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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-03-03, Page 4There can be little argument with Ex- eter council's decision to terminate the ser- vices of recreation director Jim McKinlay. Having named a committee to establish guidelines for the operation of the rec cen- tre and recreation in the community, it is obviously up to that group to decide what personnel will be required. However, the manner in which council terminated Jim's services was less than could have been expected from elected of- ficials. Basically his service was ter- minated by default as the period of his tern- porary layoff expired. While council held out little hope for the recreation director that he would move back into his duties at the present time, they left him dangling on the matter of his future, despite having indicated that a definite decision would be made and relayed to him. The end result would probably have been unchanged, but it would have prevented the uncertainty, anguish and that any family man must ex- perience under such circumstances. Employees deserve better treatment. Need better guidance There are some heated arguments in progress at the present time about the merits (or lack of them) in our system of education. Nor are the arguments confined to concerned parents who have wakened up to the fact that their children need more of the "basics". Teachers and administrators within the system are unable to agree about what ingredients should make up a balanced education. Whether we go back to the "repressive" teaching methods of 25 years ago or venture forward into unstructured freedom of choice remains unclear. However, one aspect of our school system is abundantly clear. Our young people need more information about job prospects. Ontario is, for example, turning out many more teachers than required. Com- munity colleges continue to pour out jour- nalism graduates despite the fact that hun- dreds of these expensively-trained people are driving taxis or accepting any other form of work available. With the vast flow of information which is so readily available today it should not be difficult to steer young people toward skills which are in short supply — and there are plenty of these gaps. For ex- ample, the student who aspires to be a writer might be turned toward the related field of advertising, in which there is a con- tinuing shortage of competent graduates. There is no way to deny that the number of unemployed in Canada is a blot on our record as a progressive people. We do not have hundreds of thousands of un- employed because they are all lazy. For the most part these people lack jobs because they do not possess skills in the dozens of trades and professions which are crying for more help. True, it is difficult and time- consuming to re-educate adults, but we should be putting more attentioh on the means of guiding today's students to tomorrow's jobs. Wingham Advance-Times • Name interim group The status of recreation in Exeter is very unclear at the moment and is obvious- ly hanging in limbo in view of council's decision early in the year to dissolve RAP and then to terminate the services of recreation director Jim McKinlay this past week. While discussions are taking place about the eventual management of recrea- tion, the matter appears to be taking a back seat to the deliberations required for the establishment and method of operation of the South Huron Recreation Centre. That is to be expected, but in the mean- time there are some decisions which have to be made regarding recreation and it would appear beneficial for council to at least name an interim committee to look at these matters until a policy on recreation is formulated. The Exeter Figure Skating club have already indicated a need for some funds to help them through a difficult year," and while council hinted at a decision in February, that decision has not been made nor even seriously discussed. Spring programs such as soccer, baseball and tennis will soon be here and some leadership may be required in these areas. Certainly, it is not too early to seek the necessary personnel for the operation of the swimming pool if the community hopes to attract well-qualified instructors. In view of the mammoth job facing the new board of management of the SHRC it would be unwise to push them into such decisions, especially when none of the members has been involved directly in the management of recreation in Exeter and because they obviously have their hands full with their own deliberations on more long-range aspects for recreation in the area. A special committee to handle the short-term decisions about upcoming programs would appear to be sensible and should ensure that the programs that have operated successfully will not falter by be- ing left in limbo. Dealing with 'bad' kids tzeferZinies-Abisocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0,W,N.A, CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Plant