Specal d a d gfte chidre ge it...WIITBY FREE P)RESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1985, PAGE 23 Parents want bus for French immersion students By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff "The gifted chldren get it. The separate school boards get it. And tbe speciai education classes get it. But I don't. " These are the opening lines of a letter written by Linda Coedy to the Whtby Free Press, copies of which she also sent to tbe Board of Education, the Ministry of Education, and Mayor Bob Attersley. Coedy was referring bo bussing for her child who, for tbe past tbree yesrs, bas been enrolled in the French, Immer:' sion programnin Wbitby. The first year Coedy's cbild attended R.A. Hutebison, located about a mile from ber Hawkstone Cr. bome on tbe east side of town. The foilowlng year the French program was transferred to E.A. Fairman Public Scbool at Cochrane and Walnut, nortbwest of tbe downtown, a distance of four miles from ber borne - and out of waing distance for ber child. However, for the past two years, ber cbild bas been able to use tbe bus provided for special education classes at E.A. Fairman. In September, tbat bus will no longer be available, because special education classes bave been witb- drawn from the scbool. Coedy bas a second cbild beginning kmn- dergarten, whicb runs balf days, wicb means tbree trips a day. Coedy, who works as a personnel benefits ad- ministrator in West Hill, Display This weekend, the Witby Museum will feature an antique dlock display. The display will feature the collection of Witby resident Earl Pascoe. The museuin, also known as Lynde House, is located at tbe corner of Dundas and D'Hillier Sts. and is open from 1 to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is f ree and all'are welcome. Movies The Witby Public Library wlll continue its summer -films for pre- scboolers programn every Friday morning during the month of August. Tis Friday <Aug. 16), "Tbe Little Engine that Could" and "Little Toot" will be featured. "The Sneetcbes" and "Curious George Goes to tbe Hospital" will be sbown Aug. 23 wbile on Aug. 3o, I"Winnie the Poob Discovers the Seasons" and "Mickey's Trailer" wil be screened. Tbese films are suitable for children un- der 6 years of age and ill be ho wn at 10:30 said ber only cboîce now is to pay $20 taxi fare per day, or give up ber job. In ber area tbere is no one bo car pool witb. In a telephone inter- view, Coedy said that if necessary she will quit ber job, but sbe said not everyone bas tbat choice. "lIt's not fair tbat some can't afford the program. If it's offered, it sbould be offered to ail."t She said badl parents been told abead of Urne that the school would be moved and busses would be discontinued, a lot of people would not bave enrolled their children in Frencb Im- mersion. Jack Upton, transpor- tation manager for the Durbam board said it is not tbe poicy of the board bo provide tran- sportation for Frencb Immersion classes. According to Dr. Barry Vail, area superintendent respon- sible for Frencb Im- mersion, tbls policy was establisbed at the beginning of the program, but bad since been modifîed so tbat if tbere is an existing bus route Frencb Immer- sion students could use it. Vail said altbougb he bad not been in is present position at the tinie, be believed the cost factor was tbe reason for not providing transportation, com- bined witb tbhe fact that Films Tbe Whitby Public Library will continue its "Summer Film Fun" forcildren aged 6 and over every Wednesday in August. Next Wednesday, (Aug. 21), "Zack and the Magic Factory" will be shown. "Winter of the Witch" will be screened Aug. 28. Tbe films will be sbown during two sessions - beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 1: 30 p.m. in the library auditorium. Admission is free and no registration is required. DISTINCTIVE WEDDING INVITATIONS the program was originally offered in very few schools, and students came fromn some distance to par- ticipate. Vail said that when parents have been in- formed from the outset that they are respon- sible for transportation the "unfairness" is lost. Obairman Ruth Lafarga said the board does not provide tran- sportation, because Frencb Immersion is an optional program whicb the board bas provided voluntarily in response to parents' wlshes. However, through Bill 82, the board is man- dated by the Ministry to provide classes and busses to ail special education classes. She compared French Immersion to the option of cboosing a school out- side the designated area for a child to attend. Parents have tbe rigbt to select another school for their cbild to attend but must tben look after transportation. Lafarga said French Immersion was tbe only program, apart from scbool choice, for wbicb tbe board does not provide transport, but tbat policy would be coming up for review. A Teresa Dr. resident, Nancy Aider, will also be affected by tbe lack of bussing. She bas one cbild in> grade 4 (tbe lead class in French Immersion at E.A. Fairman) and another starting kindergartèn. Altbougb sbe would like to enroîl the younger one in French Immer- sion, she cannot take tîme from ber work as secretary at R.A. Hut- cbison for tbree trips a day, so bas enrolled ber child in a regular program, that she can walk to. She said the program bad been very suc- cessful at R.A. Hut- chison, but bad been moved to E.A Fairman because of declining enrolîment there. Aider said, "It's not fair to offer tbe programn witbout providing bussing. " She said the town bus would ba an option, but not a very good one as tbe route is very cir- cultous and would take up bo an bour to go across town. ,,Lots of otber boards provide bussing for Frencb Immersion, such as Peterborough, Etobicoke; and Sud- bury." Linda Haan, wbo sçr- ved briefly as cbairman for French Immersion at E.A. Fairman, bad enrolied ber cbild in kindergarten for this September, but wben sbe beard bus service available, she and ber family decided to move dloser to a Frencb Im- mersion scbool, Ridgeway in Osbawa. Witb tbe move tbey wil be seven-tentbs of a mile from the scbool, in- stead of five miles. "0f 300 students enrolled in the Frencb immersion programn at E.A. Fairman, only six walk; the rest must be bussed or carpooled," Haan said. "French Immersion not anyone can go. "Because there is no bussing tbe programn is limited to families with money, witb a car, or wbo bave the time. If you work, forget it. " Haan said she was told wben sbe registered tbat parents were responsible for tran- sporation, but also was told French Immersion students bad been using the special educational busses, so sbe tbougbt that would continue. ~. ~ I HANDMADE GIFTS & NOVELTIES "Something for everyone at affordable prices."