Enjoy your summer! Make wise decisions.

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This letter was written by a father in response to the question, "Why are school boards so reluctant to consider whole grade acceleration for gifted children?"
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The times are changing faster than ever before in human history. People have to be able to predict what is going to happen in order to take care of themselves. When people are exposed to change they resist that change since it will make things less predictable for them. When people are presented with complexity they try to find some simple principles which will make the complex situation predictable. (See science for an extreme example of this.) Therefore, people will want these simplifying principles to be true. They will resist anything which casts doubt on the truth of those principles.

In the case of schools this means that all children must be as alike as possible. That is, they must learn the same things at the same time and look and act the same. Anyone who does not fit these expectations is wrong/bad/sick/in need of treatment. Any excuse for keeping children of the same age in the same box is acceptable. All children must be gifted. All children must be best served by being grouped by age. It must be bad for children to let them learn too soon or too quickly. Any children who learn before their age peers must be suffering in some way because of it. It cannot be natural for children to be different and diverse.

Now when you add to that quite natural human fear of the unknown the needs of bureaucracy, you get rules which make things easier for the administrators. If the child's age tells one exactly what the child knows and needs, then things are made quite a bit easier. You don't have to know anything else about the child. You don't have to make exceptions which are always difficult for bureaucracies. You don't have to think or understand. All you have to do is ask the age and put them into the correct box. Administrators fear exceptions and complexity. Thus, they will not admit that exceptions and complexity exist, for if they don't exist, administrators will not have to deal with them. Now teachers do a lot of administration just like principles and superintendents do, so they feel much the same way but with the additional motivation of avoiding more work by insisting that all children of a certain age are just alike?

Therefore, schools will happily ignore reality and punish anyone who attempts to bring reality to their attention. Individual teachers and administrators are exceptions to the above SIMPLE PRINCIPLE WHICH MAKES A COMPLEX SITUATION PREDICTABLE as one would expect. But you can reasonably expect schools to act according to the principle and be pleasantly surprised if one does not.

Reality isn't always pretty.

Larry

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(by O.S. The opinions expressed are for discussion purposes only and not to convince anybody one way or the other on the topic.)

There are many people who are seriously affected by the change of definition of marriage that has recently come about in Ontario, Canada. Besides the change in definition of marriage, what is frightening many people is the fact that an entire nation has let a small, non-elected group (3-4) of Ontario judges change 136 years of Canadian history by the proclamation of a few words and their immediate implementation as a law. We may want to take another look at the definition of participatory democracy as a next step. Do we want courts to have the power to decide our nation’s policies or should our elected officials and the general population have that responsibility and the courts deciding if policies are legal or not?

As well, many people of different faiths now feel that they are being told that their religious holy books, filled with the wisdom that has survived for millennia are wrong according to the Ontario judges when it comes to the definition of marriage.

Here are some opinions and arguments gleaned from many sources that are food for thought:

• marriage as it has existed since the beginning of recorded history has always been about life. Males and females have physical parts designed to interact and produce new life. All creation strives to create new life. The food chain is designed to ensure all species survive and reproduce in sufficient numbers in order to maintain the species. That is the basis of the definition of marriage.
• same-sex relationships lead to death. If it were truly natural and acceptable within creation then one day all people could be homosexual. Civilization would cease to exist within a hundred years. This kind of relationship does not deserve to be given equal status in the existing definition of marriage.
• Those who engage in same-sex relationships are tolerated and accepted by our society and can engage in any kind of behaviour they wish. They have the legal rights of all citizens. A new term for their relationships should be used. Why do they need to be called "married" which is a term that has been reserved for a relationship that they cannot possibly duplicate?
• same-sex couples will want children and adopt them. We are just beginning to see what effects that has on the first of the young children who do not have the option of dual role models in their lives. Maybe we should wait a while?
• Same-sex couples will cause a proliferation of scientific intervention and genetic tinkering to create the children they want but cannot have by natural means. They will have to resort to surrogate motherhood, artificial insemination, test-tube babies, etc. It is anticipated that this will create many new problems with reproduction and.
• family trees will never be the same again.

