Freedom Flyer 29

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

March 1996

VAUGHAN GENERATING CONTROVERSY
AS PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE

LONDON (November 14, 1994 - March, 1996) - When elected by a resounding majority to London Public School Board Trustee on his platform of quality education and affordable taxes, Fp secretary Robert Vaughan advocated clear education standards and objective student evaluations, an emphasis on the basics including the teaching of phonics, and a call for standardized testing and grades. (See Freedom Flyer December 1994.)

Since the November 14, 1994 election, Vaughan has found himself on the opposing side of many of the decisions supported by a majority of trustees on the board.

Vaughan voted AGAINST the 2.56% increase in the board's 1995 budget, and challenged the board for not protesting the Rae government's equity policy (Bill 79). (See the reproduced press article, elsewhere in this issue.)

SCHOOLS NO PLACE FOR CONDOM MACHINES

He also did not support the reinstallation of condom machines in high-school washrooms, arguing that the presence of condom machines in schools sends mixed messages when the Board's policy is supposedly one of abstinence. He contended that there is no such thing as 'safe sex' and that condoms are no assurance against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

On another front, Vaughan tried unsuccessfully to reopen for further discussion a London high-school (Beal) reconstruction project, projected to cost $45 million, but which has now been placed on hold by the new provincial government under its one-year across the board moratorium on capital projects. In the face of massive cutbacks in provincial funding, he also voted against the spending of an extra $4 million of taxpayer money for cafeteria and other nonessential reconstruction projects at Clarke Road high school in the city.

More recently, Vaughan has suggested that the Board investigate the option of selling the Board of Education office and land, in favour of more suitable accommodation. Presently, the London Board of Education is run from a refurbished high school, complete with a double gym, sports fields, and auditorium, facilities not required by trustees or administrators. Vaughan suggests leasing or buying office accommodation more suitable to running the business of the board. He admits that this option is something for the long-term benefit of taxpayers, not the short term.

PHONICS FUNDAMENTAL

However, despite the Board's opposition to all the above, Vaughan was in tune with other Board trustees on issues such as opposition to year-round schooling. Most significantly, Vaughan introduced a motion which effectively changed the board's policy on phonics and the basics of literacy.

His supported motion changed the focus of literacy from one where phonics was simply treated on a equal basis with other reading strategies, to one that identified phonics as a fundamental component of literacy.

It should be noted that trustee Vaughan has received consistent support for most of his motions from trustee Thomas McClenaghan, while he has received intermittent support from trustees Rob Alder, Ab Chabhar, and Marlene Patten.

Congratulations, Robert - and keep up the great work!