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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1978-05-11, Page 26he l'hjuron ',xpositor Since 1860, Serving the Community First Published 'at $EAFORTH, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning by McLEAN BROS. PUBLISHERS LTD. ANDREW Y. McLEAN, Publisher SUSAN WHITE. 4; To the editor: Facts were exaggerated Dear Mr. John Van Geffen: This letter is referring to the article you wrote in the Huron Expositor last week. We., the students, think that your "facts" are exaggerated 'and wrong. In your article you mentioned, quote "chasing each other at 80 m.p.h." unquote. It is impossible for a car to reach that speed around the school,The road in front of the school and your house is not fit for -driving on anyway. It is used -by more than just the students at our school,,You use it yourself, ddn't you? We .know„ that there are adults. ' children' and animals living on that street, we do have some common sense. Also, gas is too expensive to waste like that. Secondly, we are trying to think of the people that you are describing in your article as drug and liquor pushers. We cannot think of anyone. We would like you to coine and point them out to us, because no one in this schpol fits that description., If anyone from out of town had read that letter they would think we were all juvenile delinquents. A few years ago we had a different principal, so when dui you vi your information? Although a principal has 'no say off the school property he tries to do something about it, so don't knock him. Why don't you report your charges to the police instead of spreading gossip? By the sound of it. you have all negative points against us, your friends and neighbours. Thirdly, how are we supposed to work eight hour day when We work in school until 3:05 p.m. every day? The cars are drivep by the students who work after school and need h4ansportation home, or by students who do not have first class or are finished early. If a boy gives a girl a ride home or to work he is just being a gentleman. The buses are needed for the students who do not drive yeik'ar for ones Who do not have a car.. In conclusion, we would appreciate it if you would get your facts straight before afterlipting to write another letter in the Huron Expositor This is how rumors get stetted. Concertted Students of S.D.H.S. Rob Chesney Charles Stuart Marc Robinet Tom Johnston on the dress, language, intelligence and especially the activities of today's "teenagers." Of course, to do so is their privilege. The ,older generations do not have to agree with the "teenagers". Everyone is entitled .to hiS own opinion. However, when one makes such strong direct accusations as those which were printed in last week's paper, it is only fair to hear- froth the accused. The writer of the letter should be careful of what statements he makes without substantial evidence to back them up. For example, he referred several times to drug and liquor peddlers who have long dirty hair and beards and wear dirty clothes. Where on school grounds do you find any such people? The writer also should beware of making his comments too Alen!. Seaforth District High School has been the object of harmful general criticism before. ,The innocent are the:6es harmed the most by such infounted criticism. labelled by people from other towns. o defend ourselves from such comments, we offer reasonable explanations. Cars are brought to school for necessity or conven- ience. Are we begrudged that privilege? I realize drugs have been found in town, but I have never seen any on school property. Likewise, for drinking. This is after 4 years of High School. High speed racing around the school is not possible. It would be-difficult to maintain such speeds with-the many-curves and -people close to the school,. The author as I said before, is entitled to his opinion but harmful criticism to the students in general should not be printed in a public paper. These letters are ruining the students' reputation. If, he has any claims, ask him to make specific charges with evidence. Also, ask him to direct these charges at those who deserve them, not at the innocent. Joanne Rimmer 4C Comrtrnts too general Many people today comment u favourabty Anyone who attends the school win now be Gayle Vander Velden 4C as SEA-PORTH, ONTARIO, MAY 18, 1978 A good budget Outside Canada (in advance)'$20.00 a Year SINGLE COPIES — 25 CENTS EACH. Subscription Rates: Canada (in advance)M2.00 a Year an Comthunity Newspaper Association o Weekly Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation taxes ... for the almost too good-feib-e-7— true budget, Seaforth's . present elected officials and its Clerk deserve our thanks and our respect. . - Robert Jackean, Ontario's commissioner on ,declining ; school enrolment, seems to, be a well- meaning -man with '- some wrongheaded ideas. Last week, Mr. Jackson suggested since the declining .birth rate has , resulted in declining • school enrol- ments, perhaps the government should pay women a salary' to stay home-ant}--have babies: The commissioner went an to' say '- if the birth rate continues' its downward spiral, then the education system and eventually the country as a whole, will also be winding down. He spoke nostalgiCally of a time when there was optimism in Canada, and When people were planning for a "bigger and better" country. In a .world whereThVerpopUTelkri, unwanted and battered children and a rising abortion' rate are front_ page. news, Mr. Jackson's plan to: pay women to produce is both outdated' and- dangerous. While• his solution may seem feasible on