Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-05-24, Page 20STUDENT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE — As the result of elections Thursday, the new student council at South Huron District High School was named. President-elect Brad Oke is shown seated in the above picture. Stan- ding from the left are secretary Janice Hayter, vice-president Dennis Doidge, social convener Steve Harrison and Treasurer Tony Kyle. Missing was 2nd vice-president Mike Miller. T-A photo Praises student council, assembly as 'one of best' By MICHAEL FOREMAN. This is in reply to the letter in last week's Guardian on the police force in Exeter. It would be wise to stick to generalizations and compare police in England, United States and Canada and see if there is an y correlations between them and the police in Exeter. The "Yankee Storm Troopers' " as they are more com- monly referred to by Canadians wear open holstered guns slung low and tied down on their legs much like a "hired killer" or "gun slinger" would during the opening of the American west. Unlike (to my knowledge) the Canadian cop they get a share in each fine they bring in, in traffic violations and it is not an uncommon occurrence of motorists telling htm they were fined an unbelievably high amount for a minor traffic violation, It should also be noted that when one is stopped by one of these men in brown they are not met with a frown of anger or a smile of contempt but are met with a barrel of cold steel and the points of six lead bullets glaring you in the face and a man behind it just as nervous and scared as you are, For many policemen in the U.S. have been met the same way, by would-be court cases and ended up laying on the highway with their faces blown all over the pavement. However it is ironic to say that many American youth tell of how much they like the police. They range from being down right polite and friendly to being the hit of a dull party. However, to get down to the facts, it is the same and far worse there than it is here. There, as in Canada it is taboo to stop a drunken elder but a joy time busting long hairs. One almost gets to wonder if that one verse in a song which I can't remember and only heard recently was written by every cop and greaser in North America. It goes something like this; "Yippee, Tie, Yoo, all you long hairs are going to die. Yippee, tie, Yoo, all you long hairs are going to die goddamn will die, goddamn will die." In Canada the police wear guns also. (just in case you haven't noticed). However, their guns are high on their hips and the holsters closed by a leather cover on the holster and are usually only removed for cleaning. Although in Toronto there have been many police killed this year, the total throughout our history is insubstantial as compared to the number of police killed in the last two years across the border. So truthfully, a policeman here has little to fear when stopping a car and I've never heard yet of a person being fac- ed with a gun when pulled over. Again we seem to run into the great taboo of "bust the long hairs". Here anyone can see that the police are out to bust anyone with long hair. It has been witnessed by many people where a car driven by a person of older years has gone "speeding" through a town by the eyes of the police and radar seemingly unnoticed and only a block behind him com- es a teenager going much slower but speeding arid pow, who gets stopped? Of course the teenager. A teenager gets caught for impaired driving and so does an older person but in court, who gets nailed? The teenager. Paper reads "adult $300 fine, teenager $200 and license suspended for eight to nine months. In England the policeman or "Bobbie" does not wear a gun and his only protection is a small "billy. club". In England if a Bobbie takes a gun without 'permission and for very, very, good reasons he could face suspension. The London police are the best disciplined in the world and there you will find no age discrimination, and it's not surprising to find a very low death rate among the police. It is lower than all Canada and the U.S. put together. Why? Well the reason is because in England you do not have to fear that some trigger happy cop is going to try and use you for target practice. It's true the police in Exeter have little respect by young and old alike. The people of Exeter want this hard-nosed treatment against their sons and daughters stopped, and they are getting sick of having their kids threated like criminals. Yes, why don't the police in Exeter stop a few of the drunk drivers leaving the legion after a party? Why don't the police stop the adults causing disturbances or drinking, steadily and openly at Exeter's hockey games? Why, must they continually hassle teenagers? There's got to be a good reason because if there's not, then this senseless discrimination has got to stop and stop now. Why is it that the police think that every kid is a pusher, a brawler or a drug addict? If the police continue then it's the right of the population in this democratic society to have them fired and replaced by those who will do a