HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1967-02-02, Page 4ONE OF A SERIES
OF CENTENNIAL REPORTS
Activities
for schools
Into the bramble patch Canada, its people, its resources
and its history.
The following composition was
written by Bill Archibald, a grade
7 pupil near Seaforth.
An education opportunity
CANADA 2067
Canadians are now celebrating
our first centennial, but what
about a hundred years from now?
Let us find out by looking into
the future.
Many changes have happened.
Canada has become one of the
most powerful nations. The cap-
ital has been changed from Ottawa
to Winnipeg. Four new provinces
have been added, carved from the
twentieth century northern half
of the United States. The three
new territories used to be called
Greenland, West Indies and Al-
aska.
Canadian scientists are the
best in the world and space
travel and trade between Earth,
Moon, Mars and Venus is com-
mon.
What are the twenty-first cen-
tury Canadians doing for their
two-hundredth birthday? There
is an Interplanetary Fair to be
held at Toronto where the Can-
adians have invited the seven
other Earth countries, four Mar-
tian countries, seven of Venus's
countries and Koz and Zog the
two major Moon city countries.
Two adventurers are going
from Inuvak to Cape Horn and
back by power belts. One person
is reconstructing an ancient 1967
Thunderbird. The Canadian Em-
pire Games are being held in
Gederich, a thriving city of two
million on the shores of Lake
Huron.
The nation's top archeologists
are rebuilding famous forts of
Canadian history such as Louis-
bourg, La Rouge, Gary, Citadel
St. Louis and Fort George. in
the Rockies men are carving the
images of Canada's thirty prime
ministers. These are among the
many celebrations.
Few Canadians realize what a
magnificent future lies ahead for
this great nation of ours.
By ARNOLD MATIIERS
Principal, Huron
Centennial School
Birthday parties are typical
social events of younger children.
Anniversaries are more often
associated with adult life. There-
fore Canada's Centennial year
should be considered as the one-
hundredth birthday of Canada and
the one-hundredth anniversary of
the act of Confederation.
Among the many celebrations
and projects being planned and
promoted for Canada's youth,
there are activities for all age
groups and varying interests.
Projects emphasizing history,
art, music, drama, English, geo-
graphy, science and scholarship.
All School pupils in our area
will have the opportunity to view
the Centennial Caravan in Exeter
on October 10, 1967.
Most schools have individual-
ized projects suited to the inter-
ests and requirements of their
area.
Planting of native trees, est-
ablishing classroom museums,
dressing along a centennial theme
(staff and students), entertaining
guest speakers, making special
studies of Canadian geography
and history, visiting Expo, and
presenting pageants or concerts
along a Centennial theme are only
a few of the projects presently
being undertaken.
A guide-book for schools has
been distributed by the Centennial
Commission. It outlines "Ten
Days of Festivities" that may be
followed by elementary and sec-
ondary schools: January, Confed-
eration Day; February, Flag Day;
March, Be Good to your Neigh-
bour Arts, Letters and Sciences
Day; April, Spring Day; May,
Citizenship Day and/or Flower
Day.
June, Field Day; September,
Communications Day; October,
Thanksgiving Day; November,
Remembrance Day; December,
International Day.
Pupils from ages 6 to 18 will
be involved in the Centennial
Athletic Programme. This fea-
tures three compulsory events
(Standing Broad Jump, One Min-
ute Speed Sit-Ups, 300 Yard Run)
and optional events (Cross
Country Run or Skating orSwim-
ming).
Upon completion of the three
compulsory events and one op-
tional event, if the participant
meets or betters the given stan-
dard, he will win a second award.
All participants will receive a
Red Shield on completion of the
programme.
During this year all pupils
will further their knowledge of
advantages with the proposal from the
standpoint of the member municipali-
ties.
The one important benefit stems
from the fact that the one board will
administer both the elementary and
secondary school education in the dis-
trict, and the improved liaison between
the two systems should provide bene-
fits for the students.
However, we share the concern ex-
pressed by McGillivray board chairman
Roy Cunningham that the administra-
tion "will get farther away from the
ratepayers". This is evidenced in the
fact that McGillivray would have two
men on the district board, whereas
there are now seven men acting on
the ratepayers' behalf on the elemen-
tary and secondary boards.