• a loving relationship is all that is needed. Love is the main thing in marriage.
• same-sex couples should be given the same rights as all citizens to have a legal union, spousal benefits, and children
• not all heterosexual marriages are formed to conceive children, so same-sex couples can be considered part of that group of married people.
• the Canadian Bill of Rights protects people from any form of discrimination.
  (interesting aside: The Canadian Charter of Rights does not give Canadians the legal right to ownership of property so that it can be confiscated or expropriated whenever the government needs or wants it)
• churches will be allowed to exclude themselves from performing same-sex marriages.

Share your opinions and thoughts with the elected representatives in Canada.

The best way to ensure your words are heard is to make a phone call. Writing letters, emails, letters to the editor, petitions, etc. are not as effective. Direct phone calls are the best way because they accumulate and the politicians or their office assistants must respond immediately.

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Aberfoyle Antique Market

Bancroft Mineral Collecting

Bike Ontario Tours

Canada Day Celebrations

Celebrate Toronto Street Festival

Central Don Riding Stables

CHIN Picnic and Shopping Bazaar

Dream in High Park Theatre

Farm Vacations

Holiday on Horseback Vacations

Molson Indy

Natural Life Festival

Ontario Renaissance Festival

Toronto Parks and Recreation Programs

Toronto Star Great Salmon Hunt

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July 1 – Canada Day

July 13 – Night of the Full moon
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(by Kaley Kennedy, Gr. 10, Loretto Abbey C.S.S., Toronto, ON)

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(from Homemaker’s Magazine)

About ten people get melanoma every day in Canada. About 2 die of it. Here are some facts about the sun and how to avoid problems:

- sun damage is cumulative. A few minutes here and there can add up to many hours in the sun during a day.

-it is not known whether sunscreen actually reduces the chance of melanoma!

-topical antioxidant creams do not protect you. Antioxidants that are consumed can actually increase the skin’s SPF but not much. Products you put on your skin should have an SPF of at least 15.

-a light cotton shirt has an SPF of about 4. When it is wet, the SPF goes down to about 2 or 3.

-many people begin to burn after only 20-30 minutes in the sun.

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How to Pack Less When Travelling
(from "Smart Packing For Today’s Traveler" by Susan Foster.)

Summer travelling will soon be here. Save your arms and back by learning how to pack wisely from an expert. Here are some suggestions nand facts you should know about sunning:

1. Take things that are versatile.
2. Plan around one basic colour.
3. Wear each item several times.
4. Pack less if laundry facilities are available.
5. Pack double-duty clothes e.g. a blouse and shirt that could be a lightweight jacket.
6. Take more tops than bottoms.
7. Choose thin items over bulky ones.
8. Select simple, narrow, shorter pieces.
9. Limit shoes. Three or four pair only.

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(from a variety of sources)

1. Make sure your visa and passport are up-to-date. The passport should not expire within a month or two after your trip. (You may be held in a country and the passport can expire while you are there.)
2. Get a list of Canadian embassies in the countries you plan to visit, in case of problems.
3. Avoid crime by not wearing "tourist" clothing and expensive jewellery.
4. Carry only small amounts of money when you go out for the day. Spread the money between the members of your group.
5. Keep money in a money belt. Wallets should be in front pockets or in a zippered pocket. Shoulder bags should be carried on the side away from the street and close to your body.
6. Read Consular Information Sheets or Travel Warnings that tell you about political and safety conditions in any country.
7. Find out what kind of weather you can expect while in a country. This helps in deciding what to pack.
8. Do not leave luggage unattended in public areas.
9. Deal only with authorized agents, taxis, stores and money exchange places.
10. If you plan to stay in a country for more than 2 weeks, notify and register with the Canadian embassy in the country you are visiting.
11. Make two copies of your passport and identification and keep one with somebody back home. Leave an itinerary including locations and phone numbers where you will be with them as well, in case of an emergency.
12. Familiarize yourself with customs and laws of the countries you are visiting.
13. Beware of overly friendly local people who may be pickpockets or setting you up for theft.
14. Do not accept any packages or things from strangers that they want you to

take home with you for their relative or friend.

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If you love art, biomedical sculpturing, anatomy, engineering, chemistry and helping people, this might be the job for you.

