Homework joke falls flat
By JONATHAN SHER-- Sun Media--Feb. 14, 2001
LONDON, Ont. -- As homework assignments go, it was a political bombshell: If Ontario Premier Mike Harris were hanging from a rope, how hard would voters have to kick to have him at a 60-degree angle?
That question was assigned to students at London's Saunders Secondary School by a teacher who came under fire yesterday from parents and politicians.
"We were shocked ... by the homework our Saunders student brought home," said a parent, who requested anonymity.
The teacher, Donald Mountain, heads the math department at Saunders and was selected by the Thames Valley school board to show other teachers how to use humour in the classroom.
Mountain defended his approach and denied he had an axe to grind with the Tories.
"I bring all types of people into my exams: Bill Clinton, Bob Rae, Jean Chretien ... I've never had anyone complain before," he said.
A second question to students refers to a short-lived rumour that Harris has 11 toes:
"Recall that Mike had to grow an extra toe so that he could count to 21," the question reads.
"This just isn't permissible," said the parent. "I would hope the school would take some disciplinary action."
Saunders principal Tony Jones refused comment, only saying the school was following a routine, internal procedure.
The teacher was defended by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF). "He was trying to create curiosity and fun," local president Ken Coran said.
But Mountain was rebuked in Queen's Park by the press secretary to Education Minister Janet Ecker. "It isn't appropriate to bring politics into the classroom," Rob Savage said. |
