HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-06-18, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009. PAGE 11. By Ernest DowLiving Water ChristianFellowship (EMC), BlythOn June 23, the trustees of the
Avon-Maitland District School
Board are scheduled to vote on the
fate of several area elementary
schools, including Blyth Public
School.
An accommodation review which
ran from November – April
recommended strongly that AMDSB
not move Grade 7 and 8 students
into F.E. Madill or Central Huron
Secondary Schools; and that a new
elementary school be built to
accommodate students from four
existing schools which would be
closed (Blyth, East Wawanosh,
Turnberry Central, and Wingham).
On April 14, board staff
recommended instead that Grade 7
and 8 students from Wingham and
Turnberry be sent to F.E. Madill; K-
6 students from Turnberry be sent to
Wingham PS (closing Turnberry);
and that Blyth PS be closed with
students re-routed to East Wawanosh
or Hullett Central.
Then on June 9 MPP Carol
Mitchell announced $8.8 million in
funding from the Ministry of
Education for a new JK-Grade 6
elementary school in the Wingham
area. This resulted from a ‘Local
Priorities’ / ‘Prohibitive to Repair’
application originally submitted by
board staff in October 2008 which
proposed consolidation of the four
schools but with Grade 7 and 8
students relocating to a wing of F.E.
Madill.
A key issue for parents who have
expressed opposition to relocating
Grade 7 and 8 students to the
secondary school is fear that these
11-to-12-year-olds may be
negatively influenced by behaviours
of older students, such as smoking,
drinking, and drug use. A
controversial flyer featured a photo
of a boy with a cigarette in his
mouth.
Opponents to relocation also point
to findings by researchers at the
Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health in their Ontario Student Drug
Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS).
For instance, in our own Local
Health Integration Network (South
West LHIN), 18.2 per cent of
students surveyed admitted they had
a drug use problem. The study also
revealed, across the province, a
marked difference between the
elementary and secondary levels in
the fraction of students getting drunkor high at school (Grade 7-8, three tofour per cent; Grade 9-12, 15-24 percent).
Board staff responded to such
concerns in a report to the June 9
AMDSB meeting. They highlighted
various ‘encouraging findings’in the
OSDUHS report – use and perceived
availability of some drugs is
decreasing; and later onset of
smoking and drinking. They also
acknowledged some areas of caution
in the report, including: 12.5 per
cent of students surveyed smoke; 26
per cent report binge drinking
behaviour; 21 per cent report using
opioid pain relievers for non-
medical purposes.
Also, Grades 7-9 are the time in a
young person’s life when they are
most likely to initiate these types of
behaviours.
Staff noted a variety of
intervention programs already
underway in the schools which
attempt to discourage substance
abuse. One of these stated, “School
staff use the 10 Attributes of
Character as a basis for discussing
issues around substance abuse with
students. Attributes including
Courage, Respect, Perseverance and
Responsibility are all key to
successfully coping with peer
pressure and high risk behaviours.”
In the following discussion, a
trustee noted his belief that the
Communities of Character program
would prove helpful in addressing
the problem.
Is the promotion of positive
character qualities enough in itself to
help young people resist temptations
to get high from substances? The
International Association of
Character Cities, and Character
Training Institute, acknowledge
their roots in material originally
developed by Bill Gothard and
popularized in his Institute in BasicLife Principles. In Mr. Gothard’s intervention withat-risk young people, there was a
strong Biblical basis – as evident in
his Character Sketches volumes and
IBLP seminars. Secular school
boards and municipalities are
attempting to capitalize on the
‘character’approach cut off from the
underlying religious (Christian)
framework.
Proverbs 4:23 warns, “Watch over
your heart with all diligence, for
from it flow the springs of life.”
Jesus pointed to the heart as the
source of much that plagues society:
“For from within, out of men’s
hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, … lewdness, …
arrogance and folly.” (Mark 7:21-
22).
So in the New Testament, the heart
is the starting-point for true human
transformation and regeneration.
“Love the Lord your God with all
your heart…” “It is with your heart
that you believe and are justified…”
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and
pursue righteousness, faith, love and
peace, along with those who call on
the Lord out of a pure heart.” (Luke
10:27; Romans 10:10; 2Ti 2:22)
Alcoholics Anonymous is a long-
standing organization with a track
record of helping individuals recover
from addiction. A Higher Power is
viewed as essential in helping
someone resist taking that next drink
which would start them on a
destructive downward path.
At the board meeting it was also
noted that adults play a crucial role
in influencing the behaviour of
young people – in fact, sadly, some
adults encourage substance abuse by
youth. A parent at another meeting
was overheard to bemoan the fact
that the Grade 8 class would likely
refuse that couple’s invitation to
hold their graduation party at theirplace because no drinking would beallowed; instead, the Grade 8s wouldprefer to go to a home where
drinking was allowed.
Sadly, the OSDUHS report notes a
40 per cent use of alcohol by
students across the province already
in Grade 8.
We become what we worship
(Psalm 115:8); what we cherish in
our heart deeply affects us.
A recent Maclean’s cover featured
Sex, Drugs, and Acrobats – the rise
to fame of the billionaire founder of
Cirque du Soleil. The article
described the lavish parties with sex
and drugs, overlooked by local law
enforcement officials, which formed
a vital part of Guy Laliberte’s
promotion scheme.
When society rewards such
behaviour by renowned adults and
stars – how can we expect our
children to resist the same
temptations? We need a Saviour,
stronger even than ‘character’
mantras.
But will we take the first step to
recovery by overcoming denial, and
admit we have a problem?
From the Minister’s StudyOvercome denial and admit the problem
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
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“The Church
is not a building,
it is people
touching people
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
- Christian Education
for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
See you
Sunday!
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, June 21
Father’s Day
Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
~ Guest speaker: Erin Roy
~ Torch Bearer ~ Beijing Olympics
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, June 21
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Sunday, June 21: 1 John 5
“The Victory that Overcomes
without Nukes”
Outdoor Baptism / Membership
Service at J&R Uyls’
180 North St., Blyth
Evangelical Missionary Church
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, June 21
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age (mornings only)
Childcare provided for infants and toddlers
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact:
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, June 21
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
PASTOR DAVID WOOD
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School & Small Groups
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 17-21
“Athletes in Action” Soccer Camp
Ages 7-12
July 6-10
“Through the Wilderness”
Vacation Bible School
Grades JK - Gr. 6
Men’s Bible Study
Saturday, June 20
7:45-9:00 am
You are invited to join us for this morning
Bible Study, held in the Fellowship Hall.
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