It has been stated that there would
be a saving in operating costs, but of
course only time will tell. The experi-
ence in government has never proven
that costs are reduced when you be-
come bigger. In fact, there are many
examples to indicate that larger gov-
ernment bodies have larger wastes of
operating costs, in part stemming from
their wider separation from the people
who are paying the bills,
It's certainly no secret that the
provincial government is advocating
more centralization, but some of their
reasons are questionable. If the pro-
posed school setup becomes a reality
officials in neighboring areas will watch
it with much interest to determine if it
provides the benefits which the depart-
ment of education suggests.
Let's hope they give it a fair trial
before pushing more areas into it. It
could turn out to be a bramble patch
into which others wouldn't want to get
tossed.
The action being taken by *McGil-
livray Township and four of its neigh-
bors in forming a district school board
sounds similar to a story contained in
children's story books about Br'er Rab-
bit and the Tar Baby.
You may recall that Br'er Rabbit
became entangled in the tar sculpture
created by Br'er Fox, and while it ap-
peared he was to suffer the fate of
making the fox an ideal meal, he es-
caped by a most ingenious bit of trick-
ery; that of telling the fox that being
tossed into a nearby bramble patch
would be a fate even worse than death.
The story concludes with Br'er Fox
tossing the rabbit into the bramble
patch in an effort to inflict the great-
est torture possible, but alas he has
fallen into the trap. Br'er Rabbit picks
himself up and trots away in laughter,
calling back to tell the fox he was
born and raised in the bramble patch
and had therefore escaped unscathed.
The comparison is the fact the five
Middlesex communities have decided to
join together in face of the threat that
the department of education is going
to force the move sooner or later any-
way. The municipalities feel that they
can at least choose their own bound-
aries at this time, similar to Br'er Rab-
bit choosing his own fate.
However, it is questionable that
the "foxy" department of education
has been completely duped as they ap-
pear to have attained their goal—that
of forming a "peaceful" district board
without any great dissent.
Due to the fact that all the muni-
cipalities in what would be Western
Ontario's first central board have cen-
tral schools and no great problems at
this time, it is difficult to see too many
Promises soon forgotten
to demonstrate, among other
things, open-heart surgery, the
use of an artificial kidney, and
brain surgery.
The pavilions for "Man the
Producer" and 'Man the Pro-
vider" will chronicle the marvels
and hint at the potential dangers
of man's technological advances
in the first instance, and demon-
strate the techniques and the
problems of food production and
distribution in a world largely
underfed and increasingly crowd-
ed.
In addition to the main theme
buildings and the pavilions show-
ing the past, present and expected
future of the countries around the
world, several leading Canadian
companies will have special dis-
plays to detail this country's
accomplishments.
Well, so much for the tele-
grams—here are a few
sympathy cards!"
Some weeks ago this newspaper
stated its objections to the methods be-
ing used by the department of educa-
tion to entice communities in Huron
to join the new County Library System.
It was our contention that while
there were benefits to be derived by
such a move, the department was al-
most forcing municipalities to join by
dangling increased grants in front of
their noses. This appeared to be an at-
tempt to urge local municipalities to
give up a large portion of the control
of their libraries in return for tax mon-
ies — which local municipalities supply
the government in the first place.
While local officials deplored the
idea of giving up control of the local
library, they did agree to the plan in
view of the increased benefits to be
offered library customers.
During the deliberations, it was al-
ways explained that any decision was
a voluntary one, and if in fact a muni-
cipality decided not to join, it could
remain outside the system and continue
to operate as previously.
Now it would appear those words
were not as forthright as they ap-
peared, because at their last session,
members of county council decided to
ask the department of education to
amend the legislation to make it man-
datory that all municipalities join the
system now it has been approved by
the majority.
There may be logical reasons for
asking for such stipulations, but it
again points up the fact that all too
often statements made in enlisting sup-
port for various projects are quickly
forgotten once the majority have
agreed to give their support.
