A10 THE FREE PRESS EDUCATION JUNE 8, 1997 ▼From Front New legis’n no big deal nance arrears may be enforced against companies owned by default payers. As well, the province has made changes to the Family Relations Act, which will allow common-law and same-sex couples to “enter into agreements and be bound by the Act’s property division provisions.” Under these changes, common-law and same-sex couples will have the same rights and obligations in the eyes of the law as married couples do in terms of property division so long as an agreement is signed between the couple. Therefore, says local lawyer Fred Fatt, the new legislation is not the big deal it has been made out to be. “It appears that [the provincial legislation] is going to make it so that common-law couples could elect to be in the same situation as legally married couples.” ▼ From Front ‘Harassment tour’ stumbles on homosexuality speed bump By DAVID PLUG Free Press staff writer The debate over protecting versus endorsing homosexual lifestyles dominated last week’s seminar on schools and the Human Rights Code. A sparse audience at CNC took a tour of the legal minefield that is the Code last week and the longest stop was dealing with homosexuality in schools. Although sexual orientation is just one of 14 “protected grounds” under the Code, it gathered the most attention at the seminar hosted by human rights consultant Karen Morten. If a student is teased or harassed for having same-sex parents, she says teachers must, at a minimum, say “Everybody here deserves to be respected. There are all different types of fami- lies.” The Human Rights Commission already has a year-long wait for cases and possibilities for a human rights complaint seem commonplace. One of Ms. Morten’s examples was of a teenager jokingly calling a friend “a slut” in a school hallway. A third student hearing the comment could launch, and win, a human rights complaint -not against the first student but their teachers and the school board. Audience member Julia Serup questioned whether the Code was too much protection. There would be little need for legal protection, if parents just talked to teachers to end harassment of any kind, she says. In particular, she was concerned that teachers protecting homosexuals amounted to official endorsement of the Eligibility for sports is key issue in board’s dual home school proposal pate that, due to the Lakewood’s location in relation to D P. Todd, many parents will want to transfer their kids from PGSS to D.P. Todd. However, in order to avoid penalizing sports-minded students, the board hopes to introduce a “dual home school” status for Lakewood graduates. That is, Lakewood graduates would have a choice of either D.P. Todd or PGSS, thus avoiding the one-year penalty from B.C. School Sports. “The effect of it was to try and provide, as much as the wood and chooses to go to D.P. Todd as opposed to PGSS - they wouldn't lose their Grade 11 year of eligibility because they would have a dual home school designation,” explains trustee Doug Walls. The ball is now in B.C. School Sports’ court, he adds, which has to respond BRAKE SPECIAL $89.95* Front or Rear Includes: • New pads or shoes • Machining Drums or Rotors if required ■ • Complete inspection of brake system and written estimate • Road test vehicle SOME VEHICLES WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL WORK TO REPACK WHEEL BEARINGS Additional parts & labour extra............'Most Vehicles All Other Brake Parts 25% Off Fax: 562-7250 g P.G. DYNAMIC ^ TUNE-UP & AUTO REPAIRS 125 Victoria St. £50 563-4420 OB 561-2291 lifestyle. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation recently formed an internal task force on homophobia and heterosexism. But the final result - a brochure, more policy or special training, remains unknown says Dick Gilbert, head of the Prince George & District Teachers’ Association. The homophobia resolution has drawn a lot of public controversy - and sparked Morten’s touring seminars - out of proportion to its priority with the BCTF, says Mr. Gilbert. “Rip-snortin entertainment” THE GREAT NORTHERN ADVANCE TICKETS Saddle ware Tack Shop Northern Hardware Western Horseman Spruce Capital Feeds RODEO Three action packed days of excitement, for the whole family! PG Exhibition Park Rodeo Grounds June 20, 21, & 22nd to the board’s intention. “We want to make them respond by saying either ‘You can’t declare two home schools,’ or ‘We’ll make a special ruling in this case,’ or whatever.” B.C. School Sports’ administrative officer for the north central region Robin Temoin says he has never heard of something called a “dual home school,” but the board is free to apply to B.C. School Sports’ eligibility appeals committee. In fact the committee, which meets only twice a year, will be meeting this month. The 1997 Gold Dust Mall at Quesnel’s Billy Barker Days Festival needs: Street Vendors and Entertainers. July 17,18, & 19 If you are interested, Call or fax (250) 991-0201. JntnrwSS CAUGHT IN THE STORM But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea. (Jonah 1:4) In Mark chapter 4 we see Christ stilling the storm that had terrified the apostles. Here we find Him sending a great wind into the sea. It is strange to see the Lord on one hand stilling a fierce storm and on the other sending one. But as the hymn writer has noted, the wind and the waves obey Him. The Lord never sends a storm without a very good reason. In Jonah's case it was because he was going in the direction opposite to where the Lord had sent him. He had to learn that he could not deliberately disobey God with impunity. To teach him that lesson, the Lord sent out such a storm into the Mediterranean Sea that no effort made by the most experienced sailors could avail in the unequal struggle between the waves and the helpless vessel being tossed about as a plaything. Perhaps you are passing through stormy waters at this period of your life. You are not in the midst of the Mediterranean, but there is such a storm raging in your heart that you feel you cannot go on any longer. Hudson Tailor, founder of the China Inland Mission, once passed through a fierce conflict. He knew the Lord wanted him to go to the interior of China, but he was afraid to lead workers there lest the venture should utterly fail. His inner conflict was so intense that he thought he was going to lose his reason. At last Taylor was brought to a full surrender to God, and the subsequent work led to the salvation of multitudes of Chinese people. Has the storm in your life been caused by your refusal to surrender to the Lord and obey His voice? "Go through with God" and like Jonah, you will find that with the surrender comes the peace. ********************* Heritage Free Presbyterian Church Jonathan Thomas, Minister s4et ilvuUtati04t 7* 'Wonj&ifi 5tli Annual March lor Jesus Prince George 12 noon, Saturday, June 14 The rally will be held at the Fort George Park Bandshell. All Christians (ire invited to praise Jesus on the streets of our city! Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Located in Cedars Christian School 701 N. Nechako Rd. For more information, call 562-4380 For Advertising Consultation & Service call Caroline at: 564-0005