A Prosthetic Sculptor makes custom-designed plastic masks, fingers, ears, eyes, noses, jaws, etc. for people who may have become disfigured or lost them through accident or disease. To keep their self-esteem and prevent torment and humiliation these people usually get an imitation replacement part.

The job is highly demanding and precise. There must be an ability to do colour matching to skin, proper shaping and styling to suit a face, engineering considerations in order to attach things so they stay and appear natural and normal. A good working relationship with medical people is also important. Fees are in the neighbourhood of $7,000-$9,000 per job.

To do this kind of work, it is advised that one have a strong commercial art background and an interest in the areas mentioned in the opening sentence. Doing some apprentice work with theatre make-up experts and movie physical effects experts would also be valuable.

If you love of art and willing to work at a perhaps dying profession, this is for you.

A Fine Art Restorer requires the ability to research into how a work of art is made, infinite patience in bringing something back to original condition or very close, and a high level of skill with art materials.

Through accidents, aging, discolouration, tearing or chipping, neglect and/or abuse, many fine works of art and sculpture end up needing repair. If they are valuable, they will require a full restoration but with only a minimum of touching-up and work that is done only if absolutely necessary. This is the challenge; bring something back to original condition without anybody knowing that it has gone through the process of restoration.

Many people don’t realize that restoration and repair can be less costly than replacement of art works. As well, to keep something precious is often more important than the cost of its preservation.

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• a billion in Britain is the equivalent of a trillion in North America.
• some eels migrate from the west side of the Atlantic to the east side. This suggests that the two land masses of North America and Europe may have been much closer together in the past.
• with every beat of your pulse, one human being is added to the world population.
• the first Canadian city to install electric streetlights was Hamilton in 1883, a year before Toronto and Montreal did the same.
• about 20% of all lung cancer deaths can be attributed to car exhaust poisons.- New Scientist magazine.
• the words ''stewardesses'' and ''reverberated'' are the longest words (12 letters) typed with only the left hand. The longest word that can be typed using only the right hand is, ''lollipop.''
• more Canadian authors are published in Italy than in any other country in the world.
• milk is not good for cats. They have trouble digesting it.
• lettuce is not good for rabbits. It has little nutritional value and can give the animal diarrhea.
• according to a Manitoba study, it costs about $155,000 to raise a child to age 18.
• the Bank of Canada is withdrawing the $1,000 bill from circulation because it was the favourite of money launderers.
• there are about 4000 Canadians who are 100 years old or older.
• within this decade, the following countries will have declining populations: Germany, Italy, Spain.
• it is estimated that because of lowered birth rates in the country, by the 24^th century, Japan could conceivably have a zero population.
• the double blue and white kilt of Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School in Toronto, Ontario, is worn by female actors in a school scene in the movie "Hollywood/Bollywood."
• the Montreal Formula One Grand Prix is the biggest money-making attraction in Canada.
  ______________

(from CBC News)

CONGRATULATIONS! On Tuesday, June 10,2003, NASA launched a Boeing Delta II rocket which began a 500-million-kilometre trip to Mars. The two rovers cost $800-million and are the most sophisticated robots ever sent to another planet. Both "Spirit" and the second rover, named "Opportunity" will hopefully land on opposite sides of Mars in January. The robotic geologists have panoramic cameras for close-up looks at rocks and drills to take soil samples. The sites selected are the most likely to hold evidence of water, scientists say.

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Suzie, a 14 year old girl, who is killed by a serial killer, tells her tale from heaven.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. Best fiction reading!!

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(by O.S.)

Here are some ways that would be interesting to start up and could be potentially quite lucrative as money-making ventures:

• Volunteer work at a place that might interest you in regards to a career/job you might choose a computer store, pharmacy, etc. The enriching experience might lead to a summer job. Keep your eyes and ears open. Make suggestions for a job you could do.
• Garage sales. There is a ton of stuff out on garbage night that could be picked up and is still useful. If cleaned up or slightly repaired it is potentially worth lots of money e.g. picture frames, small furniture, sports equipment, cutlery and dinnerware, glass & pottery, jewellery, books, computer parts, etc. Once you get good at it and know prices, start going to garage sales and buy stuff that can be resold at a higher price at your own regular garage sales or at used good shops.
• Pick up and resell goods to specific dealers in town. Here are some suggestions: -newer portable TV's that people throw out are worth about $10-$20 each. Check around for best prices that repair people are willing to pay. Bikes are sometimes purchased by bike repair people and/or used sports equipment dealers. The going rate is about $10-$25. If they can be fixed at home, they can sell privately for around $50 in many cases. Older "antique" bikes are often highly desirable. Ads in the paper and Buy & Sell type magazines should clear them out quickly for you. I have a friend who makes a pile of money each year doing this. Dehumidifiers and humidifiers can be sold to businesses that repair and sell them. If somebody is handy, it is usually easy to repair many dehumidifiers as the only thing wrong with them is a seized motor. A little oil and a few spins and it often works again, no problem. In the summer they sell for about $50-$60 if in good working condition.
• Ice skates, rollerblades, snowboards, skateboards. Buy up all kinds of good, newer ones at garage sales and sell them to "Play It Again Sports" stores. It is possible to find them all the time at garage sales, even in off-season, for about $2-$10 and you will get about $15-$25 or more for them at the stores. It is very easy to build up credits and get your sports equipment at minimum cost all the time. In many cases, it is also possible to get cash for them instead.
• Door-to-door selling. Find a small product that could be sold door to door e.g. large boxes of saran wrap, garbage bags, deodorizers, etc. Something small and useful that everybody uses all the time. A novelty toy sold to tourist kids is good too.
• Used pocket novels. Check with used book dealers first to see how much they pay for them – usually from 25 cents and up. Also find out which books they find most desirable. Go to garage sales and buy up as many as you can especially if they are 10-15 cents each or cheaper. Make some profit. Some dealers also sell old magazines. Again, first find out which ones are most desirable. Check out garage sales and especially rummage sales at churches or schools for lots of books. Although small, profit can be at least 50% or better.
• Do yard work. Cut lawns, rake areas, etc. Gotta do a good job though!!
• Offer simple but useful services. Walking dogs, watering plants regularly in yards, doing the edge trimmer work around lawns ((I'm sure there are people who dislike that job as much as I do and would pay a kid to do it)
• Garage door art. Imagine all the plain, unattractive "canvasses" attached to almost every house and just waiting to be covered. Offer to put on large house numbers, pleasant abstract patterns or landscapes to match a garden or walkway. There is interest out there. With a few paint cans, brushes and imagination, you can be making $100 or more per garage door.
• Porch rail painting. Ever notice all the rusty porch railings in your neighbourhood? With minimum investment of a few basic colours of rust proof paint, a wire brush, metal sandpaper and some good small hairy roller brushes, you could make a lot of money sprucing them up.

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Life is a banquet but most poor suckers are starving to death.

We have not run out of water but of new streams to pollute.

How is it that elevators are free but subways are not? Maybe we need horizontal elevators.

Ah, sweet privacy – driving to work and the bathroom.

We are now faced with the fundamental question – Can people be happy in any other way than in work?

Experience is all you can ever really own. Pack it in a little black box and pass it on to your children just like your genetic structure.

Bad people should not be able to intimidate good people by the sheer outrageousness of their acts. Don’t feel bad for calling them on what they are.

Elegy to a geneticist: "It just struck me that perhaps for one man, I have tampered enough with the universe."

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At a local airport today, an individual, later discovered to be a public school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a compass, a protractor, and a graphical calculator.

Authorities believe he is a member of the notorious al-Gebra movement.

He is being charged with carrying weapons of math instruction.

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Two elderly ladies meet at the launderette after not seeing one another for some time. After inquiring about each other's health one asked how the other's husband was doing.
"Oh! Bruce died last week. He went out to the garden to dig up a
cabbage for dinner, had a big heart attack and dropped down dead, right there
in the middle of the vegetable patch!"
"Oh dear! I'm so sorry to hear that," replied her friend. "What did you do?"
"I opened a can of peas instead!"
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I said to my wife, "Guess what I heard? They reckon the milkman has made love to every woman on our street except one."
And she said, "I'll bet it's that stuck-up Phyllis at number 23."
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Peas, Peas, Peas, read the next issue of this newsletter…so long.

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