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Teacher
testing Bill passed
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by Michael Erskine and Tom Sasvari
TORONTO---The province's
controversial plan to test teachers passed into law last week
with the final approval in the legislature of Bill 110, the
Quality in the Classroom Act, 2001. "This legislation establishes
clear and fair standards for measuring teachers' skills in the
classroom," said Education Minister Janet Ecker. "It is important
that teachers have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge
in order to help improve student learning." The measures are
part of the government's comprehensive Ontario Teacher Testing
Program. The government made teacher testing a major plank in
its 1999 campaign and has been putting it in place since the
program was announced in May of 2000. The Act lays down provincial-wide
standards for regular testing of teachers' classroom performance
and sets a qualifying test for new teachers, despite the current
Ontario Teachers' Certificate being one of the most sought-after
teaching qualifications in the world. Under the legislation,
principals, or vice-principals will be required to review teacher
performance on a regular basis. Current teachers would be evaluated
in three-year cycles with two evaluations in the year in which
their performance is appraised. New teachers would see their
performance appraised twice a year in their first two years
in the classroom. The new testing procedure would allow parents
and students to provide input into the appraisal process. "Dealing
with the testing, there are three phases to this, the assessment,
testing, and evaluation. I have a problem with evaluations being
given by other than non-teaching people, parents and students,"
said Rainbow District School Board trustee Larry Killens. "If
you look at the Home and School nights, only a small percentage
of parents come out to the meetings, although this is not because
they don't care." "But, if the parents are not actually coming
into the schools how can they assess the teachers' performance
and what is happening at the schools," said Mr. Killens "School
councils are the only ones that have a rock solid knowledge
of what is going on in the school. It's not fair to ask the
parents or students to do these evaluations." The announcement
of the Bill's passage included the statement that teachers requiring
help will have opportunities, support measures and guidance
to improve their classroom skills. Implementation of the performance
review system will begin in September 2002, and will be phased-in
over the next few years. The qualifying test will measure a
new teacher's knowledge of the curriculum and teaching strategies.
Passing the test will be required for anyone to obtain an Ontario
Teachers' Certificate, and would also apply to teachers coming
to Ontario from other jurisdictions. "The teachers have already
been tested. Just look at the Education, Quality and Accountability
Office results where our school is number one in math in the
North and fourth in the province. If these are not the right
results what are?" asked Mr. Killens. Concerns over how the
testing will be funded have been raised by many critics of the
plan. "Not one cent," was the response from Rainbow District
School Board Chief Financial Officer Larry FitzPatrick when
asked how much extra funding could be expected from the province
to finance the testing requirements now heaped upon school boards."There
has been no talk of extra funding at all," he said. The Rainbow
District School Board has been accepted as a "provider" of upgrading
and enhancement courses outlined for teachers in the government's
plans for teachers. When, where and how those courses will be
delivered, and incidently how they will be paid for, will be
a matter to be worked out by the Board and its teachers in the
future.
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Van
Camp new CEO of Manitoulin Health Centre
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by Michael Erskine
LITTLE CURRENT---Ivan Edwards, Chair of the
Manitoulin Health Centre, announced the appointment of James
(Jim) Van Camp as Chief Executive Officer, effective January
2, 2002. Mr. Van Camp is coming to Manitoulin from Northumberland
Hospital in the Port Hope, Colburg area where he was CEO of
two hospitals. "Jim has a demonstrated track record of exceptional
management, leadership, interpersonal and communication capabilities
which meets the Board's needs for a change in the direction
of employee and community relations," said Mr. Edwards. "We
look forward to working with him." Mr. Van Camp has spent 32
years in health-care administration, including positions as
administrator of Moose Factory General Hospital and the Listowel
Memorial Hospital, which the Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC)
board feels will complement the position of MHC CEO. "The one
thing which struck my wife and I most about the Island while
we were up for a few days is that everybody waves at you and
says hello," said Mr. Van Camp. "I just want everyone up there
to know that we intend to reciprocate." Mr. Van Camp cited the
Island atmosphere as "very persuasive" in his decision to move
to the Island. That and the area's natural beauty. "It is more
than a job," he said, "it is a lifestyle." The Van Camps are
no strangers to the Island, and island life in general. "We
have been up to the Island as tourists over the years, and I
myself was raised on an island, Scugog, near Port Perry. It
is only five miles long and a half mile wide," he laughed. "But,
we are islanders." Mr. Van Camp is currently chairing a successful
$3.5 million fund raising campaign for the hospital in Port
Hope and he is uniquely qualified for his position here on the
Island. He has written numerous papers on the economic impact
of small rural hospitals on their communities and is a former
member of the Ontario Hospital Association's Board. "The hospital
is such an important part of the community," said Mr. Van Camp.
