I am writing to register concern about
commercials that have been appearing on local television in
which young people, ostensibly Grade 8 students, are being
encouraged to attend St. Benedict's high school. This, in my
view, is a highly irresponsible expenditure of public
funds.
If, as a result of these advertisements, some
kids go to St. Benedict's instead of another school, that other
school will lose enrolment. Either way, nobody wins. It is
indeed unfortunate the individuals who placed these
commericials did not see fit to spend the money on school
supplies, testing for learning disabled kids or a school trip,
to name just a few responsible uses of these funds.
The whole business is part of the waste of
billions of dollars of our money on two school systems while
our health-care system is going into the tank.
The waste of education dollars doesn't end
there. Do we really need 20 universities and 26 community
colleges? It is time for a referendum to see what Ontario
residents think of the duplication and waste that characterizes
two parallel systems of education.
William E. McLeod
Sudbury