first glance, he is unfortunately equating quantity with quality. Although the' declining enrolments in school, with the resulting teacher layoffs and classroom closures, are certainly matters ' of concern, a' sudden baby boom is not the answer to the problem.' As a letter writer to the Globe and Mail suggested, what the education system needs now is quality- quality of education rather than overflowing classrooms of 30 to 40 students who can receive little personal attention from the teacher. • . The letter writer suggested, and we • agree, that with a larger tax. base Of adults paying today's education costs, and fewer children in the schools, surely "this is the time to start \improving the, quality of educatio. • ,Hopefully, we can reduce cassroom teacher-pupil ratios; reducethe_alnation -many -students suffer in, the education system and provide ...pupils with 'the necessary tools to help 'them cope 'with the drastically changing society they face. On the other hand, if families want more children, T they c n make that 4,11 decision on • 'a pe anal level. Producing children o t e tune of a government . handout ' isn't cthe • answer. In 6 country, and world, --fa—ded----Vit-rt-,ti- oVerpopulation,_ ' rising energy ' costs.. and .families who require two 'incomes ' to keep themselves afloat financially, children. - can't' become a commodity we produce only 'to fill our schools and bolster industry. If, as Mr. Jackson suggests, there will be a shortage of workers- in Canada, at the end •of the century, there are many Third World peoples' who would be willing to, fill the vacancies. , • 11' . They have already learned the sad , results of living in countries where children are born without the .adequate resources to support them. In the meantime, we hope the commissioner will study other' more' practical ways to solve the problemS in our school system.. Little bits and pieces keep coming up this, week when the blank piece of paper was rolled into:thetypevvriter, but-nothing big enough it; vvrit a whole column about. So we'll have a bits andd -pieces column instead: First of all there's the weather, much an all -as we'd like to forget it. What I keep - wondering is what- ever happened to normality,' when it comes tb the weather? I was beginning to think that perhaps we were going to get some normal weather back there about February when it stopped snowing and the sun actually shone for several 'days in a row, even if it was cold. That was the closest thing to normal Weather I can recall in the three, years since we moved out in the- country to Muddy Lane Manor. We 'd hadTwcic5T-t'te--w orst--winters—am..1 memory and two summers that Were cold and damp or hot and dry by turn; Crops either died from being too wet or ..dried up` from not enough, moisture.' There was no happy - •rnedium So I breathed a bit of a sigh of relief after' February adn thought. maybe we'd broken the cycle. But then March came .followed. by an equally gloomy April and now May is half over and we're still waiting for some enjoyable spring weattor.- In. May so far with the exception of :a couple of days, it seems like we've had the 'March winds and the April , showers rolled up together nearly every day. We may have had the May flowers too but frankly, I've been too cold and disgusted to go' out and look for them. Fans of the Toronto Maples Leafs may have ._ been disappointed in the fast dispatch of their heros by the Montreal Canadiens but ,the success of the Canadiens is probably the best thing, to happen to hockey in Canada in the last dozen years. • ' - There are those who claim that the complete dominance that the Montrealers have shown ' in the past-few years is bad for hockey. More ":than once the cry "break up the Canadiens" has been heard. But AS long 'as' the team continues to dominate the, way-it does, it will set the style of hockty for the country, right down' to the littlest gaffer , who can hardly skates fef., . It seems only yesterday that another team I am writing this letter with-regard to a letter published in last week's Huron Expositor concerning alcohol and drugs at Seaforth District High School. As a student I found the letter alarming as well as absolutely dis'gusting. Mr. Van Geffen, whoever your informer happens to be, (certainly' not a student), he has his facts badly' mixed up. Have you ever • honestly seen these drug and 'liquor dealers who you seem to think lurk around the school between' the hours of 11:30, a.m, and 4 p.m.? As far as your statement about racing around - the school at 80 mph goes, I think it i's the most foolish thing I have ever heard. How many children have you had at this school, Mr. Van Geffen? Since I have been at this school, which, is three years, I have never seen these people ' you describe with "long hair, a dirty cap' over that,..lone_leards and dirty _clothes." That is nonsense.Mr. Van Geffen, You are telling the public to come and see for themselves. Well I am telling you, Mr. Van Geffen, to come and 'was dominating the game with skills, not so much of skating and scoring, but of tripping, hooking; and fighting. That team convinced „many-teams and many young players that the way to success in hockey was through , roughness and bending the rules. But the Canadiens have show6 themselves imperious to the hook, the trip and the spear. They not only win, but they humiliate the other team with the ease of their victory. Other teams in the league wanting to win, will be trying to build fast, skilled teams once they realize that their efforts to maul the Canadiens, into submission aren't successful. Young children like to ,emulate