better job of enforcing the law. Then maybe the law will reach down and for once deal a fair shake to every one for as it stands now if you are a teenager then you are a criminal and are guilty until proven innocent. Those suggestion's by that reader of the Guardian should not go unnoticed by our Chief. For as any policeman should know the laTv does not allow age discrimination and you are innocent until proven guilty. Also as any "shrink" can tell you that if you push a human too far, too much and too hard they'll revolt and act like a mad cornered animal fighting for his life and freedom. It's been said before and must be stated again that "Respect must be earned not demanded". Sister disappointed because of no clown I HURON'S DEBATING CHAMPS — In the final round of the debating championship. for Huron County secondary schools, Wingham edged South Huron, Tuesday. Above, Robert Shrier, publisher of the Goderich Signal Star, who has donated a trophy congratulates Mariorie Powell and Ben Miltenberg of Wingham. At the right are Don Noakes and Tony Kyle of South Huron. T-A photo Lauds library resource centre By MARILYN DUCHARME 844.481 Compares policemen, Canada looks good Times-Advocate, May 24, 1973 Page 20 Praise 'Ecobox' program Study problems, solutions By KATHY DEJONG The question is simple, the answer complex, There are many as of who may not realize the complexity of our present ecological situation, and there are many more who have become concerned, yet cannot find the solution. Presently at S.H.D.H.S., a three week ecological course called "Ecobox" is being con- ducted. This project is aimed at making students aware of our ecological problems, by placing a wealth of information at their fingertips. Although some people question- the validity of this course at removing the group of students from classes for three weeks, many involved within the program feel it will be a success. As each student becomes more aware of his or her chosen topic area, it is hoped that the com- munity will also become in- volved, through contact with these students, and by attending the open house on June 1. The working area of the program consists of six areas, ranging from a "parachute" zone By PAUL IDLE There comes a time in everybody's life when you just have to slow down and take it easy. This is the case of three of the members of the school staff. The first is the man whom nobody would want to see leave our fair school. He is the fellow who would always say "I'll let it go this time but don't let it happen again". This, of course, is Mr. Sanders. He has taught for forty years, 32 of them in the Exeter district. He now wants to go into retirement and play a few rounds of golf or plan a few acres of---land. What ever he does I know he'll do a good job just as he has done in the past with the school. Next, Miss Siegner the phys-ed teacher representing the female Sir: This is in view of the letter sent in on Grand Bend and its good and bad virtues. I happen to disagree wholeheartedly with this person who seems to feel that he or she is an expert on how Grand Bend should be run. Who are you to say just what Grand Bend should do? Grand Bend is not a "dying resort". If anything it is becoming better all the time. Those tennis courts, shuffle boards, and baseball diamonds you're complaining about are there if you care to look. If you just pull your nose from out of the clouds, maybe you'll notice them. By the way, a new public tennis court is destined to be erected this summer. If you still don't believe it I'll put it this way. Did you ever try to lay cement for a foundation on wet mud? With all the rain we've been having it's kind of hard. As for the baseball diamonds and shuffle boards; they're already there. If it's not too much trouble, why don't you lOok for them? They're there! Oh yes, you were bothered by the water and beach not being clean. Well Grand Bend isn't polluting it. Why should they? That lake is their main source of water. All those tourists you rave so much about use the water more than anyone in the summer, cleaning their boats, emptying tanks, washing hair in the lake, etc. If they want better en- tertainment from this resort, all they have to do is their part to keep Grand Bend "neat and tidy". Once that's been ac- complished, they can lay back and enjoy themselves. As for the so-called hippies; everyone's a hippy in their own little way, Take a close look and you'll see. You seem to be unhappy with Grand Bend not having enough entertainment. This isn't the United States, London, or even Toronto. All Grand Bend wants is to be a peaceful, quiet little town interested in the well-being and happiness Of the people who live and visit there, This world is already stocked enough with neon signs and skyscrapers. Grand Bend isn't un- derdeveloped, It's Merely a "haven" for the good life. Why to a "hard centre", each designed to provide the correct atmosphere for the mood of every student. Various planned ac- tivities include guest speakers, special field trips, films, records and tapes. We, the students involved, are working enthusiastically in our