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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-03-03, Page 5Fully Processed, Fully Processed, Fully Processed, Fully Processed, 5 lbs. 42 oz. 2 lbs. '2.35 85' 100559' 1.39 9.19 100z 4/88' 48 oz. 59 60bogss1.13 We Specialize in Custom Processing, Curing and Smoking BABY BEEF LIVER HAMBURG PATTIES PORK HOCKS HEAD CHEESE LARD CORNED BEEF Canada Packers, lb, $ 1.19 Homemade, lb. 39' Store sliced, lb. $1 .09 LEWIS OR TOASTMASTER BREAD 3/9 25 TIDE DETERGENT Jello LEMON PIE FILLER Royalle FACIAL TISSUE PUNCH DETERGENT McCormick McBig Oatmeal or Ginger Snap COOKIES Aylmer Tomato & Vegetable SOUP Delmonte TOMATO JUICE Red Rose ORANGE PEKOE TEA FROZEN FOOD Wallace pkg. of 3 Turkey Pies 79' McCains French Style Green Beans io oz. 2/754 Pepperidge Farm Sq uare 17 oz. Layer Cake 1.29 PRODUCE Ida Red Apples 3 lb. bag 754 Chiquita Bananas lb. 23' 12 oz. pk. 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Most members of the school's English department were on hand, along with some senior students, to defend the use of books which some parents in the audience of 55 termed ob- jectionable, Ron Heywood acted as chairman for the program, saying that some parents were concerned about the literature at the high school and also were concerned about preventing types of literature found in other high schools from reaching SHDHS. He indicated a concern as well over the use of foul language in the hallways and quoted Bishop E. Carter's concern about sex education being taught in schools without any consideration for the love which should accompany it, "Community standards have to be set by ourselves as concerned parents," he said, adding that changes can be made if enough people talk out about the present standards. One of the first questions asked was how books were chosen for the high school English.course. Department head Sherwood Eddy responded by saying that the books were chosen after consideration by members of the staff and often on the recom- mendation of other teachers. They were then approved at the teacher and board level. He indicated teachers had to consider what sort of things students have to confront in today's society and pointed out that some of the "fantasy" books and classics used in the past didn't prepare students whom he said were young adults and not children for handling human relationships. Eddy said that while some of the modern books run into sen- sative areas and use "realistic" language, there was a control factor in the form of the teacher. "If growth (of the student) is to occur, the questioning process must exist," he said, adding that the school system would be irresponsible if it did not challenge students on all domains. He said the situation boils down to one of trust. Mayor Bruce Shaw, former head of the English department and now principal at Seaforth high school, said the job as head of the English department is one of the most difficult. He indicated a lengthy process was involved in selecting books for use in the classroom. He said one of the basic criteria was to determine if the book speaks to the student, He pointed out that even the works of Shakespeare were clouded in the type of language which some objected to in modern literature. In reply to 'a question of whether the language used in some books has contributed to the language of the hallways, teacher Ozzie Zivkovic said there was no relationship. "Common language doesn't come from the books, it comes from the home," He said the female segment of the school population used profanity to a greater degree than the boys and said that the school is a replica of the society where it is located. "If swearing is ordinary, don't expect them not to swear at school," he advised, adding that there was little the school could do to control the language used by students in the halls or classrooms. It was also pointed out that discipline is not a problem where students have respect for their parents. He suggested if parents wanted the school to do anything about the foul language, they would have to take their case to the board and administrators. Another teacher, Colin Lownes termed foul language in the hallways a "non-issue". "I don't h ear students swear very often," he commented. He said in any group of 1,000 it was natural to get some who swear and said that couldn't be changed, adding that it was better to confront students in a classroom situation in a nur- turing atmosphere. "We are professionals," he said, "and we're not out to corrupt students." As expected, Catcher in the Rye, was mentioned as one of the books questioned by parents, and while One teacher termed it a classic in modern literature, one parent replied it was poor English, disgusting and everything in it was degrading. "We live in a sick society and have to worry about something besides dirty words," com- mented teacher Bill Johnson, However, a parent answered that students' emotions were only starting to develop and urged that they be given seillething more morally uplifting, "You're asking far too much of our children," she stated. Rev. Bruce Pierce, Crediton, said he agreed that part of the teachers' job was to help children cope with life, but suggested that if teachers were going to discuss moral issues with students some teachers should be retrained themselves. Pierce said that if teachers were going to teach about moral standards, the parents should expect those teachers to have proper standards themselves. Teacher Clay Murray said teachers were not trained to teach only positive or good examples, but similar to Socrates, were trained to present the contrasts. He explained that Jesus also taught by the use