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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2008-12-11, Page 16By Pastor Ernest Dow,Living Water ChristianFellowship (EMC), BlythBlyth Public School (BPS) hasserved its community consistently for 112 years. However it may not continue much longer unless its community stands up for it. To lose our school would bring with it the loss of a sense of community, and for some, expose them needlessly earlier to unsavoury influences. The current accommodation review underway in north-central Huron encompasses five elementary schools (Turnberry Central, Wingham, East Wawanosh, Blyth, and Hullett Central). Only Turnberry’s enrolment was low enough to ‘trigger’ a review. However the inclusion of the three southern schools affords the Avon- Maitland board an opportunity to investigate efficiency measures further afield, given the area’s decreasing rural population and the increasing age of the buildings. At first glance BPS might seem relatively immune to threat of closure. Its enrolment relative to capacity is the highest and steadiest in the group (84 per cent). Its operating and maintenance costs per pupil are lowest in the group - it is efficiently run. Why close a well-loaded, cost- effective school? Also, projecting 2010 enrolment on the basis of 2008 (and adding a similar amount of JK/SK students), Blyth’s projected 173 students couldn’t be divided and fit in the vacant spots at East Wawanosh and Hullett Central (73 and 65, respectively - total 138). The wrinkle comes when the board considers what to do with the 190 empty spots at F.E. Madill Secondary School. One proposal is to take the Grade 7-8s (projected number 175) out of the five elementary schools and give them their own ‘wing’ at Madill, as has been done elsewhere (e.g. Stratford). Suddenly the picture changes. Blyth’s remaining 136 students would then fit quite handily in the vacant spots at East Wawanosh and Hullett Central (109 and 100, respectively - total 209) with 73 spaces to spare! But there are other factors to consider than just dollars when one weighs the effects of losing a school in a community. A school contributes greatly to the social life in a village. At the RemembranceDay service, one could not help butnotice the whole right side of BlythMemorial Hall occupied byelementary students who had been able to simply walk there with their teachers. Graduations and seasonal concerts at the school are other significant social events. Currently 89 students (48 per cent, nearly half the enrolment) walk to school at Blyth. If all these had to be bused to East Wawanosh or Hullett Central, there are the negative effects of language to be overheard on the bus, not to mention the time chopped out of a child’s life by hours spent cooped up on a vehicle over a year. The proposal to move Grade 7-8 students to the high school may solve the board’s capacity problemthere (1/6 of Madill sitting empty)but there are indications children canbe negatively impacted byassociation with older teenagers in the senior grades. Their ‘innocence’ is at stake – subject to older kids’ familiarity with smoking, drugs, bad language, and sexuality. Just this past weekend a father wrote a letter to the editor of the Stratford Beacon Herald describing how his 11-year-old daughter has been very badly influenced by Grade 10 students at the high school where Grade 7-8s have been introduced. He writes that his daughter “has been caught smoking in front of school property and, just two weeks ago, she skipped school with two older girls. At home her attitude has gotten worse...Now that I have livedthis for myself, I can honestly sayhigh school is no place for an 11-year-old and no one can change mymind this time.” (Source:http://www.stratfordbeacon herald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1 334363) Do we want to lose community and sacrifice our children’s innocence prematurely just to save money? At the end of the day, the school board is not ultimately accountable for the welfare of our children. In the Judeo-Christian worldview, parents are the ones who are PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008.From the Minister’s Study‘Lose a school, lose community’ Celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World Brussels Mennonite Fellowship welcomes you Sunday, December 14 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Coffee Break 11:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages Noon Potluck Fellowship Meal 7:30 p.m. Brussels Community Chorale Concert at St. John’s Anglican Church, Brussels ~ Sponsored by the Brussels & Area Ministerial Pastor Brent Kipfer ~ 519-887-6388 308 Blyth Rd. E. Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n i ty ChurchofGod C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “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 December 14 Worship Service and Sunday School ~ 11:00 a.m. ~ Baptism ~ Guest Speakers - Anita and Paul Bertrand ~ missionaries working in Pader, Uganda ~ lunch with Anita and Paul following service Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Evangelical Missionary Church 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school) Sunday, December 14 - Jn. 1:6-9, 19-28“Who are You?”:Knowing Your Mission Community Christmas Service 7:30 pm at CRC, Rev. Gary Clark preaching BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, December 14 3rd Sunday in Advent and Communion Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. White Gift Sunday Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. White Gift Sunday Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Monday, December 22 Community Carols at Brussels United ~ Everyone Welcome Sunday, December 21 4th Sunday in Advent Family Services, no Sunday School THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Parish of New Beginnings December 14 Eucharist - the Service of Holy Thanksgiving Third Sunday in Advent Rev. Perry Chuipka Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, December 14 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 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 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 7:30 p.m. Evening Service & Youth Service Upcoming Events... Friday, December 12th at 6:30 p.m. “Christmas Gathering” Adult Banquet For tickets call 519-526-1131 Sunday, December 14th at 7:30 p.m. “Olde-Fashioned Christmas Concert” Fun for the whole family! Continued on page 19