The situation is akin to a door-to-
door salesman who appears to be most
unobtrusive in his attempt to get a
foot inside the door, but who often
takes on an entirely different approach
once he gets inside.
Perhaps county council will recon-
sider their latest move and not make
any attempts to force municipalities in-
to the system, thereby following the
promises that were made at the time
municipalities were being asked to join
the latest move in centralized govern-
ment.
people of many creeds, colours,
races, languages, religions and
cultures. They will have an op-
portunity as no one of us ever had
in the past.
The theme of Expo 67 is '• Man
and His World" and in every
pavilion this theme has been
carried out under stringent rules
established by the canadianCor-
poration for the 1967 World Exhi-
bition which governs Expo.
The underlying philosophy is
summed up in a passage in which
the famous writer, Antoine de
Saint-Exupery, stated: "To be a
man.... is to feel that through
one's own contribution one helps
to build the world".
In developing this theme and
translating it into tangible form,
Expo 67 will seek to present not
merely a static commemoration
of man and his achievements, but
rather a dynamic portrait of man
in action. It will tell the story
of man's hopes and aspirations,
his ideas and endeavours. The
most modern display techniques
known will be used to dramatize
man's achievements in the
realms of ideas, culture and
science.
The five main Theme pavilions
will provide an education that
would take years to duplicate. In
the "Man the Creator" pavilion
there'll be nearly 200 fine art
masterpieces on display, these
having been loaned by museums
and private collectors around the
world. There'll be works of the
world's foremost sculptors,
photographers and designers.
"Man in the Community" will
examine the social and political
implications of the growing trend
towards urbanization throughout
the world.
"Man the Explorer" will
explore human anatomy, physi-
ology and psychology; the planets
and space; the polar regions and
the oceans; and there will be
actual clinics and laboratories
While this initial report on
Expo leaves many gaps yet to
fill, we hope it serves one pur-
pose: that of interesting read-
ers in the opportunity that we
have to see this great exhibi-
tion.
In particular, we hope it in-
itiates some action on the part
of area school boards to in-
vestigate the possibility of taking
groups of students to Expo so
they can benefit from the chance
of a lifetime.
Special rates are being estab-
lished for school students and
accommodation can be found very
inexpensively at university dor-
mitories and guest homes.
Many schools are taking advan-
tage of this opportunity and stu-
dents in this district should not
be bypassed. School boards seek-
ing centennial projects would be
well advised to give this serious
consideration and provide some
Initiative in arranging trips for
area students.
Do you remember when?
iro
mail order catalogues; a wise father al-
ways gave his son a dime for the col-
lection plate Sunday since he knew if
he gave him two nickels God might
only wind up with one; one of the argu-
ments for having a large family was
to have a place to live when you were
old . . . and not have to enter a nurs-
ing home; a fellow had to learn to
play the ukelele to cut a swath with
ladies at college.
Remember?
— Leamington Post & News
Sweet memory: A business success
meant a roll-top desk and wooden
wastepaper basket; only really wealthy
people complained about income taxes;
it was possible to go through life with-
out filling out a government form; if
kids wore tennis shoes to school he was
from a poor family; farmers thought it
a sin against nature to turn farm land
into golf courses since only the idle
rich could use it.
Farm boys learned about women
from reading the underwear ads in the
YONESIMISCOINAMSIMMOMENNINALWRIMMI
Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924
50 YEARS AGO
The ladies of Hurondale have
organized a Patriotic Society with
a membership of 30 and are
busily engaged in Red Cross
work.
petitions for Woman Suffrage
have been circulated around town
and have been signed quite freely.
Little Miss Madeline Dearing,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H.
Dearing of Stephen Is quite ill,
suffering from ear trouble.
Mr. W. J. Beer is in Toronto
this week attending a convention
of harness makers.
4011316"124:221tos mil A N by '4,4
Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont.
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office De n% Ottawa,
and for Payment of Postage in Cash
Well, what did you think of
Expo 67?
That's the question we've been
asked by several people since
returning home early Sunday
morning after a two-day stay in
Montreal and a tour of the site
for the 1967 World's Exhibition.
