PAGL 20, WVI )NL .SDAN' MAY I 19>85 WI iI'BlY FREE PIRESS Burnsi1'de offers ki*ds an alternative By DOUG BROWN Last week, I visited Burnside Academy, a small private schooi in nortb Pickering, of- fering an alternative eclucation mucb needed in Durham Region. Because Burnside guarantees an ex- tremely amail pupil- teacher ratio, it provides a baven for children wbose parents want a warrner, more personal approach in their education. From junior kindergarten to grade 8, it provides enricbed individualized programs for ail and imaginative remedial work sbould tbat be needed. Burnside bas been operating for tive years. 1 found it nestied among pines,1 on a nine acre farm on Salem Rd., just three miles nortb ot Ajax's town core. The cbiidren were out piaying for recess as I drove up tbe circular driveway. Tbe principal,' Inez Wilson, toid me, "«I'm interested only in teacherswbo're warni and responsive, to cbiidren's needs. I've carefully cbosen four very dedicated teacbers. Eacb one bas innovative ideas and is wiiiing to put in lots of personal time and energy to impiement them." Wilson explained that some of the children at Burnside need and get enrlcbment. Some need and get remedial work. She said every child gets extra praise to let them know tbey're valuable members of the classroom or playground. To provide this extra attention, she says she'll neyer aiiow tbe pupil-teacher ratio Saturday, May 11lth, 1985 at the ~.Oshawa Civic Auditorium Oshawa Shrine Club 33rd Annual be greater tban 15: 1. Sbe pointed out tbat the pupil-teacher ratio always bas been much less than tbis. It's ber phiiosopby that small achool size allows each student to get bis unique merits recognized and acknowiedged by tbe whole "scbool famiiy" . Wilson aise tavours co-operative school and class projects to promote a close family atinosphere. Many hap- py faces attest to the wisdom ot these ideas. Bruce and Merrilyn Evans of Pickering switcbed tbeir son-Ross while in tbe middle of grade 2 to Burnside Academy. Tbey told me, "Ross needed a more personal approacb as well as enricbment." "lBurnside bas cbanged Ross from a cbiid wbo hated to go to scbool because be was bored, into one wbo looks forward to scbooi," tbey added saying tbey're aiso en- thusiastic about tbe four page detailed reports tbey get tbree times a year as weli as tbe per- sonal interview witb their son's teacber tbat foliows eacb report. Two years ago, Ar- thur and Margaret Hud- son of Ajax piaced tbeir son Mark in grade 5 at Burnside. Mrs. Hudson toid me, I'Neitber the Special Education nor the Aids program proved suitable for Mark. But once be started at Bur- nside, the smali class size and extra belp ailowed bit to improve 100 per cent in bis core subjects. He got back bis self-confidence and bas neyer been hap- pier. " Wilson expiains, 'Children at Burnside progress at their own rate in the core subjec- ts. If the curriculumn doesn't fit their needs, the curriculum is altered or expanded un- tii it does fit their needs. If a child is able to whiz tbrougb bis core work, he's allowed to do so and enrichment work follows. If a cild needs further re-inforcement, - be gets it rlgbt at tbe timehle needs it. " She added that al school excursions have as their first priority, the enrichment of the classroom programls. The whole school is enriched by French in- struction in ail grades as well as recorder lessons starting in grade two. Wilson teels Bur- nside's smail size is tbe key to its successtui programs suited for eachcbild'sneeds. Accordingly, she bas no plans to expand the school. Small size doesn't mean inadequate equipment, tbough. Mrs. Wilson is proud of the scboo's equipment. "You'll find teacher aids such as the SRA reading series, comn- puter programs and televisioli programs," she said. "Art rnaterials and basic science equipment are ail available. Each cbild has bis own up-to- date textbooks," sbe added. "Pupils are taugbt bow to tind tbeir own resource materiai wben the scbooi visits tbe local library. I preter physicai education acivities sucb as swimming and at nearby community facilities." Burnside's parents corne from ail economic levels. Bob and Carolyn Parke of Pickering said, "The $3,000 tuition tees for daughter Britt, are a sacrifice." However, they told me, "Quality education is worth every penny. The difference in Britt's progress and hapiness since joining Burnside, bas been like night and day. We realize Brltt will need the infor- mation learned in the iower grades for the-rest of her lite, so we are more than willing to give up other things. " Last September, Francis and Robina Stilweli of Ajax placed their son Jeremy in junior kindergarten at Burnside. Mr. Stiiwell explained to me, "We particularly like the smali pupil-teacher ratio, the protective family atmosphere of the small classes and startîng French at an early age." Mrs. Stilwell added, "When you're starting out, you want the best for your child. Once your chiid experiences the benefits of Burnside, you definitely want your child to continue there." It's nice ta see children enjoying school as much as these. I came away with many of my preconceptions of a private schooi changed. Burnside Academny is a cozy and innovative alternative, not a haven for the elite. EDITORS NOTE: Doug Brown, an adver- tising and marketing speclalist, resides in Pickering. His two chlldren attend Bur- nside Academy ln the junior kindergarten and grade 8 prograifl. Green, Stre et repairs delayed Whitby Town Councjl bas delayed tbe recon- struction of Green St. trom St. John St. E. to Burns St. E. because not enough money was provided for the work in the 1985 budget. At its meeting last week, council decided to sbelve the- project and mnake it a priority for 1986 atter being told by treasurer AI Ciaringbold that the project wouid cost $w,228 more than the $220,000 provided in the budget. While be concured witb the decision, Cen- tre Ward Coun. Marcel Brunelle turged council to make Green St. a higb priority in 1986. He noted that the road was in fairiy poor con- dition and presented *a danger to local residen- ts because of tlooding due ta equaliy poor drainage. 'II just can't see over spending by $83.000," Mayor Bob Attersley added. Town staff will also be sending a letter to area reside nts in the near future advising them of the deiay. Saturday 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. TICKETS: Children '3.OO, Aduits '5.OO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: Loveil Drugs - Brock St. S., Whitby Mddleton's - Dundas St. E., Wh itby Dlckson's Prlntlng - Harwood Ave., Ajax AIl Checker Varloty Stores This Message Is Presenied by the followlng business: BAXTER FUELS A Division of Comtrsds Petrolsum nc, 4cKee Hwy. 12, Brooklln, Ontario 655-3316 FAMILY KARTWAYS Hwy. 12, 4 mlles N. of Hwy. 401 WHITBY 686-3032 DEHMAS DON STEWART TOUR CHOICE ON MAY 2ND ATTERSLEY WHITJBT AUTO TIRE SERVICE WRECKERS LIMITED 103 Dundas St. E., Whitby Speclalizln Iln Lite Model Wrecks 162 King St. E., Oshawa I-ighway 12 571-3400 1 mile north of Whtby I~ç~ MITCHELL BROTHERS ALARMS LIMITED Residentlal & Commercial 120 DUN DAS ST. W., WITBY 6-2424 WHITBY 5764864 OSHAWA ________________ I Cassels& Church St. BROOKLIN 655-4991 DON STEWART WORKING FOR YOU DON ISWORKING FOR: Economlc equality for women Fair taxation Jobs for ail Universal daycare Respansîble energy planning a central lzed shelter for famlly violence vlctlms safe drlnking water affordable housing For rides to polling stations or to help out, please Cali 686-4101 or drap in ta Don's Campaign Headquarters at Claver Ridge Plaza, Ajax (Harwood and Dreyer). i l 1