Manager Jim Scott Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongldnd 'Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $1 1,00 Per Year; USA $22,00 c+CNA Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,409 Page 4 Times-Advocate, March 3, 1977 Questionable treatment Good news today "Let's hope all this unemployment's not contagious." End of the blahs Ah, there's nothing more exhilarating than a good old- fashioned Canadian winter! (Is this the same guy who wrote a glum, lugubrious column last week about the physical and financial horrors of just such?) We've just had three days of sun and no snow, and all those red-eyed, drippy-nosed, hacking, whining, snow-shovelling Canadians of a week ago have been transformed into virile, vibrant, smiling, sickenly-hearty exponents of the fabulous Canadian winter. I made my stand a day or two after last week's column. I thought to myself "Screw this," or words to that effect. "I'm gonna go berserk. The Old Lady is getting weird. All my friends are either depressed or eerie. I'm gonna make the great escape." So I did. A certain group of young punks to whom I am forced to refer as my colleagues, have been after me, slyly and maliciously, for about two years, to attend one of their poker evenings, They knew perfectly well that my wife wouldn't let me go, even if I told her it was a group of Sunday School teachers, and we were only going to play for matches. " They got after me again last Thursday, Maybe it was the weather, but something snapped. I said "Right What time?" They started to snicker, and poke each other with their elbows. This is known in their circle as humor. "Sure you won't have any trouble making it? We sornetintes stay up as late as midnight, you know, Smiley. Hovl, ya gonna get through the next day's work?" And so. I treated this juvenilia with the respect it deserved. There was only one more hurdle, and you know what that was. But there was no real problem with her. All I had to do was get out and check all my insurance policies, make sure the cars and the house were properly signed over and promise not to have a drink before dinner, in case I had one at the poker den, and the Old Battleaxe caved in. Oh not completely. As I went, out the door, she was yelling: "And don't expect the door to be unlocked when you get home, and if you're not here by midnight call the police." But that was nothing. In the old days, when she really loved me, and was really jealous, she'd get physical. She'd throw her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, and I'd have a hell of a time getting through the door before I could brush her off against a tree, or dump her in a snowbank. Anyway, the boys picked me up, and off we went into the wild night, The last of the blizzards was just easing off, but it was blowing great curtains of snow off the mighty banks.I thought we were going a couple of miles in town. Turned out we were heading for a chalet out in the hills, about eighteen miles away and the driver of the Datsun in which I was ensconced faticie4 himself as a contender in the Grand Winter Rally of Mon- tenegro, or something, Had to call on the old steely fighter- pilot's nerves to refrain from screaming, "LeMMe Out! I wanna go home and Watch TV!" However, true grit prevailed, and six hours later I was home, steady as a rock about even on the night's poker, and ready for a few hours sleep. I wouldn't bore you by telling you what kind of poker these aging juvenile delinquents play. Almost no stud or draw poker. They play what we used to call, before the male chauvinist crap began "Women's Poker". Games like Twenty-seven Skip to My Loo ninth card wild anything in your armpit doesn't count and split the pot four ways. It took three times as long to describe the game to be played as it did to play it. Had a Mississippi gambler, or even an old cowhand, been asked to sit in on just one of those deals, he'd have pulled his derringers, or his .38, as it might be, and started shooting "poker" players right and left. I hate to mention one more detail. But, old enough to be the father of most of them, I was at work the next day bright as a shiny new dollar, teaching with my usual superb elegance, and looking askance at some of these bleary-eyed young "gamblers" who thought they were showing the old boy a big night out. Migawd, I was in rougher games than that when I was 17, However, I forgive them their misconceptions, and if they want to call a hangover being "down with the flu", that's their problem. Point is, I had made the big breakthrough of the winter blah's, On Saturday morning, was up at the crack of noon, and off skiing in the bush with my Continuing our discussion about today's youth, some rather interesting comments came to our attention in a periodical un- der the heading "Ah, Youth!". No doubt some of our readers will identify with the expressions of concern which were as follows: 1. "The children love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, show disrespect for elders, and love to chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before com- pany, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs and tyrannize their teachers." 