"We look forward to meeting everyone." Mr. Van Camp said he
planned to visit every shift in each of the hospital's locations.
"They can look to see me on the midnight shift in Mindemoya,"
he said. "Communication is a very important part of my job,
and the people on the night shifts are not seen all that often
by people in the office. We are a 24/7 operation. The hospital
never sleeps."
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Ecuadorans
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by Diana Smith
WIKWEMIKONG ---- Wikwemikong Band Council turned
down a request by two of its councilors to help financially
support the defence of two Ecuadoran healers who are facing
charges in the death of a Wikwemikong elder. Councilor Don Trudeau
brought a motion to the Wikwemikong council table, which noted
that the two Ecuadorans, Juan Wainahatae Uyunkar, 48, and his
son, Edgar Uyunkar, 21, were invited to the Wiky community,
and were provided with a translator for their work here. Mr.
Trudeau suggested that the Band should pay the $60,000 retainer
fee, and that Wiky should petition other First Nations and First
Nation organizations for "their assistance in the defence of
traditional medicines and practices." Councilor Robert Corbiere
seconded Mr. Trudeau's motion, but with eight councilors present
at the meeting last Monday night, the motion was defeated 6-2.
Mr. Trudeau said he brought forth the motion to have Wiky pay
the (legal) retainer because he believes the issue will eventually
wind up before the Supreme Court of Canada. "Somewhere along
the line we are going to pay one way or another," he said. The
two Ecuadorans, and a Manitowaning woman, were charged after
an investigation into the October 19 death of elder Jean (Jane)
Maiangowi, 71, of Wikwemikong. Ms. Maiangowi died after apparently
ingesting medicine that was used during a healing ceremony.
The investigation into her death was conducted jointly by the
Wikwemikong Tribal Police and the Ontario Provincial Police,
and resulted in charges against the father and son of Criminal
Negligence Causing Death, Administering a Noxious Substance,
Importing into Canada a Controlled Substance, Trafficking in
a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
If convicted on the charges, the two men face the prospect of
life imprisonment in Canada. The Ecuadorans' translator, Maria
Ventura, 32, of Manitowaning, was also charged with Administering
a Noxious Substance and Trafficking in a Controlled Substance.
The two men had allegedly brought a plant containing a Controlled
Substance with them from Ecuador. The holistic potion was a
concoction made from the plants which are native to South America.
The plants were mixed with tobacco and water, and then boiled
to produce the holistic medicine. While harmine is the name
of the actual active ingredient produced in the holistic medicine
through the combination of the South American vines, it is the
combination and processing of these plants which produce harmine
- the substance listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act of Canada. Regional Coroner Dr. Peter Clarke said there
are no immediate plans to hold an inquest into Ms. Maiangowi's
death, but "I can tell you that the matter of an inquest is
being considered," he added. The Uyunkars and Ms. Ventura were
to appear in court in Wikwemikong on Tuesday (December 18).
The Uyunkars have surrendered their passports, and are required
to reside in Manitowaning as a condition of their bail. They
must also refrain from conducting any further healing ceremonies
and are banned from possessing the medicine used in the rituals.
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