of contrasts, While some negative qualities are contained in literature, Murray said they were con- trasted with many positives. "Why do the messages have to be wrapped up in such filth?" one parent asked, Teacher Al DeHaan said the function of a teacher is to nurture and guide and suggested they should not indulge in teaching values, but stick to dispensing facts. He said the primary job of teaching children is that of the parents, and indicated if parents' groups can cooperate with the school it would be beneficial, but said it may be better to go even one step further and work towards an educational system whereby grants follow the child. His reference was to the establishment of parental schools such as those operated by the Christian Reformed Church in Clinton, The local teacher said later in the meeting the government does not provide assistance to parents who choose to send their children to schools of this nature. Bill, Johnson re-entered the discussion to point out to the parents that the Bible also contains references to incest, masturbation, etc., as do some of the books that were considered undesirable by the parents. County to buy Goderich coins The Property Committee of Huron County Council has been authorized by council to purchase a set of the Town of Goderich commemorative coins marking that community's 150 an- niversary celebrations. The nickel, silver and gold coin set is costing the county $286.69 and is to be displayed at the Huron County Museum. In other business at Thursday's council meeting, the County agreed to amend its budget to allow for a grant of $16,000 to the Goderich Airport Committee. The grant, requested by the committee, is to aid in the operation of the Goderich Air- port. The same grant was made in 1976. A committee recommendation that $9,332 (plus provincial sales tax) be spent on purchase of a sorter to improve the efficiency of the County printing room was also approved. Don Jolly replied that modern books •glamorize evil, while the Bible teaches what happens to those who practice evil, Margaret McClure opined that the school could choose books where points are made very real for students but without the use of dirty words. Teacher Bruce Eccles suggested people may be deceiving themselves in suggesting the school system has such a great influence on students. He said the media has more influence than education, and the words and scenes shown on TV present "an entirely new ball game" over which people are concerned. He said that in watching SHDHS students board buses for home, about three-quarters of them didn't have any books with them. Bruce Shaw warned parents against sheltering children from the temptations and demands of the world. In restricting what they read, see and hear, he said parents were trying to keep them as innocent babes in a world of decadence and corruption, and secondly, were having "serious doubts in ourselves as parents and friends who have had these innocents under our care for almost 16 years". He went on to say that as a parent he absolutely rejected the possibility that he could be a failure as a father. If his children failed the tests life presents them "they do so knowing the dif- ference between right and wrong", "As a teacher of English, I see too often 'concerned citizens' attempting to project their morality, their standards of right and wrong on the community," the Mayor continued. "They take quotations out of context and damn a book; they see nudity and condemn art; they hear profanity and reject life," He said every book must be valued for its literary merit or discarded for its worthlessness. "Just as we do not necessarily condemn an individual solely because he swears, I find it difficult to imagine that anyone would burn a book solely because of its occasional use of 'colorful' vocabulary." In evaluating books, Shaw said two questions had to be an- swered: (1) should schools lead or reflect society? (2) do we have enough faith and confidence in our English teachers to let them teach intelligently books that, although perhaps controversial, are of literary worth? Pointing out the countless pressures at work, he suggested that maturity was the ability to deal with those forces and the function of the school and English classes is to help the student know what those influences might be and how those characters in great and con- temporary fiction have dealt with them. "Examine the books being taught, read them, discuss them, offer opinions, but do not throw them to the fire on hearsay evidence and isolated, meaningless phrases quoted from them," he concluded. rl fl Exeter Public School principal Jim Chapman, who said he had two teenagers at the high school, urged parents not to sell the students or the system short. "Use the home atmosphere to teach, them values," he suggested, after pointing out that today's students are much more capable to discuss, converse and debate than he ever could with his parents. Sherwood Eddy suggested that the students were "ready" for the books being used in the school and it would be wrong "to back off and play nice, safe games". He said his major respon- sibility was to answer the needs of the students and urged parents not to prevent him from attaining that goal. If you do, he said, it will be to the detriment of the students, Pointing to several students in attendance at the meeting, he said they had read the books being questioned "and none of them are perverts or delinquents". WHIPPER AND FRIENDS — Whipper Billy Watson was at Hully Gully Sunday for the Snowarama for Crippled Children Above, Whipper is surrounded by area participants Clare Martene, Norm Wilson, Earl Martene and John Martene. T-A photo