winners and the. e winners they will m ate will be the Laffeurs, Shutts and C,ournoyers, not the Dave Schultz' the _league. As for thecry of brea mg uptWeanadiens, that won't be necessary. Some day, perhaps soon perhaps a few years away yet, the bubble will suddenly burst and the team that seemed invincible will seem ordinary. , It's happened before. Some people Were predicting. adynasty for the Philadelphia Flyers only a couple of years ago. Before that , people wondered if anyone would ever take -.the St anley Cup away from Boston with stars . like Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. That day of reckoning too is cOahg for the Canadiens and it may come sooner thap anyone now thinks. All it takes is for ene team to discover how to wreathe Canadiens skilled system. ****** see tor y urseitl What you 'are saying is ridiculous. You say' you went to talk to the principal a "few" years ago about this situation. Now, whether or not this was happening 1-11 not know, as I was not attending this schoo at the time. I think you should catch up on things, because it is nOt going on now. As far - as bringing the, police into the situation, they do occasionally drive around the school looking for your so-called 80 mph speeders. You - also ask "Why are there so many coming to school by car?" Let •me answer this for you. Some students have spare classes earlY-in-the morning and others have spare classee in. the afternoon. They come by car as it is more convenient for, them. Also some students living in town have a long walk in the morning and like to bring the car. Get your facts straight, Mr. Van Geffen. •Concernerd Students, Mike Hak Mike Ferguson Wayne Parkinsop t- - Dive Ste.-Marie a.r)ne We have received' the 2 4, Ii nu ber of the Exeter Hirst 11 7 Reflector ,which is 'a new candida m te for public favour published in Exeter by Messrs. W. J. White and John CarrIck. Reflector ,is newsy, spicy sheet and is creditable to the skill,and ability of its publishers. C. W. Young who has filled the position of teller in the Consolidated Bank in this town for some time, has been moved to Hamilton, where he has been called to occupy a mere responsible trust. We notice many of the shade trees along the public streets have been barked and injured by horses• which have been tied up to them, The entertaitime nt given by the Seaforth• Dramatic Club in aid of the Mechanics Institute was very poorly aitended. The entertainment however, was splended, inost plays being well acted. There will be' a balloon •ascension in front of CardnO Halle immediately before ' the concert opening on Thursda The band through the good o ices of L. F. Wheeler of town, has secured the services of Professor Charles Fetzer 'of Tecumseh, Michigan, as their leader. We believe it is the intention of the band to treat the citizens to a few choice selections weekly hereafter. ,John Stewart of Stanley sold his span of colts to a farmer of the. County of Lambton for $250 cash. • Great stir was apparhtly manife*sted in Bayfield when a prize fight was announced and several parties came in from the country to witness it, but fortlinately they were disappointed. MAY 27, 1903 W. M. Harburn .proprietor of the Hensall green- houses has been adding, a couple of new buldings to meet the requirements of his increasing business and will soon have, everything right up to date. So warm was; the weather in this past week or so, and so large was the crowd in the village of Hensall on Saturday evening, the ice, cream venders were unable to supply the demands for that cooling refresitment. Urquhart-is getting in a \Tel:y.14rue quantity of saw ,logs. The"eouncil of Hensall are getting in a quanity of broken stone from St. Mary's for the improvement of streets. William BuChanan, Sanitary Inspector, has .been making his annual calls. The, Oddfellows of Hensell are, seriously considering the advisability of adding ten or fifteen feet to the' length of their hall. • Bert Hillen of Chiselhurst who took charge of the School east of Hensall, is now fully installed in his newcharge and doing excellent work. The masons have commenced operations at the barns cf Messrs. Stak and McLean, Chiselhurst. William Cudmore of Kippen was one of the most extensive shippers of baled hay in the province. He is making arrangements to do a large business when the new crop comes in. The Hurons go to Toronto to play their first game in _ the senior series in the Western Football Association. ames Lawrence iS ma mg -arfarig-ements for--the— — — erection of a new brick _residence on his farm on the fifth concession of McKillop. Barn raising appears to be the order Of the day in the vicinity ,of Harlock. Messrs. J. Taylor, T. Beattie, and D. Reid having raised theirs. Many handsome new buggies were purchased last week by farmers in the district of Harlock. Brucefield now has a telephone service in full operation. The poles have been planted Out for the first concession 4 Stanley where they join the line between. Ointon and Londoh and in this way get connection with the Outside world. The Central office has been lo,cated in the Post Office and Miss McIntosh has been calked in charge. A serious accident occurred when Robert McKay of Tuckersmith was putting his horse into one of the stalls the-ehurch-at-Brucefield. There-was another-'horse-in- the same stall and Mr. McKay was going to place his horse alongside of it. The animal kicked striking him on the side and knocked him backwards over the step. The blow from the horse cracked his two ribs, • MAY 20,1928 A week or so ago, James M. Scott, the well-known poultry breeder of Seaforth shipped a