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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-05-21, Page 1Tasty Seated from left: Henri Frischknecht, Kurtis Frischknecht, Craig Raynard and standing, Curtis Raynard prove there’s no better thing in the spring than a hot dog, a cold pop and a swing. The quartet were out supporting the East Wawanosh Grade 8 fundraiser on Saturday. (Vicky Bremner photo) People were insulted. They demanded apologies, threatened to withdraw their children from the public school system and even threatened legal action last week at the Avon Maitland District School Board meeting held at Wingham Public School. The board received eight delegations from the North Huron community. Several delegates quoted superintendent of education Mike Ash as saying there was no academic difference between Grade 7 and 8 students who learn in a traditional elementary situation and those who learn in a secondary school setting. Parents then wondered if the decision would benefit the board’s bottom line and declining enrollment issues, or the students’ education, with the staff proposing changes that Ash professed will not alter their academic performance for better or for worse. ARC community representative David Sparling asked the board at the end of his presentation, “Are we putting our kids, or our outdated buildings first?” ARC co-chair Mark Beaven also addressed the issue of Grade 7 and 8 students being forced into a secondary school. He said this action would put the students at risk, would provide no academic benefit and added that it was against the wishes of the community. Beaven said that many parents have come to him, saying that they will withdraw their children from public schools, if the board accepts the staff recommendation to move the Grade 7 and 8 students to a secondary school. Beaven said there are already parents looking into private schools, the Catholic school board and potential home-schooling. However, Beaven said, he is hoping these drastic measures will not be necessary. “This will result in parents pulling their children out of the public education system. I am urging them not to because I have faith,” he said. “This is real and you need to take this into consideration.” Beaven argued that while the North Maitland Centre of Educational Excellence may not be favoured by the staff, it will have a “definite academic benefit” to students, something the staff’s proposal doesn’t promise. Sparling poured over charts showing students from the five schools involved in the ARC coming in under the provincial average in many of the major categories over several grades. “Numbers can be interpreted nine million different ways, but down is down and up is up,” he said. “And for the staff’s proposal to make no academic difference, for [parents], it’s very hard to get excited about it, to get behind it.” In addition to the apparent lack of academic benefit, there were behavioral concerns about public school students being exposed, prematurely, to smoking, drinking and sexual activity. While Ash insists that in other situations where Grade 7 and 8 students have been integrated into a secondary school setting, like the board staff is recommending in North Huron, parents were still concerned. Comments made by Ash several weeks ago regarding the image of F.E. Madill students being painted by ARC members and parents were scrutinized as well. Beaven said that the ARC was simply reacting to orientation videos and reports from the board itself as well as the Huron County Health Unit, and not singling Madill students out. “F.E. Madill is a great high school, but it is exactly that: a high school. And high school issues are not specific to the students at F.E. Madill,” he said. Muriel Coultes, a representative of seniors in the East Wawanosh ward also addressed Ash’s comments, calling them “very hurtful.” Sparling pointed out that while it has been said that some of the social issues, such as smoking, drinking and sexual activity, have been said to It’s never easy to say goodbye — but on June 30 that’s exactly what one Brussels organization will be doing. After 76 years of fellowship and service to community Morning Star Rebekah Lodge No. 315 will close. Dwindling attendance and a lack of new blood has been cited as the primary reason behind the move. “We have about 25-30 members now, including men, but most of them are getting older,” said Noble Grand Sister Sharon Freeman. “We sometimes only have 10 out to a meeting, so we don’t always have enough to fill the chairs.” “In the winter, we have members who go south,” said Freeman. “And we aren’t getting new members. Women work or are too busy running after their children, and their interests.” The membership was called upon to vote on whether or not to keep the Lodge going and the result a “unanimous” decision to close. Though all may have been able to see the writing on the wall, the choice didn’t come without sadness, said Freeman. “There were mixed feelings, obviously. We have a member who is coming up to 60 years with the Lodge. It’s tough for members like that.” Jane Hall, whose mother Althea Rann was one of the charter members, and who joined herself in 1968 said she will miss the social aspect of the club. However, she said, it was time. “I liked getting together with everyone, and we did have a good time. But sometimes the idea of going out to a meeting wasn’t appealing anymore.” The first meeting for the Lodge was June 2, 1933, and 31 women and men received the Degree. Over the years membership grew, reaching over 60 at times. It’s decline is not unique, said Freeman. Lodges in Clinton and Seaforth have closed. And last year the Western Star Oddfellows in Brussels, instituted in 1874, closed. “We had been sharing the rent so we had to move our meetings to Melville Presbyterian Church,” said Freeman. The furnishings and other official Lodge items were dispersed. The last meeting for Morning Star will be June 30. This is expected to be a potluck and evening of reminiscing, said Hall. Freeman said that it’s anticipated the closing will be finalized from head office by the end of August. Man out on bail It’s heaven for country music fans, as Blyth hosts the 2009 am920 CKNX Ontario Open Country Singing Contest. And, just across town at the fairgrounds it’s the Barn Dance Historical Society’s Jamboree Campout. While both events have been in Blyth for a while, it was just last year that the were held on the same weekend. Organizers agreed that the two complimented each other well and felt it would provide additional entertainment to the music lovers at the campground. The competition, held at Memorial Hall, gets underway today (Thursday, May 21) with senior open category rehearsals in the afternoon. Tonight is the Coast to Coast concert, featuring talent from, well, coast to coast. The competition at the Hall runs throughout the weekend beginning with workshops for contestants on Friday and wrapping up with the awards ceremony on Sunday at 5:30. A weekend pass to hear as much of the music as possible is $25, while the price for adults is $8 on Friday, $10 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday, the days of the finals. Youths are $5, $8, and $10. The schedule can be found at www.ontariocountrysingingcontest. com In the meantime the Blyth campgrounds will be a busy spot as the 12th Jamboree Campout brings campers, bluegrass and country Community members speak out CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, May 21, 2009 Volume 25 No. 20SPORTS- Pg. 8Local soccer teamssuffer losses THEATRE - Pg. 19‘Promise’has showing inTokyoCOMMUNITY- Pg. 7Belgrave WI hands over keysto HallPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: Lodge closes after 76 years By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 7 Country music, campers come to Blyth A 39-year-old Wingham man charged with conspiracy to commit murder was released on bail Tuesday morning. His alleged accomplice, a 38- year-old North Huron woman, was scheduled to appear in Goderich superior court for a bail hearing at 11:30 a.m. There were no details at press time According to Crown Attorney Robert Morris the man is under house arrest as a condition of his bail. His next court date has not yet been determined, said Morris. Continued on page 20