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Home My WebLink AboutClinton 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. WALL-TO-WALL INSTALLATIONS. ILAN REGULAR 8.10 SQ. YD. AREA RUGS 9' x 12' - 12Z x 12' AND LARGER A SUPERIOR QUALITY tUfTED TWIST CARPET TESTED FOR TRAFFIC AND PERFORMANCE Proven heat set permanent TWIST yarns for RESILIENCE AND COMFORT mOtH proof - Mildew proof-non static DOUBLE JUTE PACKING PROPYLON - TRILAN - NYLON AND ACRYLAN FIBRES MANOR TWIST■IB/v "MS 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 cheques go here The new True way to bank Here it is! Everything you need for your com bination of True Chequing and True Savings accounts in a neat complimentary wallet. Including personalized cheques. This new True way keeps your True Chequing account separate from True Savings. You leave enough in a True Chequing Account to pay your bills. You put the rest into 4%2 % True Savings. (If you already have a 3% Savings Account, you. Can convert it to True Savings.) Seehow this simplifies your money planning.. Come in and ask about the new True way to bank — and 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" ACRYLIC 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 h