topic areas, and we hope that you, the public, will also become aware of our ecological situation, be it through bottle and paper drives, or by simply reading pamphlets. The question of ecology is simple — the answer is complex. I hope you will work with us towards a solution! By KATHY RATZ The most frequent question of observers entering the ecolab is "what is this" or "what are you supposed to be doing?" At present we can only say that our group of 25 people have been exempt from classes to devote all our time to studying ecology, An innumerable 'amount of material has been placed at our disposal and it is the hope of athletes of the school. She has been very active in school sports in coaching some very successful girls teams. Miss Siegner's plans are not decided yet but one thing is certain - she'll be able to relax and take it easy for a while. Finally, last but not least is Mr. Dinnin . He has been at the school for many years and has done an excellent job at running things in the library. Mr. Dinnin plans to go to the west coast this summer as well as doing many other leisure activities such as flying his plane and visiting his cottage. All he wants to do is get away from his old life of teaching (which he has enjoyed im- mensely) and start a new life of leisure. Good work teachers, you've done a great job. commercialize a peaceful sane- titude? More and more people visit Grand Bend every year. They must like it or why would they go? So if you don't like it the way it is, you aren't obligated to visit. It's your choice. As for the rest of you "are you goin' up to the `Bend this weekend?" Name withheld on request Sir: Several months ago, I was among a class of mass-media students from the local secon- dary school invited by yourself to tour the makings of The Exeter Times-Advocate. I noted with interest at the time the old printing press and type included that had to be set by hand. Since this is Exeter's Cen- tennial Year, I feel that it would be of great interest to the townspeople to see a simple tabloid printed and distributed denoting Centennial events in this unusual manner. I realize of course, that setting the type would be a complicated and time-consuming affair, but I am sure that a small fee charged for this authentic replica would be quite acceptable. In comparison, I offer the city of Edmonton's Klondike Days Centennial, where Klondike Silver Dollars are specially manufactured and sold as souvenirs for this occasion. Hoping that some use will be made of my suggestion, I remain, Yours truly, Brenda Russell Sir: I am concerned about town projects which are going on in Exeter. I was on Andrew street one evening and I came to the road under construction. I looked to see if there were any markings to show the road was closed, so I proceeded and halfway down the street I got so bogged down in the mud that I was forced to stomp through the mud and phone for a tow-truck. So, if you are driving down any streets under construction, don't, It can become very costly, Paul Idle. students and staff that we will complete this project with a greater awareness of en- vironmental problems. By TONY KYLE "Ecobox? What's that?" is a common enough response of people when confronted with our latest "brain child." I can't attempt to explain the whole system in a few short lines so I can merely try to clear up a few misconceptions concerning the program. What's my answer? "Wow ! ! !" I've attended South Huron two years now and this is the best program I've ever participated in, The program gives an indepth look at ecology from all aspects, any part or virtually any mode of study including films, tapes, records, books, field trips or discussion. The student can make use of the atmosphere best suiting his individual taste ranging from the hard classroom type, through the lounge-like middle of the road to the quiet and simple soft centre. In choosing his method of discovery a student chooses between a well stocked media centre, a parachute converted to makeshift theatre, or a "mess centre" for assorted articles. The whole scene appears as a carnival scene but once you begin the program an atmosphere of indescribable tranquility, one of quiet learning, soft talk and quiet meditation transcends to clear the entire gymnasium. Achieved is a certain Shangrila, a place where learning and enthusiasm molds itself to fit the needs and wishes of each student. I can't praise the program enough in either the newness of the experience or the awareness of world problems one is exposed to. The program is ideal in all ways and certainly from an ecological viewpoint is is an urgent necessity in the face of population and pollution. That's Ecobox for me at least! Sir: I am writing to you in regards of the credit system, now in effect at South Huron District High School. This system has both its ex- cellent points and its faults. As a senior student at South Huron, I have found this system to be very beneficial. Now, no longer do you have to repeat a whole year if you fail three or more subjects. Rather you would simply repeat the subjects in which your marks were not up to