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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1971-11-18, Page 1ri 1.1111111.1.1.1.• I I I a ..111.11111.111.1. N.11•n •1111 Weather Student nurses hurt in 111c1Cillop car crash Thursdoy, November 18. 1971 1971 Hl.LO 1970 HI LO Nov. 9 36 22 59 34 10 43 33 56 48 11. 39 32 50 45 12 46 30 52 44 13 44 29 47 32 14 48 33 34 28 15 55 3$ 34 29 Snow 2" Snow 3" Rain .63" 106 Veor- , A Londesboro area girl and her friend, another student nurse, were injured in is car accident in McKillop township Sunday night. Wendy Caldwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Caldwell was injured when the car driven by Wendy Richardson of South Porcupine left the road and overturned. Miss Richardson suffered a broken back. Both girl's were treated in Seafotth Community Hospital and transferred to Toronto Western Hospital where they are student nurses. tht10 rio Clinton News-Record V1sse.ssus 1 st Column CFB sold future plans uncertain The Flying Fathers are going to land in Minton on Dec. 16 for a game against *Rimers from the Clinton area. The famous iockey team will be taking on the oldtimers with the proceeds to go to the Huron County Children's Aid Society. * * * The new town street sweeper arrived in town last week but wasn't used for awhile because all there was,was snow to sweep. But the snow melted and the streets were swept and the improvement certainly is to be noticed. * * * Business seems to be booming in Clinton. This week a new boutique is opening, up on Beech Street to be known as the Spinning Wheel. The expanded facilities of Smith's store are also ready for opening. It would seem the' tough economic conditions are not hitting Clinton too severely. Canadian Forces Base Clinton has , unofficially been sold. Kitchener realtor John Van Gastel said Friday that his firm, Rodoma Investment and Developments Ltd. of Galt had purchased the former base. No official refused to reveal the purchase price. After the story appeared in the Free Press, CKNX radio and television in Wingham broadcast a taped interview with Mr. Van Gastel. announcement has been made, however, by Crown Assets Disposal, the government body in charge of the negotiations and final signing of the sale agreement has not apparently been made. News of the sale first leeked out Friday morning in a speculative story in the London Free Press which quoted an Ottawa source as saying the price was $500,000. Other sources, however, say, this figure is not correct and in a television interview Mr. Van Gastel School board to seek space at Base BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER A decision was reached at Monday evening's meeting of the Huron County Board of Education to look into the possibility of securing board office accommodation at former CFB Clinton. The board had attempted earlier this year to acquire space in this complex but had been unable to make suitable arrangements. Board chairman Robert Elliott claimed there were no stipulations ever laid down by the board concerning the floor space required by the board of education. It is understood, however, that complete office accommodation plus a board room would be favored by the members of the board of education. One board member, Dr. Alex Addison, Clinton, suggested at Monday's meeting that if the board is considering the construction of board-owned office accommodation, it might do well to look at a lot already owned by the board of education behind Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton on Raglan Street. The lot is 132 feet by 330 feet and is being sought presently by Wilfred Mclntee and Company Limited. Discussion on this matter revealled that Clinton's planning board would not likely permit the construction of office accommodation in that area, believed to be zoned residential. .However, Dr. Addison urged the board not to rush into sale of the property. "You- shouldn't be in a hurry to sell it," said Addison. "You can always sell it." John Henderson, charged with the responsibility to investigate the worth of the property in question, said it would be entirely possible for the board to retain a right of way and to sell a sizeable lot as well. The whole problem is to be studied further at the next board of management meeting. December 6. Also at that meeting, the situation at the Goderich cafeteria will be discussed and a recommendation made concerning it. Huron B of E discusses 24 recommendations The greater part of the regular open meeting of, the Huron. County Board of Education Monday evening was spent discussing the 24 recommendations which evolved from October's meeting on better communications. Only two recommendations made by the committee of communication were not Huron County Development Officer Spence Cummings who has spent the last two years trying to find a new occupant for the base, said he felt someone panicked when the story appeared in the Free Press and let the cat out of the bag before it was supposed to be. He said he expects an official announcement from Crown Assets some time this week. Details of just what is planned for the base are sketchy, Mr. Cummings said, even to those connected with the negotiation for the sale. He said Mr. Van Gastel plans to meet with Huron Warden Jack Alexander, Clinton Mayor Don Symons and Tuckersmith Reeve Elgin Thompson as soon as possible. Mr. Cummings said he first became involved with Mr. Van Gastel when he approached him interested in the base after it was phased out by the armed