2. "Our youth have an in- satiable desire for wealth; they have bad manners and atrocious customs regarding dressing and their hair and what garments or shoes they wear." 3. "The world is passing through troublesome times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint; they talk as if they alone know everything . . . ' If one takes the comments at face value it is easy to predict that indeed the world is in bad shape as these young people slowly prepare to assume its leadership. However, for the record, it should be explained a bit more fully on just who authored the preceding statements. order they are: (1) Socrates, 5th Cen- tury B.C., (2) Plato, 4th Century B.C., (3) Matthew Paris, 13th Century A.D. Cause for concern? Perhaps, but only after considering the fact that today's youth are not that much different than their contemporaries over the past 20 centuries or so. * Further material for our dis- course on youth has been provid- ed through a recent column by Marceil Saddy, editor and publisher of the Sarnia Gazette. Room does not permit a com- plete reproduction of his com- ments, but some of the selected highlights are as follows: "Good kids...bad kids..:we all have to admit that youth, their problems and their future take up a great deal of discussion and debate time of public bodies. Their activities (or lack of them) fill the newspapers, blare out over radio and flood our TV screens. "We often hear 'why doesn't the paper print good news about good kids?'. Well, the same in- quiry might be made of adults or clergymen. We just expect that normal behaviour is normal and needs no special comment. So let's set the record straight now and agree that most kids are good kids...and then talk about the rotten ones. "The age span 16, 17, 18 is remarkable for break and entry, wife. She fell five times. I fell once, Sunday, off again skiing with a ' gang. My wife fell four times. I fell once. Followed this with an apres-ski party with old friends, Dandy fire going. Wizard mulled wine, Massive injections of hot home-made soup and home- baked bread. And home to bed at ten o'clock with a tremendous sense of physical and moral rectitude. I've been feeling good about winter ever since, and all depression is gone. Why don't you try it? You don't have to begin with a poker game out in the wilds. Especially if you happen to be an 80-year-old lady. But do something. Kick the cat, Give your grumpy old husband a goose. First thing you know they'll both be chasing you around the house,and your winter blues will vanish. violence, vandalism, arson, drunkeness, assault, dope, etc." Marcell goes on to point out that home environment, lack of education, lack of motivation, bad companions, etc. have little to do with kids being bad or good. Some rise above the aforemen- tioned problems and others fall despite having all the things that are considered to be beneficial for a teen's well-being, such as loving parents, proper education and proper motivation. He is of the opinion that some children are "born to raise hell". They are just bad seeds, conten- ding that just as the body can be deformed at birth or deteriorates as it ages, so can the mind be wired up in such a way that despite love, care, attention and security...the kid is just plain born bad, While their numbers are reported to be small, they gain followers who enjoy the nev,er- ending parade of kicks and thrills and he chastises a large portion of youth for joining the trend to thoughtlessness, self-interest, stubbornness, apathy and selfishness. "The kid who will blow 500 hard-earned dollars on a car will not necessarily contribute one red cent to the family grocery bill. They just do not believe this to be required. Many parents are quite idiotic in this regard and let the kids get away with it too. "Most young people just seem to tolerate their parents. They eat meals with them mostly because they are hungry. But to sit at home and converse with the parents on life, the future, education or politics? Never in a million years. They just exclude their parents from their roster of 'friends'. Parents, to them, are dull, unimaginative, rule- making, old people. To spend more time than is absolutely necessary in their company is now becoming taboo. Learning wisdom at mother's knee or plumbing the depths of father's Dear Sir I am pleased to see that some members of the community are interested in what is being taught in our local schools. It is certainly the right of every parent to have a voice in the education of his or her children. Let us hope that when such a voice is raised the opinions ex- pressed are based on facts and knowledge. Anyone demanding consideration of his opinion should, of course, also be willing to consider the opinions