standing. Therefore, this enables the more industrious students, to possibly finish school in a shorter period of time, As of now, a secondary diploma is received after 27 credits. One could take eight subjects a year at high school, and one extra at night class or summer school, for three years and receive their grade twelve diploma. But what of the students en- tering South Huron from elementary schools? It is going to be very easy for these pupils to pick all the, "Mickey Mouse", courses that are available. Naturally they will have a very good time socially, but how will they profit intellectually? Without any compulsory subjects such as math, science, english, or history will these students be ready for a future of university life? I think a more serious con-, sideration should be given to the credit system before it is com- pletly accepted, Yours sincerely, Catherine Ryan Ode To Fred By BRENDA RUSSELL The sting of death- How painful it can be And yet, we fool ourselves Uttering trivials as `It was God's will'. However bitter it is The taste soon dissolves- For we, being such as warrants death, Are only concerned With life, And can only seek, never find The Land of Forms. By JOHN D. BLACKWELL Thursday saw one of the best assemblies S.H.D.H.S. has produced in many years. This successful assemblage of the student body was the culmination of a week of campaigning for next year's student government. The executive candidates really put their imaginations into full gear. Besides traditional electioneering in the form of speeches, the aspirants used cleverly concocted skits which tapped many little-known human resources of talent in the school. The effect was most enjoyable and entertaining. One might have almost called the affair "a cultural event," (speaking in the Huron dialect, that is). The spectrum of skit situation was indeed varied, ranging from early civilization to the present. Brutus, from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, appeared, in slightly modified form, expounding up why he (or rather she) should be elected for a certain public office. There were several choruses (and groups of people) singing familiar and not-so-familiar renditions of musical works in their own "unique" way. One such group had obviously been imported from some "hot spot" nightclub outside the country. If singing wasn't good enough for you, well then you surely got an ample variety of dancing. The Charleston, the Houla, and Ballet were certainly demonstrated with "amazing" finesse. We mustn't forget our friends from the underworld. "Mr. " gave us all gentle words of persuasion and advice from his associates in the Mafia. His words became much more meaningful as the bodies heaped up on the stage floorboards. A peculiar group of monks (I believe they were from the Flip Wilsonian Order) got in several hearty "Amen's"' between one of the campaign speeches. We all felt better (I'm sure) just knowing that we were not alone in our delibersturs. Of course, the one of the most outstanding highlights of the Several encyclopedias prove useful in areas in which the supply of books is inadequate. More than 500 filmstrips are catalogued and may be borrowed from various departments for viewing in the library. A copying machine for the preparation of research and instructional materials is in daily use and is of great value to students and teachers, Sometimes students neglect to return books. Apparently they fail to realize that other people may need them. The cost of replacing such losses severely whole "event" (apart from the basketball game, the shower of bubble gum and all the other highpoints of the morning) was Bob Heywood, whose musical talents were skillfully employed by one of the candidates, His country and western music was so well received that Mr. Wooden asked him to come back for a foot-stompin', hand-clapping encore. Under all of this gaiety and frivolity lay the ominous task of Where has apathy gone? By NIXON R. BAKER Where has all the apathy gone. Time and again in the columns of the Guardian we read about the "growing, creeping apathy" at SHDHS. Where was it at the recent assembly held for the purpose of electing a new students' council? Where was it when the seven charming young ladies ran for Queen? Where was it when the students worked with a labor of love decorating the gym for the formal? In fact where is it when this marks the fifth week in a row there has been an edition of the Guardian? Perhaps I should attribute my myopic condition to the fact that I have taught at schools in Scar- boro and Toronto and find SH- DHS a refreshing change from the true apathic condition that exists in those schools, My Toronto based friends (in teaching) find it incredible that election posters can be erected in the school halls without the risk of defacing, or that so many students would actively par- ticipate in student council elections. There may be some things wrong with SHDHS, but take it from one who has had experience in other schools, there is a great deal right, and if I hear one more word about apathy I am simply not going to care, limits purchases