VOL. 37 NO. 9 September 2019 Your FREE Neighbourhood News from the Beach to the Rouge bluffs monitor photo:John Smee Wheels on the Danforth; was all lit up on Saturday August 17th with a spectacular performance by David Ito, a professional fire breather, who wowed the crowd with his act. Hunting for Ford MPP Mitzie Hunter announces her bid for Liberal Leadership By: Trevon Smith Hunter said. “When they do cover their tuition, and free pre - Her vision lists the achieve - After six years serving her they need to see that we are a scriptions for Ontarians under ment of a 90% graduation rate, Scarborough-Guildwood rid - new party with new faces, new 25 was removed from the financial support for at-home- ing, MPP Mitzie Hunter is tak - voices and ideas for how to OHIP-plus plan. caregivers and the expansion of ing her expertise to the lead the province.” “It’s close to a billion dol - OHIP-plus for mental health Premier’s office next year. In just over a year of being lars out of post-secondary edu - support of Ontarian youths Hunter announced her bid Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford cation,” Hunter said, citing the under 30 years old, among for the leadership of the Liberal has made large and abrupt cuts OSAP changes as one of Ford’s other plans directed at rural party in a press release earlier to funding for a number of dif - first deep cuts in office. Ontario. this month, outlining her vision ferent organizations, including: “It’s devastating, particu - “The focus is on growth,” for Ontario’s future and her ea - Legal Aid Ontario (losing $133 larly for students in Scarbor - Hunter said. “Making sure that gerness to “take the fight to million in funding), the Ontario ough,” she said. “Many of Ontario leads Canada in GDP Doug Ford.” As one of only Arts Council (losing $10 mil - them have spoken to me about growth and that our youth are seven Liberal MPPs re-elected lion) and a program to plant 50 the choices that they’re now graduating … that they get the in June of 2018, Hunter hopes million trees lost $4.7 million facing … Some of them are support that they need and are that a newly rebooted Liberal in its funding. questioning whether they can able to live a positive life.” party will be enough for a win OSAP and OHIP saw dis - continue with their program.” “We need to make sure Ontario Mitzie Hunter; in 2022. ruptive changes as well. A free- Hunter not only plans to remains a strong province, at her annual community “As people lose trust in tuition program was cutback, revert Ford’s cutbacks, but to competitive in Canada and picnic on August 11th. 3 days later she announced Doug Ford, they will look to meaning some students expand funding and policy in competitive globally.” her bid for the leadership of the Provincial Liberal bluffs monitor photo:John Smee the Ontario Liberal party,” couldn’t qualify for grants to ways that future-proof Ontario. Party. Y EARS 510 REALTY 510 BROKERAGE 416 • 510 • 2200 Save up to 75% WOW!!! TRIP Let 510 REALTY Buy or Sell your A FREE CASTLE and receive a free Vacation Tico # 50019887 Page 2 - September 2019 www.bluffsmonitor.com Class Size Matters By Heather Anne Hunter address this, the government marking, prepping, and doing pared, creative lessons. With - WEBSITE: www.bluffsmonitor.com There will be huge re - is proposing that teachers be reports. Lunches and prep pe - out the two professionals CIRCULATION: 20,000 sistance to government pro - given one whole day of PD riods are used for conferenc - working together, the teacher posals in the upcoming (Professional Development), ing with staff and parents. At would be preoccupied with AD SALES / EDITORIAL contract negotiations with as if they haven’t had this be - lunch and after school they classroom management, the [email protected] / [email protected] teachers and very likely a fore, while increasing class run extra-curriculars. Frankly, entire class would learn less or to VOLUNTEER for DELIVERY strike. It is all about class size and reducing staff. When if they didn’t get time to recu - academically and the children size! Primary classes are special needs children are perate and take courses, would be unprepared for pri - 416-691-4085 presently capped at 23 stu - placed in the regular classes there’d be a huge shortage of mary grades. Test scores UPCOMING DEADLINES dents, kindergarten at 29 and without support, nobody gets them. would go down causing pub - intermediate and high school enough time and attention If you think a teacher’s lic outcries egged on by In by: September 17th at 22, which the government from the