At Home: Tory says creationism can be taught alongside evolution
John Tory is definitely living up to his name with this latest proposal: the Ontario PC leader has suggested that creationism be taught along with evolution in schools throughout the province.
In a bid to win the Ontario premiership this October, Tory has come forward to voice his opinion that more school funding should be given to faith-based schools other than Catholic divisions.
By bringing these religious schools into the Ontario public school system, Tory claims that students would receive a more diverse education, given that existing faith-based schools would be subject to provincial inspections (1).
The Ontario PC party’s website makes no mention of this particular viewpoint; however, it does stress the positive qualities of its leader throughout the site. According to the website, Tory is a dedicated volunteer in his area and has helped to raise millions of dollars for inner-city health programs and the homeless while giving the province an ?unprecedented degree of CEO accountability? (2)
In his bid for the premiership, Tory puts the focus on accountability and delivering on promises, stating that he ?will be guided by the same values that have served me so well throughout my life–to keep my word, to work hard for what matters and to be accountable for my actions? (3).
Tory’s main Ontario opponent is Liberal Kathleen Wynne, and she thinks that teaching creationism alongside evolutionary science would be a direct violation of the established curriculum.
According to TheStar.com, teachers and school union officials have given a huge amount of support to the anti-creationism campaign and are fully in support of Wynne for the premiership (4).
(1) CTV, 2007. ?Creationism can be taught with evolution: Tory.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070905/creationism_schools_070905/20070905?hub=Canada
(2) Ontario PC Party website. ?John Tory’s Bio.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.ontariopc.com/johns_bio.asp
(3) Ontario PC Party website. ?Meet John Tory.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.ontariopc.com/meet_john.asp
(4) TheStar.com, 2007. ?Teachers vow to support Wynne, defeat Tory.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.thestar.com/News/article/246209
In Foreign News: Mattel orders another toy recall
Lead paint: It’s one of those things we’ve all been joking about since we were kids.
?David ate too many lead paint chips when he was a baby,? or some similar quip, was probably the most popular put-down when I was ten or so. I don’t know how many other kids there were out there who actually had lead paint on their walls at home, peeling provocatively from the walls and doors, but I dealt with it on a daily basis and maybe That’s why I remember so well that the stuff is poisonous. And hopefully this revelation will not lead to any name-calling . . .
Lead paint can, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, lead to poisoning that is tough to diagnose, since its symptoms match those of many other illnesses: ?persistent tiredness, irritability, loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, reduced attention span, insomnia, and constipation? (1).
So why is the issue raising its head in an age where we all are raised to understand this basic danger? Toymaker Mattel has discovered that its Chinese manufacturers have actually been using lead paint on its products.
This is the third recall of lead-painted toys since the beginning of August, and Mattel says that following the discovery of unsafe toys they will, ?as promised,? be ?testing and retesting toys before they leave factories? (2).
The recall has affected 25,500 toys in Canada that were produced over a nearly one-year period from last September (3). Affected were several Barbie accessories and a small number of Fisher-Price toy sets. A full recall list can be found on the toy manufacturer’s website.
(1) Consumer Product Safety Commission. ?What You Should Know About Lead Based Paint in Your Home: Safety Alert.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5054.html
(2) Mattel website. ?Voluntary Safety Recall Facts.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.mattel.com/safety/us/
(3) CBC News, 2007. ?Thousands of Barbie accessory toys recalled after lead violation.? Retrieved September 6, 2007, from http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/09/04/mattel-recall.html
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