of needed new books. The intelligent use of the library should help students develop reading and research skills that will prove of inestimable value throughout their lives. The school library provides resource materials used by students and teachers to sup- plement text books used in the various subject areas. Occasionally the lack of a suitable text results in complete dependence upon library materials, selecting a new students' council executive. After the last din of campaigning had subsided and the carefully drafted speeches had been set aside to collect dust, the moment of truth came. For better or worse, wisely or foolishly, the students of S.H.D.H.S. have spoken. We know now who will lead us into the future year. To they we must offer the best of luck and our loyalty, support and enthusiasm to aid them in the great task that lies ahead. In looking to the future we should not forget the year now ending. Our present Students' Council has shown outstandingly good leadership in making 1972- 73 one of the most successful years this school has yet seen. (May I say that I speak not only in terms of dollars and cents. We should feel deeply indebted to them for their socially beneficial efforts. Hearty congratulations are due to them all. Lastly, I should like to say a word about the teachers who are leaving this school at the end of the present year. Our three retiring staff members, Miss Siegner, Mr. Sanders and Mr. Dinnin have given many years of tireless work to the betterment of this area's young people. Their efforts have been felt by many people who will never forget the genuine good they derived from their association with these special people, The whole school will also feel the loss of Mr. Shaw who has been the pillar of wisdom and strength on which many Students' Councils have relied. We cannot all help but envy Seaforth which is getting one of our most humanitarian and conscientious citizens. The coming year at South Huron will indeed present a different face. Many of the old foundation blocks will be no longer in place. It will be the responsibility of every student and staff member to "fill in the gaps" and thus maintain our school's honoured values and tradition and at the same time adjust to the future. A relatively small part of the book collection is made up of books of fiction, The majority of the several thousand books on hand relate to specific subjects, English history, science, geography, art, home economics, electronics, electricity, automotive repair, carpentry, etc. For information about recent and current events, a number of periodicals are kept on file, and the Readers Guide index and the Canadian Periodical Index are available to facilitate the location of such information, By STEVE CANN With the rising of prices and the necessities we just can't afford, I wonder why we should also have to suffer to find the things out after we have already received them. How many times have you put your nickel and 20 cents into the pop machine, pressed the button, never to see that quarter again? The orange was all up; that was taking advantage of you by using a label which is an ac- cessory to the crime; or the dog food that was listed as two for '23 cents in the advertising section but came up to 14 cents a piece at your local grocer. You just can't get by it. Commercials are the best type of advertising media uses. That's why you watch it the most. At least you should keep an eye for things expected but they are worked around to twist the meaning, the strategy of the conniving producers. Probably the best false issue I have encountered is the time you watch T,V, and see the odd dressed fellow in his fancy suit telling you to come in to have a free birthday party for your child. We decided to try it out, As we walked in the door, we noticed the sign which read free cake and gift from the clown, My little sister was all excited, from the delicious cake we received and the gift she expected to receive from the clown. The 10-year-old girl left the restaurant happy, although she didn't receive the gift. I personally asked the girl behind the counter if the little girl was to be given a present, She gave me a nice polite "no", As I left the premises, I wondered if I should take down the sign, Now you know, and as my sister said, "Don't expect to see the clown". Spring is here at last. It is always a welcomed season because we know that summer follows. Spring is a time when flowers begin to bloom, and buds appear on the trees. The snow disappears and the grass becomes fluffy and green once more, The birds also come back for the advancing warm weather, They awaken you in the morning with their songs of happiness which brightens yeur day. As you walk to your bus stop, the beauty Of spring gives you a feeling of mirriment. Sprifig Oven changes the at- mosphere of a school day, Your spirits are lifted since you knew your two month summer vacation is coming up soon, I think that spring is the one season which gives everyone a feeling of gaiety. Three teachers retire from high school staff Letters to the editor Discuss roads, centennial tlI