teacher. job is easy, invite 30 kids to politicians. Kindergarten is For: October 2019 Issue wants to push up to 28. At Teachers must deal with your child’s next birthday where a love of learning and first it doesn’t sound that bad, severe behavioural problems party and see how long you achievement begins. Delivery: Tues. September 24th but the figures are deceiving. in a regular class. It is not un - last. It takes a special type of Teachers have a big im - November issue deadline: Oct. 22nd Delivered: Oct 29 th These caps are just averages common for a child to kick, person with nearly infinite pact on the welfare of our fu - and don’t reflect reality. In bite and punch a teacher or patience to spend their work - ture society. They are fighting PUBLISHER / EDITOR: John & Glenda Smee actual fact, the number of stu - hurl a chair at another kid in ing life teaching. Visit a for the students who do not Editorial Asst: Mary McIntyre Rafter dents presently in a regular the early grades. In the old school. Spend an hour walk - have a voice – they are fight - Production: Greg Gillis class is usually over 30 and days, we were given the ing the halls or observing a ing for our kids. Now, more could easily reach 40 if the strap, shamed and sent to the class. Better still, volunteer at than ever, it is time to send a Reporters: Derek Pinder government gets its way. corner for just talking out of least once a week. You will resounding message to Pre - Photographers: John S mee, How so? Educational turn. That is called abuse come away with a renewed mier Ford and his education Thomas Kowal , Pam Erickson Assistants (EA’s) and Special today. Now, teachers have respect for educators. Being a minister. We do not want the Writers: Jules Delorme, Doug Durno, Hillary Needs Assistants (SNA’s) strategies for teaching chil - parent doesn’t qualify you to quality of education dimin - Butler, Heather Anne Hunter , Erin Jones, Larry King, teach Math and English in dren self-regulation, which judge or to teach. You are ished due to budget cuts. The Hedy Korbee, Larraine Roulston, Jim Sanderson, small classes of 6-8 children take more time and effort only dealing with one or two government’s agenda is about who are below grade level than corporal punishment, children at home and have no saving money by hiring Trevon Smith, Bret Snider, Dr. George I. Traitses due to learning disabilities, but which reinforce self-es - curriculum to cover. We are fewer educators. How do ADVERTISING: [email protected] psychological and behav - teem rather than producing paying for educators’ profes - they have the audacity to say ACCOUNTS: [email protected] ioural problems. ESL (Eng - resentment towards teachers sional expertise and getting a larger classes and fewer Circulation: Joyce Dolmer lish as a Second Language) and school which can last a lot of bang for our bucks. teachers and assistants could classes are also small. So, lifetime. If you believe that improve education? How SUBSCRIPTIONS $36 /yr. when all the classes are aver - John A. Leslie Elemen - Kindergarten is nothing more dumb do they think we are? 416-691-4085 aged out, the regular class en - tary P.S. for example with an than free babysitting and Can they not save money in rolment swells enrolment of over 500 stu - could be eliminated or taught better ways? THANK YOU to over 200 Volunteers who deliver to residences throughout Birch Cliff, Birchmount Park, Clairlea, astronomically. However, dents is allotted only 1 EA by anyone, take a look at the The Fords of this world Cliffcrest, Cliffside, Guildwood, Highland Creek, Oakridge, children at all levels learn and 1.5 SNA’s. Each kinder - curriculum and visit a kinder have demonstrated that any - faster and perform better in garten has one teacher and class; you will be amazed at one can become a politician Scarborough Village and West Hill communities. smaller classes due to more one ECE (Early Child Educa - what 4 and 5 year olds can regardless of competence or Publisher's Liability: No part of this publication may be reproduced or dupli - individual attention and in - tor). In order to save money, achieve thanks to their knowledge, especially if they cated without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors creased participation, a fact Premier Ford wants to cut beloved teachers. They come from money, but only that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the adver - the government is ignoring. back further on the number of “graduate” with a foundation smart, determined, hardwork - tisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement.