HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1967-10-19, Page 9*
Teaching revolution at new Centennial school
Clinton N«w>-R«cord, Thurtchy, October 19, J 967 9
(By Shirley Keller)
When the new Huron Centen
nial School near Brucefieldwas
on the drawing board, It is doubt
ful that parents and school sup
porters had any idea of the type
of program which would greet
students when It opened, Cer
tainly ratepayers in Stanley,
Tuckersmith and Bayfield hoped
the new school would provide
an improved kind Of education
for this was the main selling
point in the swing to central
ization, but even the dreamers
didn’t visualize the kind of ac
tivity which would he going on
every day in the classes once
the building was established.
Principal Arnold Mathers had
invited pie to visit the school
one day tQ witness the reading
experience course being taught
at Huron Centennial School,
After being present at the open
ing session of the new audio
visual course attended by over
One hundred teachers in the
area, I decided to make a (special
trip to accept Mr. Mathers*
kiud invitation and to see for
myself what all the excitement
was about,
What I discovered was
amazing - and though I write
this with the heart of a mother,
I encQurage you with the pride
of a Huron County citizen tQ
take time out to tour the sulppl
when the official opening is held
tomorrow evening, Friday,
October 20,
As I entered the classrooms,
I saw ordinary Mildren from
average families caught up in
,a world where the emphasis
is on research and self-help,
Though the teacher hqvered
near by ready to assist and
suggest, the student was left
to explore and to learn that
which was particularly fascinat
ing for him.
In the huge kindergarten
rooms, children like jours and
mine had an opportunity to parti
cipate in a program meaningful
to every child. Gone was the
regulated every one-learnt th-•
s?.m s-thing-today era, and in
its place was a captivating in
vitation to express yourself and
experience and introduction to
the wide, wonderful world of
literature.
Mr, Mathers explained that
children come to school with
some capacity to read. Whether
through television or from
boxes* on the pantry shelves,
most youngsters can recognize
the names of specific products
for instance, with which they
have association every day. Mo
dern theory seems to be to
allow children to pick their own
special words for learning, dnd
while Susie may learn some
thing entirely different from
/
Johnny, both have the pleasant
and satisfying experience of
Identification with the subject
they have chosen.
I was shown how the teacher
had motivated her class to think
about Expo. With the aid of
several slides, she had created
impressions on the minds for
four and five-year olds who were
then called upon to paint that
thing which had pleased them
most, There were as many
different drawings as children
in the class, put each child
was encouraged to explain his
drawing to the teacher who in
turn listened and finally labelled
the picture correctly,
The words written on the
crude drawings become per
sonal, meaningful words to the
individual artists, and each
learned and digested his own
word with a kind of interest
that defies forgetfulness.
By the time the children have
reached Grade 1, they have
developed an understanding of
words and how exciting they can
be. Now, the youngsters are
beginning to read little stories
about the pictures they draw -
and the appetite for learning new
words is whetted.
I spent some time in a Grade
2 class where the theme had
Brucefield
to do with pilgrims and Indians
and early Canadians, Theyoun^
sters in this class were enjoy* -
ing every second Pf their read
ing experience lesson, and I
could easily comprehend the
reason.
A few students were clustered
. around a record player hearing
stories in word and song Wblcn
■j timed the imagination and
kindled the urge to be creative,
More were telling stories into
a tape recorder and hearing
them played back; others were
writing stories; more were
drawing pictures; two were
composing the daily class
paper; two more were preparing
the daily television show com-
plete with commercials. Though
it looked like play and sounded
like play, It was very much
a reading program as evidenced
by the students sitting and read,
ing in a colorful teepee in the
middle of the classroom.
Mr. Mathers pointed with ob-'
yious pride to a collection of
stories pinned up outside the
classroom door. There were
spelling mistakes, he admitted,
but the emphasis at this point
■ was not to hamper creativity
and desire to write with stuffy
rules and regulations about
spelling. That would come, the
Clinton Branch:
School was never like this when mother and
father were children. This Grade 2 class is
alive with color and activity. The walls, the
windows, the floors, and in some cases even
,the ceilings are covered with engaging bits of
this and* that which compel the children to be
interested and co-operative. Happiness is quite
apparent in both teachers and students and the
relationships between the two are fine examples
of understanding and respect ... but who wouldn’t
be happy with a reading session inside an
honesi-to-goodness teepee.
a wo’weriul aid to
reading. Phe classes at Huron Centennial School
especially those In the* reading experience
course at the junior level, make plenfj of use
of the electronic wonders which pick up and
play back the accomplishments and the failures.
• DESIGNED FOR EASY LIVING ELEGANCE
e DESIGNED FOR EASY LIVING ELEGANCE
STRONG TRILAN TUFTED CONSTRUCTION
MORE PILE DENSITY PER SQ. FT. THAN COM
PETITIVE CARPETS
Stain resistant - easy care
6.49 PER SQ. YD.
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DOUBLE JUTE PACKING
PROPYLON - TRILAN - NYLON AND ACRYLAN FIBRES
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ip
H8
of ’nose who use it. Here, Grade 2 students
Barbara Butt (left) Susan. Seek, Bonnie Makins,
Johnny McLeod and Wayne Matzold tell stories
and hear them played back. It’s fun but it’s
beneficial, too, say those who knew about such
things,
young, energetic principal add.
ed. ’ .
-. It did, too, By fhe timu the
children had reached Grade 3.
they weye asking the teacher the
correct spelling for words they
wished to write and by Grade .
4 and 5, the pupils were well
oii their way to becoming good'
spellers. - .
And the stprles the childrep
at Grade ? level are Able to
write and read would astonish
most persons educated back
when schools were dark and
dingy, more like a prison than
anything else.
I do not suggest that this |s
the oply way to educate the
young. I can appreciate that
soma students might find it dif
ficult to adjust io the new found,
freedom „ and independence
Which is so much a part of a pro
gram like this. Still, I was in-
• trigued by the excitement of it
all, and the remarkable organ
ization that results from what
appears to be chaos.
“I think uur teachers are hit
inclined! to shout about the pro
gram yre have at this school/*
Observed Mr. Mathers as I was
leaving z
True
passbook
here
CLINTONS CANADIAN CELANESE
True Chequing
personalized
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go here
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Here it is! Everything you need for your com
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This new True way keeps your True Chequing
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enough in a True Chequing Account to pay your
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(If you already have a 3% Savings Account, you.
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Seehow this simplifies your money planning.. Come
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get your new True-blue wallet free. ■
Bank of Montreal EQ
Canada's First Bank
K. G. FLETT Manager
CARPET CENTRE. ■ ?
CENTENNIAL
SELL-A-B R AT IO N
OCTOBER 16th to OCTOBER 28th
Miss F«ir»«rvic» •Handed C.D.C.I.
and obtained her degree a» a
Bachelor of Fine Arts at Wayne Uni
versity. For three years acted as a
decorating consultant for Eatons of
Canada in Toronto and is at present
operating the Country Studio in Blylh.
FOR THIS SALE OVER 5000 SQ YD
FIRST QUALITY CARPET to 40% OFF
"EASY LIVING"
"WARM WELCOME"
NYLON
REGULAR 10.95 SQ. YD.
"MAGNIFIQUE"
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DEEPLY EMBOSSED, THREE PLY HIGHLIT LEAF
PATTERN
RANDOM SHEARED FOR SOFT WARM TEXTURE
PATTERN CONCEALS TRAFFIC AND SOIL
EASY TO CLEAN
Miss Fairservice will be at
our store October 18, 19, 20
and 21 st to advise arid offer
suggestions on home fur
nishings.
Bring your own samples of
fabrics and room dimensions
to her and discuss your idea
with her over a cup of coffee
at our store.
8.95 PER SQ. YD.
DEEP PILE TUFTED PLUSH CARPET
- CANADIAN CELANESE
Representatives
• 100% ACRYLIC FIBRE
• MOTH AND MILDEW PROOF, NON-ALLERGIC
• A LUXURY CARPET FOR ELEGANTS, AVANT
GARDE ROOMS
9.9 5 <’er sq yd'
OPEN THURS.-FRI
WILL BE AT OUR STORE
OCT. 19-20-21
8.95 per sq‘ yd’
YOUR CONVENIENCE DURING
HARDWARE & FURNITURE
BALL & MUTCH LTD.
REGULAR 10,95 SQ. YD.REGULAR 15.95 SQ. YD.
THIS SALE I*
71 ALBERT ST. CUNTOM + Quality You Can Trust From Peopte You Know +482-9505
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