First of all, let us point out
that a brief answer to such a
question is impossible on the
basis of a five-hour session of
press conferences and a tour of
the site. One official told us
that he estimated it would take
about a three-week stay to "do
justice" to Expo, so you can
readily see that the surface can
hardly be scratched in the short
time at our disposal.
However, the best answer to
the question is contained in the
fact every one of the 200 editors
on the tour came away bubbling
with enthusiasm and making plans
to return when Expo opens its
gates for the April 28 to October
27 exhibition.
Perhaps only those who have
ever attended a World's Fair can
imagine the size of Expo. It
covers some 1,000 acres on his-
toric Ile Sainte-Helene, which
is 400 acres larger than the site
at the recent fair in New York.
The island was previously only
313 acres, but 25 million tons
of fill were dumped into the
mighty St. Lawrence to expand
the picturesque site.
The many pavilions practically
defy description as they come
in every shape and size imagin-
able—and some almost unim-
aginable. There's the g i ant
sphere-shape of the U.S.A; a
group of rectangular concrete
boxes that make up the Belgium
pavilion; inverted pyramids and
triangles such as the Eskimo
meeting place in the Canadian
pavilion. Others combine many
of these shapes and forms, while
some are the result of architec-
ture that can only be described
as "way out".
While we were provided pic-
tures of all the pavilions our
tour wasn't of much benefit as it
was conducted during a fierce
snow storm that obliterated most
views. In addition, pavilions were
covered with protective coatings
because most of them are un-
heated and need shelter from
Montreal's winter climate so
workmen can continue to put on
the finishing touches.
So, you can see that our trip
did little to give us a first hand
look at Expo. To understand that
you might consider how difficult
it would have been for a visitor
to understand the beauty of our
own Riverview Park during Fri-
day's snow, or how impossible
it is to realize what makes Grand
Bend such an attraction when its
famous beach is covered with
snow and ice.
But, just as these two sites
will be unmasked with the warm
suns of spring, so will Expo
spring alive and the many pages
of information we received de-
scribe what will take place in
considerable detail.
* *
We'll be telling this story in
future columns, because we came
away with the knowledge that a
trip to Expo is a must for every-
one—with added emphasis for our
young people, for here they will
see the world unfold before their
eyes. One Expo official stated
that a two-week stay at Montreal
this summer would be as valuable
to a young person aS a six-month
tour of Europe.
They'll rub elbows with re-
presentatives of Some '70 coun-
tries participating in this exhi-
bition. They will be able to meet
Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1966, 4,427
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada OA Per Year; USA $7.00
10 YEARS AGO
St. John's-by-the-lake Angli-
can Church, Grand Bend, plan to
start to build a parish hall in the
near future.
Nancy Fahner, 18-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd
Fahner, near Grand Bend, was
elected SHDHS queen by fellow
students Friday. Nancy is taking
special commercial.
John Etherington, 12-year-old
son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie
Etherington, Usborne Township,
is South Huron's c ha mp ion
speller for 1957.
G. W. Montgomery, agriculture
representative for Huron County,
has resigned and has accepted
a position with the CNR,
15 YT ARS AGO
A. J. Sweitzer was elected
president of the Exeter Agri-
cultural Society Saturday after-
noon. He succeeds Garnet Hicks
who retired after three years
as head of the association.
Shocked by his sudden •11
people of this community paid
tribute in churches and schools
Wednesday to George VI, King
of Great Britain,
Miss Vera 0, Essery, who for
over 30 years operated a mil-
linery shop in town, died at her
home Tuesday.
Mr, flelge Jensen left by plane
on a journey to Denmark Wed-
nesday. It is 20 years since Mr.
Jensen came to Canada,
25 YEARS AGO
Mr. C. Tanton, who for the
past nine and a half years has
conducted the Ideal Meat Market
in Exeter, has disposed of his
property and next month is leav-
ing for Strathroy where he will
open up a new refrigerated locker
service.
Mrs. J, McTavish, who for
several years has conducted the
Exeter Ladies' Wear store, on
Saturday evening discontinued
her business in Exeter.
After a period of 31 years in
business the firm of Bonthron
& Drysdale of ilensall will, on
March 1, by mutual consent dis-
solve partnership.
Mr, Orval Lawson of the Bank
Of Commerce staff of Orillia is
vacationing with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. George Lawson. Orval
has joined the RCAF as an obser-
ver.
In recent years, there has
been a great deal of criticism
of education in this country, from
both outside and inside the sys-
tem. It doesn't take a Ph.D. to
realize that a whale of a lot of
it is justified. And I speak as a
parent, tax-payer, and teacher.
Only by frantic efforts and
vast infusions of money have we
managed to keep our system a
mere couple of decades behind
the times.
I know it's easy to indulge in
hindsight. But holy old jumpin'
Jupiter, surely there could have
been a little foresight somewhere
along the line. Look what we
have: s hortage of buildings,
shortage of teachers, shortage
of just about everything except
pupils. And a vast surplus of
them. This didn't happen over-
night. They weren't all born last
summer. It was all there 20
years ago, perfectly obvious to
anyone who could add and mul-
tiply. The only people doing any
multiplying were the parents.
And the crazy part of it is
that we keep urging the kids. to
stay in schools which haven't
enough room for the new crop
arriving. "Drop-out" has be-
come almost synonymous with
"delinquent". It doesn't matter
whether they're doing any work,
or learning anything, or are just
being bored silly. They're told
to stay in school until, through
sheer old age and the tidal wave
pushing from behind, they get a
magic piece of paper that will
open a golden door to success.
Chiefly to blame are parents.
They have my sympathy. Many
of them remember the great
depression. Many others hon-
estly believe material security
means happiness. But far, far
too many of them, delude them-
selves. They Insist that Jack,
Who wants nothing more than to
get out of schobl and become
useful and happy as a salesman
or a policeman, has the makings
of a great surgeon, because he
has always got more than 60
marks in science. or that Jill,
a born wife and mother, who
wants nothing more than to get
Married, should struggle through
a course in psychology, because
she's always been a first-class
baby-sitter.
Almost equally to blame are
the big industries and institu-
tions, from oil companies to
banks. They are too lazy, or too
cheap, or both, to interview young
people and hire them on what
they are. It's much easier, and
a lot cheaper, just to say, "We
don't want anybody unless he has
at least a Grade 12 certificate",
even if all they want him to do
is stick square pegs in round
holes.
Another thing vastly wrong with
education is the way it is fin-
anced. Let's take a couple of
examples. Here's an elderly
couple on a small, fixed income.
After years of struggling, they
own their own house. They pay
$400 a year in municipal taxes.
About half of that is for edu-
cation, even though they've paid
taxes for years to educate their
own children or, if childless,
somebody else's.
This system makes a mockery
of the concept that every child
has the same educational op-
portunities. Don't try to tell me
that the kid in a poor bush town
in the north has the same facil-
ities, options and quality of teach-
ing as the kid in a rich suburb.
He simply does not. Money makes
the difference.
And speaking of inequalities,
isn't there something quite ri-
diculous in a country of 20 mil-
lion having 10 separate and dis-
tinct educational systems? Much
larger countries have one sys-
tem, and yet have far more
diversity and opportunity with-
in that one than we have with
our 10 rigid and separate ones.
It is provincialism, literally and
figuratively.
Rigidity is another thing that
sticks in my craw. We have
rigid curriculums, rigid time-
tables, rigid divisions of the
school year, and anything else
rigid that avoids difficulty and
keeps the vast, Victorian vehi-
cle shambling along somehow.
You know what? I'm getting
a little worked up about this.
But you can't keep a good belch
down, and I've been developing
IndigestiOn over the whole busi-
ness for some time.
So rather than galloping off
in all directions, let's say this is
the first of a,series of articles
on education by a plain, ordin-
ary layman. bet you can
hardly wait for next week's thrill-
ing instalment.
Pietivrafee . dog? liaise to ditegid Gt
Just as
a starter
VteexeferZinimAknsocafe
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
Member: C.W.N,A., O.W.N.A., C.C.N.R. and ABC
Publishers: J. M, Southcott, R, M. Southcott
Editor: Bill Batten
Advertising Manager: Howie Wright
Phone 235.1331