R Reportfrom] Queen ' s Park By GEORGE ASilE, MPP (PC-DURHAM WEST) J WI{TBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1980, PAGE 13 Worki*ng for quality education There îs no doubt that our education system la in a period of complex transportation brought about by declining enroinien- ta, Inflation, new technologies and changes in the demands of the labour force. Over the next few years, the Mlnlstry of Educatio'n and local school boards will continue to work ln harmony to meet the challenges presented by this transition perlod and maintain a quality education system for the children of this province. Smoke detector bylaw working Next week, ln a great flurry of excitement, chlldren across Ontario wli be returnlng te classroonis to offlclally begin the school year. This appears to be an appropriate time to refleet for a few minutes on Ontarlo's educational systeni and to provide parents and taxpayers with an overview of how the system works. There are more than 4,600 publicly supported elementary and secondary achools in Ontario, wlth a combined teachlng staff of approxlmately 92,000 people. Total enrolment in the school system la just under two million. Responslbillty for the operation of this vast system isl shared by the Ontario Mlnistry of Education and the 198 school boardsl*ocated throughout the province., The role of the Mlnlstry of Education la te, ensure that equal educational opportunities are provlded for ail students in On- tario. The mninstry works toward this goal by developing general educational pollcy for the schools, by settlng standar- ds for education and for the -certification of teachers, by providing guldelines for the development of specific courses by school boards, and by providlng financial assistance for the construction of scbool buildings and for the day-to-day operation of the school system. The task of the local sehool board is to help individual sehools develop courses of study that are based on the Minstry's guldelines and specifically designed tormeet local needs and cir cumstances. For example, in developing a cour- se of study in geography for students in Durham West, teachers would have to keep in mind that these students may require a great deal of instruction in learning about rocks and minerais. However, children from Sudbury or Timmins, who are growing up in anarea where rocks and minerais are an in- tegral part 0f local geography and industry, would require much less instruction. In a wider context, the function of school boards is to assess and meet the educational needs of the people in the com- munities they serve. These needs may include language in- struction for immigrants, special classes for exceptional chlldren or summer sehool courses. Elementary and secondary education in Ontario is financed jointly by local school boards and the Ministry of Education. Each year, the ministry awards extensive grants (presentiy over two billion dollars annually) to help sehool boards finan- ce their programs. These grants vary in siza according to local weaith and local needs. The balance of the money to finance the school system Is raised by municipalities on behaîf 0f the school boards through property taxes. A Town of Whltby bylaw makind smoke detectors rnandatory in ail rented ac- comtnmodation in the town bas met with success after surviving a court battie earlier this year according te Jim Allen. Allen, the property stan- dards officer, said that response to the detector bylaw was slow until it was upheld by the courts. "Landiords were not com- plaining so much about the cost of installlng the detoc- tors as about the valldity ci the bylaw, " Allen sald. When the bylaw came into force on January 1, Whltby was the first municipality in the Region of Durham te in- troduce such a measure. The rule applies only to older rentai dwelling units since the Ontario Building Code has made them man- datory in ail new buildings since 1974. Allen aiso said that severai complaints had been received from tenants whose landiords did not obey the bylaw However, the landlords have been warned and have installed smoke detectors, he said. "We have written up several orders against ian- dMords, but 99 per cent of the time, we have no probleu. " Lanidiords who do not obey the bylaw couid have a fine 0f up to $500 a day imposed Project Re ad starts again The Aduit Basic Eduation prograin ("Project Rend") offered in Oshawa by the Durham Board of Education enrlier this yenr to help those who are unable torend or write or who have dif- ficulties with these subjects, is to be expanded and the number 0f classes incrensed this faîl. In order to acconmodate those who bave shown an in- terest in participating in the program and the many otherswho would benefit, classes will be held as follows beginning at the end 0f Septeniber: G.L. Roberts C.V.I., Oshawa, Tuesday and Thur- sday evenungs; Oshawa Public Library, Wednesday or Thursday; Whltby Public Library, Wednesday; Port Perry High School, Wednesday. According to the Movement for Canadian Uiteracy a great many adults are in need of this basic reading course, but it is only with the co-operation 0f the public that they can be identifl*ed. If you have frien- ds or relatives' who might be interested in participating in this program, cail 571-3770 to register or for infor- mation. A major factor in the suc- cess of the program bas been the volunteer tutors who assist the tenchers in instructing the students; more are needed. If you can help at any of the above locations for one, two-hour period a week, caîl 576-4600 extension 210 by September 15. AIl you need îs a degree of patience and an abiity to rend. ý @.qfe., * :I, l Startlng ln Septem ber, you can take a universlty course ln the comf art of your own home through WLU Telecollege. The followlng courses will be offered through the auspices of Canadian Cablesystems and T.V. Ontario. Business 231*: Business 233*: Economics 101*: Economnics 102*: Engiish 3091*: Politicai Science 101*: Psychology 100: *Indicates one-term course. Business Law Personali nvestments Introduction 10 Microeconomlcs Introduction 10 Macroeconomlcs Shakespeare: Love and Poliels Introduction 10 Structures & Processes of Govemment Introduction to Psychoiogy For more information and your f ree copy of our Telecoliege brochure cail toiI-free: 1-800-265-8866 (Mon.-Fri.: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.> WLU czièu. Wilfrid Laurier Univerit I