forces. At this time Mr. Cummings was employed at an office at the base by the county with the express purpose of trying to find new tenants for the base. Mr. Cummings and Mr. Van Gastel went to Ottawa to discuss purchase of the base but was turned down at that time. He then submitted a tender and apparently was successful. Mr. Van Gastel said Conestoga College will be moving into the base. It is understood they will occupy the former Air Marshall Hugh Campbell Public School. Mr. Van Gastel will bring in one company himself and said in the television interview that he is negotiating with several other companies for use of other buildings on the base. He said his own company would employ 30-40 persons. A group is also interested in the recreation facilities at the base. These would be used for a sports training complex. But Mr. Cummings stressed that many of —the rumours about the future of the base are unfounded. The News-Record next week will contain full details on the future plans. approved by the board. The board decided not to provide monographs of each board member for each principal for publication on the staff bulletin boards. As well, the board accepted the principals' adverse feelings concerning the appointment of a staff representative to keep each teaching (See Page Eight) not .yet been made, however, by Crown Assets Disposal, the government agency in charge of negotiations and details on the use of the base are sketchy. Canadian Forces Base Clinton has been sold, that much we know. John Van Gastel, the Kitchener man who heads Rodoma Investment and Developments Ltd. of Galt, announced last week that his company has purchased the base. The announcement has Huron Board of Education discusses credit system BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER The implications of the credit system in secondary school, to become effective in all Ontario high schools in September 1972, were discussed in detail Monday afternoon at the regular meeting of the Huron County Board of Education meeting. This was the second of a series of information meetings concerning education scheduled for this fall and winter. The committee who presented the brief consisted of Gordon Smith, chairman, CHSS; Robert Homuth, CHSS; Arch Dobson, Seaforth SS; Jack Kopas, F. E. Madill SS; Ken Lawton, South Huron SS; and Jack Seaman, Goderich Collegiate. Charles Rau represented the trustees on this committee and Superintendent Frank Madill was the board office committee member, Outlining the background of the new credit system, Bob Homuth, principal of CHSS in Clinton, said that just a few years ago, students had very little choice about the subjects they would take in secondary school, "Prior to 1960," said Homuth, "students entering Secondary School were offered a package of subjects with little or no choices of courses. Students were forced to take subjects in many cases in which they had no aptitude or interest: If a student did not obtain a passing average he was obliged to repeat the entire year. In other words, he would be repeating subjects in which he had achieved well, and continue those subjecth in which he had little or no competence or interest," "This led to dissatisfaction which resulted in many dropouts," continued Homuth. "Under 10 percent of the students who enrolled in Grade 9 completed Grade 13. During this period the educational program was mainly geared to prepare students for university, nursing institutions and teachers' colleges." "In 1961 the Reorganized Program of Studies — Roberts Plan — was introduced to better Meet the needs of students and hence raise the retention rate," said Hoorah. "This was the period of Russian superiority in space exploration which led to a great cry for technological training. More avenues should be opened to the students. This new plan offered courses in Arts and Science, Business and Commerce, Science, Technology and Trades with four and five year programs in each of the above branches, In addition a two-year occupational program Was offered to students who were transferred rather than promoted from Grade 8 of the elementary system. As a result of this program students were better able to select courses for their needs and capabilities." with students concerning subject selection," concluded Lawton. Lawton pointed out that while there will be no compulsory subjects and no prerequisites of subjects, there will be "no reduction in quality of standards." There were eight recommendations made to the board by Arch Dobson and Jack Kopas. They were: 1. That the principal and his staff encourage students to take a full program of studies in each year within their capabilities and the facilities available in the school; 2, That the principal and his staff offer programs of study from the four areas of study such that students in years one and two may gain a basic foundation of knowledge and exposure to various disciplines; 3. That the principal and his staff offer for students in years three, four and five, so far as facilities allow, courses in keeping with individual student's needs and interests, achievements and abilities; 4. That the principal and his staff in recognition of the student individual differences, continue to offer courses to develop the full potential of each student; 5. That the board continue the current policy of reviewing and meeting the increasing demands placed on Guidance and Counselling Services because of added responsibilities in counselling students; 6. That the board make a study