HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-04-24, Page 16SCIENCE PROJECT — A number of special projects are being carried
out at South Huron District High School during Education Week.
Above, Laurel Hodgert and Judy Penninga handle a science project.
School and community
education week theme
achievement attained.by the good
student today is probably higher
than it ever has been. In other
words the top 30-40 percent of
secondary school students could
be compared with those of any
era and they would not have to
take second place. Not long ago
these, were the only people that
went to high school,
Now virtually everyone attends
some type of high school and a lot
of people graduate with
diplomas. And it, is absolutely
true to say that these people
would not have graduated 15 or 20
years ago. Programmes can be
selected at varying levels of
difficulty. The type of students
who failed before are now
graduating. But they should not
be compared with those people
who are graduating after taking a
programme of studies just as
challenging, if not more
challenging than any secondary
school programme of the past.
Secondary Schools have not
introduced changes for the sake
of change. There has been an
honest attempt to respond to the
general social changes, Schools
cannot do much more than
general society wants nor can
they do much less. If society
wants virtually everyone to at-
tend secondary school regardless
of capability and preparation
then clearly there must be a
multiplicity of programmes and
courses and a variety of sten-
dards suitable for the variety of
individuals.
Elitism in education is in-
compatible with democracy in
education. You can't have it both
ways. Secondary Schools in
Ontario have responded to the
heterogenous school population
with a variety of courses and
programmes; some are less
difficult than others. Students
who are capable are not selecting
easy programmes. For exarnple
in Ontario we have assigned
Mathematics a very high
priority. Probably 90 percent of
Secondary school students take
Mathematics of some kind. The
failure rate is high in
Mathematics, But students keep
on taking the subject because we
have said you need Mathematics.
Whether or not this is a valid kind
of requirement is another
question.
It has not been demonstrated at
all that teachers have "softened"
courses to attract students. Most
students take the process of
course selectidn very seriously. It
— Please turn to page 124
Thirty participate in work-week
Next month approximately 30 commer-
cial students will be participating in a
"work-week" during which the students ac-
tually work in various offices in and around
Exeter.
Local firms cooperate with the school
by inviting the students to spend a week
working in their offices.
The students are not paid for this work
but the experience proyes to be of great
educational value.
Since only senior students are involved,
in many cases the student manages to
arrange future employment with local
firms. Only students who are maintaining
at least a 60% average are allowed to par-
ticipate in the work-week program.
Both students and local businessmen
have endorsed the work-week program in
past years.
Preparation course objective
One of the main objectives of the
Business and Commerce section of South
Huron District High School is to prepare
students to enter the work force with
salable skills.
Many of our courses such as typing,
shorthand, accounting, business machines
and business English are directed toward
this end.
Commercial graduates from South
Huron are presently working in many of the
offices throughout the Exeter area,
however many choose to work in London.
This Thursday some 25 senior
secretarial students will visit and tour Lon-
don Life head office in London. The trip is
designed to familiarize the students with
office procedures followed in a large com-
pany.
A number of commercial graduates
are employed by London Life.
VISIT AMERICA'S CAPITAL — Grade 13 students from South Huron District High School spent several days in Washington, D.C. Above,
part of the group head up the steps to the Capitol building.
Washington enjoyed by SHHS students
AV
"Your Family
Health Centre"
373 Main St.
Phone 235-1570 or 235-1070
EXETER PHARMACY LTD.
Now Open Wednesdays - 8:30 a.m, to 6:00 p.m.
ATTENTION
Did YOU
Drop Out
Of School
Before
Graduation?
It's now possible to be granted credits toward
your grade 12 Diploma on the basis of work ex-
perience and on courses taken through other
educational institutions.
You may be closer to your grade 12 Diploma
• than you think.
For. further information call South Huron
District High School (235-0880) or your nearest
secondary school for information.