and feelings of others. ' There can be no argument that parents have the right to raise objections to books they do not wish their children to read and to ask for substitute materials in specific cases where they have valid objections. However, they should think carefully before attempting to force their own beliefs upon others who may not feel the same way or have the same beliefs. I would not like to think that a censorship committee will prevent my children from studying works which have won critical and literary acclaim and which give sensitive treatment to important questions such as asexual, racial or religious prejudice. Objections to books should be based on first-hand knowledge rather than hearsay and ob- jectors should have an un- derstanding of what books are about, why they were chosen and what substitute materials could illustrate the Same points. In other words, it would be wrong to reject materials because of ignorance. In summary it can be said that parents have the right to reject specific reading materials in the case of their own children but they have no right to interfere with the rights of the majority. Sincerely, Jerry Mcbonnell mind is as out-dated as feather dusters." So, what advice does Marceil have for parents? He suggests they say'to themselves "we are not going to worry about Larry and Mary anymore. We have, by example, word, deed and action given them a good home, gnourishing food, abundant love and 100 percent of our time and attention'. All we are getting in return is cool tolerance, ulcers, gray hair and wrinkles. "Our life is virtually a total pre-occupation with *here they are, what they are doing, what they will do next and how to get them back on the tracks. They are normal in intelligence, healthy, obviously independent and seemingly unhappy at the restrictions of living under our roof. "Well, let the devil take them. If they want to hitch-hike to Van- couver, adios, farewell, goodbye and good luck. Just don't call us when you are broke, hungry, lonely and homesick. You have made the bed you wish to lie up- on...so do it. Get off our backs, get out of. our minds. Take off. See the world and see how you can handle it, It's your life. We have given you birth, taught you to talk and to walk, washed you, fed you, scolded you, forgiven you and loved you for 16 years. You, in turn have given us sleepless nights, rivers of tears and a heart of stone. We have devoted a third of our life to you and that is all we shall do. "With that, help them pack, pat them on the head, give them $10 and kiss them goodbye. Make like a mother robin, accept the fact that you have done your job and there is no sense in letting them sit around and foul your nest. They will either sink or swim. And this is the law of nature on all things." Marceil will guarantee that after the first sleepless week you won't even care. Your wrinkles will smooth, you will digest dinner, you will pick up the balance of your life due to you...and the chances are 100 to 1 that your kid will survive, grow up grow responsible and face all the problems you had...including raising a family. "You may have to ignore phone calls from the Vancouver jail or tear-stained letters asking for handouts, but you will have set your priorities and accept the fact they have set theirs." * * * While comments to Marceil's suggestions no doubt will vary, they may provide topics for dis- cussion for parents and their offspring and it would be in- teresting to see the reaction on some. It should be explained that his hard-hearted suggestions are not indicative of the treatment received by his own teenagers. Marceil is a bachelor, but he points out at the conclusion of his column that he "can tell the woods from the trees". Times Established 1873 Well, it happened again. This morning while I was wrapping up the garbage in last week's newspaper my eye caught several items I had missed in my previous perusual. So, there I was, draped over the kitchen counter for 20 minutes catching up on all I'd missed, I couldn't imagine how I had not seen all that interesting and good news when I'd first scanned the paper. The trouble was just that, I had only scanned it, caught a few ,plashy headlines, read a few sad or depressing paragraphs, and set the paper aside believing all the news was bad and let it go at that. And, if someone had asked me if I had read that day's paper I would surely have told them that I had. I hadn't of course, not really. Oh, yes, I'd picked up all the dreadful things but had com- pletely missed the good news which was tucked away in the back pages. But I'd even missed the Blues Chaser on the front p,age, "By the time our children are old enough not to say or do anything in public to disgrace us, they have reached the age when the things we do and say embarrass them," That's funny and that's true and it feels good to let your face relax in a grin. It was good news to read that. Dame Vera Lynn, that wonderful singer who helped so