of the adequacy of the existing facilities to meet future requirements of students during their unscheduled time; 7. That the board study the use of computers for scheduling and recording under a credit system; 8. That the board establish a committee comprised of the director, superintendents, principals, vice-principals and guidance department heads to investigate problems such as expanding the Arts area of study, establishing minimum class sizes for new courses, student attendance regulations and any other problems relating to the implementation of the credit system. Norman Hodgson, Department of Education, London, a former high school principal in Peel County, sat in on the discussion. He'd had experience with the System and was asked to comment upon it. Hodgson said that good communications with the parents and with the elementary schools is of the utmost importance. He said a great burden is placed on the school but that the pupil and the 'Pupil's parents now figure even more largely in the student's final success. In his experience, Hodgson said, students took More credits than necessary to obtain their diplomas, mostly because they drafting etc.); Social Sciences, those studies which are primarily concerned with man's unique nature and the spatial and social forces which affect his destiny and his interaction with the environment in which he lives (such as economics, geography, history, marketing, world politics etc.); pure and applied Sciences, those studies and the skills facilitating them which are primarily concerned with the properties of matter and energy and the conditions of their inaction, and with the application of this understanding to the solution of practical problems (for instance business machines, elements of technology, industrial arts, mathematics, sciences etc.); and Arts, those studies which are concerned with the aesthetic nature of man and the creative expression of that nature (such as art, home economics, music, physical education, theatre arts etc.). A credit is defined as successful completion of a course containing work that normally would be completed after 110 to 120 hours of scheduled class study. Seaman pointed out that on an average, this works out to about one period daily. For a secondary school graduation diploma, a student must have satisfactorily completed 27 credits on the following basis: at least one credit from each of the four areas of study in each of the student's first two years in secondary school (eight credits); at least one further credit after the first two years from each of the four areas of study (four credits); and a further 15 credits for a total of 27. A secondary school honor graduation diploma will be granted when the student completes six credits at the Year Five (Grade 13) level. When the system goes into effect next September, students who have completed one year of secondary school will need a total of 20 additional credits for a secondary school graduation diploma; those who have completed two years (Grade 10) will need 13 credits; and students who have completed three years (Grade 11), a total of six credits. "An area of study may be defined as a broad segment of man's 'knowledge and inquiry," Seaman noted. "The diploma requirements are designed to ensure that each student obtains some experience in each of these broad areas of knowledge and inquiry while still permitting a substantial degree of specialization if desired," Scanlan further commented that in Huron County, it may be found that schools are lacking in the types and varieties of Arts courses offered. Ken Lawton, South Huron DHS, listed sortie of the implications of the system. "While this system seems to imply a new focus — learning skill is more important than learning content — it is the committee's opinion that this focus already exists in our classrooms," said Lawton. He said that individual timetables would be offered right down to first year level (Grade 9) and that as a result of the new credit system, it would actually become more easy to get a secondary school graduation diploma. "This committee emphasizes that the facilities available as well as the student's choices will indicate to the principal and his staff the courses to be taught," stated Lawton. "Any school lacking the necessary manpower, accommodation or equipment would be doing a disservice to offer a subject even if a satisfactory number of students asked for it." "The committee is of the opinion based on present student enrollment projections the implementation of the credit system should cause no increase in capital expenditures for equipment," added Lawton. "It is assumed that the principals will provide essentially the same subjects in the future as they do now. However, this committee does feel that if many students elect to take a minimum program (only 27 credits) some schools will be hard pressed to accommodate these students in their unscheduled time." "It should be noted that a student can achieve a secondary school graduation diploma by completing any 15 credits beyond the 12 required credits even though none is at the present Grade 12 level," said Lawton. "While the schools are obliged to strongly recommend a program of study and inform the student as to the worth of such a program it will be the perogative of the parent and the student to accept or reject the recommended program." "The new greater freedom of choice of subject imposes a heavy burden of responsibility on the students," continued Lawton. "While choosing to meet