J. L. WOODEN
Principal
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THE BIG, LITTLE MARKET
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Before You Buy (or Sell)
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672-3566
Percy Wright, Auctioneer
262-5515
Hugh
Tom
FILSON and ROBSON
Page 4A Times-Advocate, April 24, 1 9 7 5
By J. L. Wooden
There was an article in the
London Free Press of February
22 by H. B. Disbrowe. This piece
of writing was concerned with the
decline of standards inOntario's
educational system. The artide
repeated the usual arguments
that schools are not doing the job
as well; that students are
graduating from secondary
school with serious deficiencies
in English, Mathematics and
" other areas. The suggestion is
that this deterioration of the
educational system is a result of
the changes that have been in-
troduced over the past couple of
decades.
It is difficult to argue against
some of the current perceptions
about education, even though the
perceptions seem to many to be
arrived at emotionally as a
reaction to observations which
have not been proved. However,
it doesn't matter whether the
charges being laid against
— education today are true or false.
The fact remains that what
people perceive to be true is more
important than the facts. The
Minister of Education has
responded to criticism of the
system with political responses
rather than with rational
educational responses. This is a
natural process but it does have
the disadvantage of acting as a
proof for those who think that the
educational system is in serious
trouble. In other words the
Minister says every secondary
school student must take 4 credits
in English and 2 in Canadian
Studies. The critics can then say,
we were right; people were not-
doing this before. Now they must.
The fact remains that almost
everyone was doing this before.
Now we will invite all sorts of
manipulation with credits in a
variety of areas being designated
as "English Studies" or as
"Canadian studies."
There is no possible way to
achieve the standards of literacy,
reading and writing that the
traditionalists look back at as the
goals. These are the standards in
grammar, exposure to the
"classics", reading-levels and so
on of an educational system
which was basically devoted to
the education of the academically
talented person. The high
standards are still there for those
whose capabilities permit them
to reach that high. Indeed, it
could be argued that the level of
By ALLYSON ROBICHAUD
Grade XIII students from
South Huron made their annual
pilgrimage to Washington, D.C.
recently.
We stopped for supper two
hours from Washington, and ten
hours travel behind us. The long
ride had taken its toll though,
and some people really didn't feel
like eating.
At about 10:00 o'clock we en-
tered The District of Columbia
and 'shortly after that we hit
Washington. Everyone was awed
by the beauty of the city at night
with all its lights, then we got to
the Hotel Harrington.
morning, after all were dressed
and breakfasted we again
boarded the bus. Rick drove us to
the nation's capitol. Everyone
was impressed by the huge and
elaborate building. A tour guide
showed us around and explained
the various aspects of the
building. After cameras were
clicked, and questions answered,
and everyone rounded up, finally,
we all headed over to the
Supreme Court, We listened to
another lecture on this building
and we all decided that the wages
of the Supreme Court judges
would keep us happy.
After lunch and a group pic-
ture, we journeyed to the senate
library. The immense number of
books astounded every one as we
were led on a tour by the head
librarian. After famous
documents were scrutinized we
set out for the National Art
Gallery. An extremely im-
pressive tour guide showed us
about and amazed us with his
abounding knowledge of Renoir,
Van Dyke and paintings in
general.
Next we headed for the F.B.I.
building, but to the annoyance of
a few future Police Officers, we
couldn't get in, So, some of us
returned to the hotel while others
went to the Smithsonian
museum. Those who went to the
latter saw the famous Hope
diamond and were quite pleased
with their rare sighting,
As soon as dinner was eaten we
all trundled off for a cultural
evening at the Ford theatre.
Before the play began we were
given a short talk on the Ford
theatre and President Lincoln's
assassination. When the play
ended we walked back to the
hotel in a tight group so as to be
safe, but Rickie was seared
anyway by a big grey eadiliae,
Saturday morning everyOre
rose, but not everyone was
bright and shining. Most break-
fasted again in the hotel caf-
feteria, and then we were off, this
time to the national archives.
Here we examined the
Declaration of Independence, a
real looking wax figurine of Ben
Franklin, and the water fountain.