many through the dweary, sad days of the last war, is out of retirement and making a new record in Nashville, It was good news that a 62 year old B.C. woman, who took up graphology (the science of analyzing hand writing) as a hobby and continued it as a career, was able to save an in- nocent man from prison by her expertise. I read that in Saskatoon, public libraries circulated a record number of books in 1976. That's good news to me. It was good news to see that a 75 Years Ago Mr. E. McCloy, who has been conducting an implement agency here with Mr. A. Rannie, sold his interest to Mr. Rannie and is moving to Ridgetown. Mr. Thos. Snell, who has been engaged on the CTR here for some time has leased Mr. Wm. Dixon's Hotel at Brucefield. The tender of Mr. Peter Mclsaac for carrying the mails on the Dashwood, Parkhill stage route has been accepted. The Seraphic Band Co. were in town Tuesday night. After playing several excellent selections on the street they repaired to the town hall and there entertained quite a large audience. Miss Smith has resumed her position as milliner with E.J. Spackman and Co., Miss Urquhart, with Mr. J. Stewart and Miss Woolatt with Messrs, Pickard and Son. 25 Years Ago Boy Scout and Guide week came to a conclusion in Exeter Saturday afternoon with en- tertainment of Scouts, Guides and Cubs to a skating party at the Exeter arena. Exeter now boasts the only turnip waxing plant with an automatic drying machine which has reduced to only nine minutes the stage from the washing machine to the bag. The interior of Crediton Evangelical UB church is being redecorated by Mr. Paris Anderson of Ailsa Craig, J.S. White, son of the late J.J. White, editor of the Exeter Times, has been appointed deputy health minister in Saskatchewan. A new Canadian four-cent stamp will be issued shortly to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Alexander Graham Bell, Advocate Established 1881 young woman refugee from Czechoslovakia has set up a successful archetectural business in Cambridge, Ontario, She says, "I find Canadians extremely friendly to new- corners." It was good news, too, to read about the excellent progress being made in rehabilitating people who have suffered severe heart attacks. Well, I'm sure I could fill pages with all the good news I've missed lately just because I didn't look more carefully or was too hasty. And isn't that the trouble with a lot of people who are quick to pick out all the negative things about the Church of Jesus Christ but who won't take time to explore the Good News. We must admit there are things within the Christian community that sadden us and pehaps because humans are imperfect there always will be, But there is so much good, too! Whether our critics want to admit it or not, hospitals, schools, the abolishment of slavery and many other social reforms came into being because of the in- volvement of the Church.Perhaps it didn't always bring about these changes in the best or wisest manner, but they did 'do' something while others were content to let things stay as they were. There is still good news in the Church. Thousands and thousands of wretched lives are being improved through the work of the whole Christian Com- munity throughout the world. Many people continue to find solace, comfort, patience and love in the church given in the name of Jesus Christ. • Of course, the best news of all is that God's saving grace which changes lives and makes them so immeasurably better is for everyone, no matter who or what he is. One only has to turn over the page to look for it. 15 Years Ago Hensall Council bought the old public school building which will be abandoned this year when the new school opens in the village. It hopes to established another industry by offering the building for sale. Largest crowds to attend a production of the Exeter Drama Guild turned out this week to see the farce, "Father's Been to Mars." Stars were Bob Russell, George Godbolt, Eunice Ward, Ted Smith, Donalda Adams, Mrs. Doug Harrison and Mrs. Bill Oberle. SHDHS board offered its teachers a $400 across-the-board increase Tuesday night in a move to retain the staff in face of the frenzied scramble for teachers, National president of the Association of Kinsmen Clubs, Iry Cantor, Leamington, was guest speaker at an interclub meeting in Hensall, which marked the 37th anniversary of the founding of the club, Thur- sday night. 10 Years Ago The former Canada Packers building beside the Lyric Theatre will be town down to make way 'for a food market it was revealed this week. As part of a movement to 'develop greater understanding between Anglicans and United Church persons, Rev. Bren deVries and Rev. Ernest Lewis exchanged pulpits in their churches, Sunday. John E. Hall, Mt. Carmel, a graduate of SHDHS has been named one of four vice- presidents of the newly-formed Ontario Law Students' Association. — The home of Mrs. Peter Ber- tram Carling Street, was sold to Clarence Wurm this week, Amalgamated 1924