consignment of day-old:chicks to a man in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and everyone of them arrivecip alive and strong. The farmers atChiselWurst are now busy on the land pldwing, William .Slaven plowed and sowed a small field last Weekend.. • • ------With-:-the—re-peated—ctragging of-7-the—reads at Chiselhurst, 'they are becoming somewhat better but there is lots 'of room, for improvement. Edgar Mutt of Kippen, who• recently purchased the ,barn belonging to' the Schaeffer Est,ate, is having remodelled. ' We have just learned that Fred Williams; who resides at the home of John Glenn and who is a returned soldier, won the second prize given for stepdancing in the class of seven, held at the town of Clinton. Joseph K. Nagle of Dublin, who took a course at the Clinton School of Commerce has secured a position as stenographer with the Detroit Steel Company. ing operations are in slow progress at Manley on -account o ackward weathet. Everyone is waiting to make a gran a charge when the land dries up. MAY 22, 1953 d Mrs. Andrew chanan, well-known resident of Hensall, recently cel...rated her 95th birthday., Mrs. Buchanan attributes her • ng life to plenty of hard work and in taking .each day i 'ts stride. Bill Brock, Seaforth Distric :1 SChool student leaves next week for a three week trip to ng d Scotland. He represents the Junior Canadian Red Cross Society at the Coronation. The Seaforth Boy Scouts under command of their ,.scoutmaster, attended a church parade at St. John's Anglican Church, Brussels. ' The occasion was the preseqtation of a group charter to the second Brussels Scout group by H. First, commissioner, Western Ontario. - - A -feature of the-- Western -Ontario - Championship- Hddler's Contest will be a recording of a selection by the Champion Fiddler to be sent to Queen Elizabeth. One of the most eager contenders for fiddling honours will be William Hyde, Hensall.. 26 tons of paper, the best collection in- several years was realized by the Lions Club in its driVe for scrap paper, old mattresses and salvage last week. Proceeds are for the C.N.I.B. Walter, George Willis, Seaforth's oldest active businessman, died Monday in Scott Memorial Hospital. He was in his 83rd year. He was an outstanding athlete in his youth and for many years was a member of the Seaforth Lawn Bowling Club. Nearly sixty years ago he purchased from his father his retail store in Seaforth, which he continued to operate until four years ago, when the business was sold to his brother James E. Willis. Ted Harburn of Staffa was seriously binned last week whenthe gas -tank of an old automobile exploded covering him with blazing gasoline He had been cutting the automobile into sections with a blow torch. Large congregations attended te. 105th anniversary services at Carmel Presbyterian Church in Hensall when Rev. William Weir B.A.,B.D. of the Presbyterian church, Brampton, was the guest speaker. Mr. and Mrs, Andrew J. McNichol of Walton have purchased the residence of Henry Frieday. Second Clat•S Mail Registration-Number 0696 Telephone 527-0240 Behind the scenes By Keith Roulston Will spring ever come? For those interested in the' pitter patter of little feet we wrote about a couple of weeks back, _the 32 little_feet have been reduced to only eight. If you think we're relieved to have found homes for six of our' eight little pups, • you should see their mother. ' With eight little mouths yapping at her heals, old momma had retreated to sleeping in the' house while the- pups played outside. Since the number has been' reduced, she' seems to be taking some joy in her offspring again. Now instead of sleeping. she's often outside rolling in the grass and playing with them.- The lady of the house says she doesn't blame _hex., If kte__had eight_lcids.—sheld probably just like to curl up in a quiet corner and sleep . too. Member Cana brit You'd have to be a real grouch not to be,pleased with Seaforth Council's 1978 budget.. Not only have taxes gone dOwn a bit, •(by two or three dollars for an average homeowner) council has set up a reserve fund that will help finance.future capital spending. Mayor -Betty Cardno said at councira; budget meetingthat 'a balanced budget was council's, aim. Balanced means living within our Means, spending only what-money we can raise. That's something that other levels of government could do well to imitate. They won't but at least Seaforth people have . the satisfaction of knowing that close to home it would appear that spending is under control. The services we enjoy have no•63een Cut back either. Of-course county and school board savings-have. heipe.d Seaforth avOd a tax increase this year. But all county municipalities have had some savings there and .not all have men able'sto pass the savings along to local taxpayers as Seaforth has. The $25,000 reserve fund means that the town's need to borrow .and issue debentures when big money must be spent will be less. Council hope's that the fund can be added to each year and presumably kept at a reasonable level as it helps finance _ major projects. That should save Seaforth money. The ,town can make interest on reserve fund money when it's not. In use arid not have to pay'interest out when extra money is needed-:•- Borrowing has financed capital projects in, the past .... the' arena renovations for example. While that was perhaps unavoidable, council is acting very responsibly by planning to have more of its own money available the next time large expenditure • becomes necessary. A plan'ahead council which lowers Well meaning wrong headed .„. To the editor: Students say letter was alarming O.