fact Ontario universities are now within a whisker of being the worst funded of all provinces and U.S. states), and that our children are becoming the victims of a doubly worsening squeeze play by the government. Gore also says that parents are becoming "better consumers of education." Surely schools are a bit more than just a marketplace for commodities. He‘s my city councillor, but he won‘t even answer (my) phone calls placed to him at both his office and his home. 1 agree with Coun. Brent Needham. Hiring a communicaâ€" tions officer may help the commuâ€" nications void, but it isn‘t the The real solution is to have a change at city ball. It appears we may have to wait another two years for that. "Yes, because of what‘s happened. I think they should bolt the cockpit doors." "No, l don‘t think what happened in the U.S. would ever happen here. I don‘t think they‘d ever blow up a Canadian flight." Greg Michalenko, Waterloo ormack, Scott Piatkowki‘s column will not appear in this week‘s Chronicle Waterloo _ due to a death in his family. Scott‘s column will return next week. The dedication of the Spanish Civil War Monument in Ottawa on Oct. 21 ignored the legal prohibition against the 1,500 soldiers who made their way to Europe to fight on the government side in the Spanish Civil War. Mackenzie King had forced through the Foreign Enlistment Act, which made it a criminal offense for any Canadian to fight for a country "unfriendly" to Canada. The recent CBCâ€"TV production, A People‘s History, explained his real reason â€" that he was afraid of Canada becoming involved in another internaâ€" tional war, with the spectre of conscription. The fascist armies of Generalissimo Franco overthrew the Spanish government with the aid of Mussolini and Hitler. More than half of these brave volunteers never returned to Canada. Those that did were not prosecuted because Justice Minister Emnest Lapointe stated that it was impossible to determine which side was "unfriendly" to Canadians. (See A Military History of Canada by Desmond Morton.) This remarkable monument includes the name of Shorty Keenan â€" a neighbour in Winnipeg â€"â€" who left the government work camp, where he was earning 20 cents a day and went to Spain with his two brothers. Shorty was killed by a German Stuka Bomber. His brothers, along with about 600 other Canadians, were brought back to Canada through a gift by the industrialist Garfield Weston and Matthew Halton, Sr. As chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations (39 organizations} 1 was proud to stand beside Governor General Adrienne Clarkson at the unveiling recently. There were no governâ€" ment officials on hand, except National Capital Commission chairâ€" man Marcel Beaudry who authorized permanent use of the Green Island Park Site. Many misguided Canadians thought they were communists. The Keenan family â€" as Irish as they come â€" were strong Catholics withâ€" out a communist bone in their bodies. The important point is that the Macâ€"Paps (who never received a penny in pension or allowances) now have their recognition. Many did reâ€"enlist in the Canadian Forces in the Second World War. Cliff Chadderton, chairman, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada Suicide bombers and hijackers, too Are trained by bin Laden and told what to do To kill themselves and lots of people, they will go to heaven That‘s what they are told by the leader bin Laden Six thousand working people in the towers of New York When the hijack planes hit they blew the towers apart Many people were killed when the towers started to go Many foremen got killed working down below People were running to get out of the way Many people got injured and were falling that day One plane hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. And made a big hole in the building, a sad sight to see Many people were killed, some injured very bad And people around there hurting and sad Some people in the dark trying to see where to go Then the towers came falling all the way down below. The Hijack The army is over there, the search is on To catch hin Lade: , he is like a fox on the run He may be like a rabbit in a hole, But they will catch him wherever he goes. Many are hurting in the city of New York; Many hearts are broken and torn apart Some people are hurting everywhere, All over this world, now living in fear By Biur SooLEY