their interests, they should also choose to meet their needs. They should therefore consider what possible subjects may be required to admission to various post secondary educational institutions." "Since a diploma will be less meaningful in the future and since transcripts of marks will become more important, students should be Made even more aware of the significance of subjects taken and marks achieved," stated Lawton. "This burden of responsibility will be Shied by patents, school administration and in particular by Guidance Department Counsellors who will find that a much greater proportion of their time will be spent "It was evident that many more students fulfilled the requirements for secondary school diplomas. The retention rate was better," continued Homuth. "The system was still fairly rigid in that students after Grade 9 were locked-in in the program which they had selected. Toward the end of the 60s students were permitted to move from one branch to another." "By the end of the 60s the emphasis on technological training was waning in favor of a more humanistic approach," Homuth explained. "Basic knowledge, skills and aptitudes which have already been established must become more highly developed in keeping with the increased demands of life in Canadian society. The vital qualities of curiosity and imagination require consistent yet delicate stimulation. Among the basic principles of education there is also the fact that one of the greatest contributions a school can make to its students is to develop in them an active desire to continue learning throughout their lives.' "The knowledge explosion in most subject fields indicates the futility of emphasizing only the gathering and memorizing of large numbers of facts and details," stated Homuth. "It is more important in most subjects that students learn to investigate, think, analyze, synthesize, interpret and record. Any of the subject disciplines can provide an adequate vehicle for the development of learning skills," "Where the student selects his own program to meet his own needs and his own interests he is more apt to progress to an adequate acquisition of knowledge and these learning skills," Homuth pointed out. "The meaningful search for knowledge will continue beyond his high school days into his adult life." "Hence the credit system has been introduced, in some schools and must be put into effect in all schools by September 1971," concluded Homuth. "This will necessitate the use of individual timetables throughout all schools to accommodate studenth' freedom of choice." In summing up, Superintendent Madill claimed this was "not an educational breakthrough" since this system has been either partially or fully In use in many Schools for several years now. Jack Seaman; Guidance Head at GDCI, explained the four new areas of study as designated by the Ontario Department of Education. They are Communications, those studies which are primarily concerned with Man's interchange of thought and with all modes of human expression (such as languages, creative writing, data processing, recognized the value of a broad base of knowledge when searching for a job. Better marks were sought after too, he said, because a transcript of their achievement would go to their prospective employers at the end of school. Hodgson also pointed out that a transcript of the marks was "well received" by employers who found they could now differentiate between the students who had received diplomas and those who had earned diplomas with good marks. Hodgson did imply that the guidance department of the school was a key part of making the credit system work well but he didn't say that it would necessarily mean that additional money would have to be spent on guidance. He suggested that the structure of guidance departments might have to be changed drastically to permit the new work load, but he warned the board it might become necessary for them also to "take a look at priorities." "You must build your schools on trust and confidence," said Hodgson. "Don't trap kids into rules they can't live with. As soon as you put barriers up, someone's going to attack you and win, So why put that barrier there tn the first place?" , "You can't measure how successful a student can be when he is motivated," concluded Hodgson. "Pupils are still going to take what is best for them," said CHSS Principal Robert Homuth. Several members of the board as well as an English teacher from SHDHS, Bruce Shaw, were concerned that English would no longer be a compulsory subject. In fact, Shaw stated that he could see the teacher becoming "an entertainer" and wondered if "scholarship" would be "sacrificed for amusement." Shaw said that what used to be known at university as "Mickey Mouse Courses" could become the order of the day at high school since students could get a secondary school graduation diploma with any 27 credits they chose. Hodgson said that if he was a teacher, he would be offended to think that his associates thought he was teaching a "Mickey Mouse Course" and said that if he was a principal, he would be insulted at the inference that "Mickey Mouse Courses" were offered at his school. "All courses should be made difficult enough so that only the students who work dY are particularly adept at these courses would do well in them," stated Hodgson. "If there are Mickey Mouse courses in the school, someone should be responsible for getting them out. But we have to have basic trust in kids. They don't always take the easy way out,"