After the Archives we boarded
the bus and travelled to the White
House. We had to wait in line for
about an hour so we entertained
ourselves by talking funny,
trying to get people to look in the
trees, listening to people trapped
underground, and laughing at
Rick the bus driver.
When we came out of the White
House- our group was broken into
three separate ones, each going
their own way.
The teachers and a few
students went to a museum
where they looked around and
had lunch. Rick and a lot of
students sat on the bus mar-
velling at the Washington
monument.
After the teachers and a few
students joined the bus group, we
realized Dennis had disappeared.
We promptly returned to the
hotel assuming that naturally
Dennis would be there but found
that he had not yet arrived there.
Mr. Wooden left implicit direc-
tions for Dennis to remain at the
hotel and we retraced our steps,
looking for Dennis, and heading
for the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial.
Upon our arrival there, a
telephone call to the hotel
revealed that Dennis had arrived
there and was staying put. We
Clambered about the memorial
and then headed to the Kennedy
Centre.
At the Kennedy Centre we
wandered around until we went to
the roof top for a tour. From the
roof we could see a river on which
a rowing team was practicing. A
rower in a red sweat shirt waved
at us and we waved back, using a
wave Mr. Hogan determined to
be the royal-wave-in-a-wind-
storm.
When we finished at the
Kennedy Centre we ventured to
Arlington cemetery and were
greatly moved at the burial
places of the Kennedy brothers.
Some watched a changing of the
guards here while others, back at
the bus, pondered on the
assassinations.
Finally we went to the Lincoln
Memorial where the huge statue
of John's hero amazed us by its
height and hugeness.
After a tour of Washington
under the stars, the rich and poor
sections we returned to the hotel
for our last night there.
When morning finally arrived
and a dreary looking group ate
their last meal in Washington,
loaded the bus and departed from
the capitol.
The trip started out quietly
with a lot of people's eyes closing
before the city was left behind.
On the way home the back of
the bus was furiously engrossed
in card games, and later on after
a tobogganing session was held
held a combined geography
anatomy and art lesson was
given by Dick with the aid of Tim,
When we finally pulled up to
South Huron a tired and prac-
tically voiceless group unloaded
the bus and bid fond farewells to
our driver. Then Deb's taxi
service drove up to the door and
was waved away by a royal-wave
and the remaining wavers soon
went home also,
The trip to Washington was a
great success and was educating
not only historically but men-
tally.
The rooms varied in size,
colour of carpet, and furniture.
Some had very small rooms while
one group of three got the
presidential suite,
Our tour guide, Pat Duffy and
bus driver Rick Maclung, who
also had a more elongated nick
name, joined us in our
EDUCATION WEEK — Students of SHDHS are recognizing Education celebration and we soon retired
Week with special endeavours. Randy Stanlake and Bob Bies are at because we had to rise early.
work in a science room. Bright and early the next
The theme of education week
this year is the school and the
community, South Huron
maintains a close relationship
with the general community. The
use of the school by various
groups and organizations is
extremely heavy. The school is
used virtually every night and
every weekend by recreational
groups, municipal organizations,
church groups and many other
people.
In addition between 700 and 800
people took part in the evening
class programme this year. Some
of these courses were taken for
credit toward the grade 12 or
grade 13 diploma. Most of the
courses, however, were not taken
for credit but were skill courses
or recreational courses. South
Huron has tried to offer courses
which are of interest. We would
welcome suggestions for ad-
ditional programmes.
Although courses are offered
for credit in evening classes and
through Ministry of Education
correspondence courses it is
possible for anyone regardless of
their age or regardless of the
time that they have been out of
school to return to secondary
school either full time or part
time. It is also possible to be
granted credits toward your
secondary school graduating
diploma based on work ex-
perience.
If you are interested in ob-
taining futher information about
returning to school; or about the
credits that may be granted for
work experience please call the
school. South Huron's guidance
staff, or the principal or vice
principal would be pleased to
provide- you . with information
concerning credits needed for
the grade 12 or grade 13 diploma.
We would be pleased to answer
your questions about post
secondary education, ap-
prenticeship or any other
question related to education.
South Huron offers a broad
range of academic, technical and
commercial courses. We would
be pleased to enrol adult students
who would like to take one or
more course during the day.
There are many events for-
thcoming at the school during the
next few, weeks. Every Saturday
there will be a wrestling
programme operated for
elementary school students, on
Wednesday evenings the South
Huron wrestling club meets; this
group is open to the public and
consists of wrestlers -and those.
* interested in wrestling On May
29' and 30 there will be a
presentation by the school's
theatre classes. Please watch for
further-information.
The annual spring formal will
be presented by the Student's
Council on May 16, During the
week of May 12 some South
Huron students will be working
with various local businesses and
industries. This program is part
of their commercial and
technical training.
English students will be
visiting the Shaw Festival and
the Stratford Festival several
times in May and June.
Other activities include par-
ticipation in the spring athletics.
These include badminton, track
and soccer. The Physical
Education staff is organizing
tournaments in volleyball and
wrestling for local elementary
schools this month and in May.
We will also be staging our an-
nual Senior Outers expedition to
Northern Ontario during the
week of May 19.
We welcome spectators and
visitors to these events. If further
information is required about any
of these please call the school. We
have mentioned only a few of the
activities that are coming up in
the near future. Other events
include visits to the Robarts
school in London, the student
blood donor clinic, field trips to
the London Life and other offices
for commercial students, science
field trips, geography field trips
and other events. These various
special activities demonstrate
that students and teachers are
involved with a major
programme which supplements
the regular course work, Many of
these activities involve the school
in the life of the community at
large.
The community provides
teachers and students with an
expanded classroom. South
Huron believes in utilizing the
resources of the immediate area
as well as the resources of more
distant places. Senior History
students recently returned from
a field trip to Washington,D.C.
They returned with an enlarged
appreciation of American ideals
and American problems. Other
students will examine the local
river valley.
Learning takes place both in
the classroom and beyond. Even
in the classroom the teacher
brings to the student the
resources of the larger com-
munity when guest speakers and
instructors are invited to classes.
Separation of the community and
the school as isolated fragments
of society is not possible nor
sensible. Students learn from the
people who come into the school
with special knowledge. They
learn by going out into the larger
community.
. Education is a process in-
volving all of • the resources
available to: individuals..
Education is not the narrowly
defined process of simply going
into a school building' and staying
there, Education should, of
course, go on for people all of
their lives. Schools should point
the way. The school and the
community should be closely and
mutually involved in the process.
MT. CARMEL
INCOME TAX CENTRE
'INCOME TAX — ACCOUNTING
for Farmers and Businessmen
INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURNS
No Job Too Small
PHONE 237-3469
Vince Ryan B.A.
BUSINESS & FARMERS
Bookkeeping - Accounting
as required
-Weekly - Monthly - Quarterly
Yearly
Financial Statements
Taxation Returns
Call Neil Romphf 235-0443
HURON BOOKKEEPING
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235-1964 EXETER
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Phone Collect
666-0833 666-1967
NORRIS & GEE
Chartered Accountants
J. A. NORRIS 1. D. GEE
SUITE 208
497 MAIN STREET 190 WORTLEY ROAD
EXETER, ONTARIO LONDON, ONTARIO
NOM 1S0 N6C 4Y7
(519) 235.0101 (519) 673.1421
GERALD L. MERNER
Chartered Accountant
BUS: 20 Sanders E. — EXETER 235.0281
RES: 10 Green Acres — GRAND BEND — 238.8070
langkart, Doig and Co.
Chartered Accountants
268 Main St., Exeter
ARTHUR W. READ
Resident Partner
Bus. 235.0120, Res. 238.8075
FARM
SALES
Auctioneer
TOM SHOEBOTTOM
ILDERTON 666,0289
HOUSEHOLD
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"Call now for comp/0e Auction Service"
Difficult to argue
Concerned over declining standards
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476 MAIN ST.
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