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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-06-08, Page 1Should trust teachers' judgement in books told judgement ofwas The Huron County Board Monday it should trust the ' T’’ " ................ “its teachersof Education WHQ WILL RIDE THE TRIKE? — As part of Main street days to be held this weekend at the South Huron Rec Centre and the community park, the Exeter Leos have challenged the Ex­ eter Lions to a game of softball with the president of the los­ ing club riding a trike down Main street. Trying the trike out for size was Lions president Doug Knowles while Leos presi­ dent Liz Giffin tags along for the ride. T-A photo -J when deciding if literary pieces to be used in high school classrooms are fit for educational purposes. Three delegations at­ tending Monday’s board meeting explained to trustees at considerable length why three English literature textbooks should not be banned from secon­ dary school book lists. The books - Catcher in the Rye, By J.D. Salinger, The Diviners By Margaret Laurence and Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck - were considered blasphemous and obscene by a group of parents from Kingsbridge who started a campaign to have them banned from school booklists. Dr. Tom Collins, chairman of the English department at the University of Western Ontario, told the board that the three books were not at all blasphemous or obsecene but rather were of "superior quality.” He said the books all had excellent educational value. Collins said the purpose of a literary piece was to educate the imagination of readers by creating "con­ struct" worlds that the reader can become familiar without actually living in them. He said the worlds created are usually ones people wouldn’t normally live in but can become aware of through the books, He suggested the worlds could be "better ones created in fairy tales or terrible ones lived in by Hamlet.” The professor said the books in question may contain portions that will be offensive to some people but added that if only material that could be offensive to people was sought out The Bible or the works of Shakespeare could also fall into that category. He said the definition of pornography is material used for the purpose of provoking sexual arousement for its own sake. He said the material in the three books in question was not pornographic in the context in which it was used in the books. Collins suggested that students have two major environments in which they function, school and the rest of their time, He said the time they spend away from school is consistently filled with material “I truly label pornographic.” He said he stopped in at a drug store on his way to the meeting and picked a magazine and a novel off the store shelf. He said the two were what he called pornographic adding June Callwood plans visit As the school year draws to a close, the debate over three books presently available for teaching in Huron county’s secondary schools continues with the announcement Friday of a public meeting to discuss the book situation. The meeting which is slated for this coming Tues­ day at 7:30 p.m. in Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton is being organized by Bill Johnston and Colin Lowndes, two teachers at South Huron District High School in Exeter. Expected to be in attendance at the meeting are several members of the writer’s guild of Canada in­ cluding June Callwood and Alice Munro. In an article on the CBC national news hired Friday evening, Ms. Callwood said "They’re,(the people calling for the book banning) saying the writer is someone who is a pornographer or is obscene and that’s defam­ mation of character which is going to have to stop.” The report said the Guild was ready to sue anyone who labelled them as por­ nographers. A fundamentalist religious organization known as Renaissance Canada was said to be spear-heading a nation wide campaign aimed at the removal of certain books from the school system. In some New Brunswick schools, books have already been removed the report said. that he would "refrain from being truly offensive and will not read from the book or show you pictures from the magazine.” Collins pointed out that the material he had purchased was available to all students any time without any real attempt by parents to control it. He said the students constantly face ob­ jectionable material in films, television, magazines and trash novels and parents seemed unconcerned about the matter. He said schools control the use of such material through trained professionals trained to use judgement and ex­ pertise putting such material into proper perspective rather than sensationalizing it as the letter from the parents had done. He said the boprd must trust its teachers. "Banning the books is the surest way I know of getting the students to seek out the books, read them, and have them adversley affect them by not having the contents put into proper perspective, he said. ” Collins said the alleged blasphemous material was not blasphemous but was language commonly used in every day life. He said blasphemy is taking the Lord’s name in vain or making a deliberate attempt to dishonor God. He said just about everyone in society makes comments during a day that could be considered blaphemous. He said most of us try to avoid using them in our speech but habit or reflex prevents that. He said Please turn to page 3 Said none of their business! Hospital may take district's fire calls The South Huron Hospital board has offered to provide an answering service for calls coming into the Exeter and Area fire department it was learned this week. Councillor Derry Boyle, a member of the hospital board, told council the ser­ vice could be provided, although he said the board members were reluctant to do so and would be happy if other arrangements could be made. Boyle said the annual cost to the area fire board could be between $5,000 and $6,000 per year. "That’s a lot of money for fire calls," Councillor Harold Patterson com­ mented. Members of council asked Boyle if the hospital board would consider handling answering service for private firms or the Exeter PUC and he replied this was not likely. ‘‘They’re considering the fire calls only as a service to the community," Boyle said, ’ The cjuestion of fire calls has been raised due to the plan to have the police calls handled through the county­ wide communication system. It has been in­ dicated that Lorna Dale, who currently operates an answering service for both departments, will terminate that service when the police system is established. "It’s a serious problem we’ll have to face,” Mayor Bruce Shaw told council. He said some consideration should be given to calling tenders to ascertain if anyone in the community is interested in providing an answering service for the fire calls. A concern expressed this week by the Exeter Down­ town Business Improvement area board of management over the fate of trees on streets to be reconstructed drew a heated response from several members of council. "It’s none ■ of their business,” Councillor Ted Wright quickly retorted after a letter had been read asking that an official of the town advise the board if any trees have to be removed from the streets in this year’s con­ struction program. The letter said that the board had been gratified to learn that the trees ‘on William Street would be left in place, but if this was not to be the case, they wanted to be informed. Councillor Derry Boyle also said the matter was none of the board’s business. "We don’t take out trees if it is not necessary,” Wright explained, wondering if the board felt they should be in charge of street designing. The letter was filed with only Councillor Steve Pfaff objecting to that action. i Improve phone service in area Budget is approved for merchant group A budget of $12,500 was approved for the Downtown Business Improvement area at this week’s meeting of Exeter Council. This is about the sameamount as lastyear. The only discussion on the matter was initiated by Councillor Derry Boyle, who said a couple of business people were "pretty hot” over the fact that a major portion of the budget is used for promotion of retail sales when several of the con­ tributing members receive no benefits from the promotions. In this year’s budget, $6,000 has been ear-marked for promotion of special including sidewalk sale, moonlight madness, midnight madness and Christmas. sales events, Clerk Liz Bell said she was under the impression that the money was to be used only for the beautification of municipal property. However, Councillors Lossy Fuller and Harold Patterson said promotion was covered under terms of the bylaw and this was verified when deputy clerk Brian Parsons produced a copy of the bylaw. Other major items in the budget include $3,000 for the preparation of a store-front design study, $1,900 for flowers and alterations to the flower baskets, $300 for the purchase of benches, $500 for general planning and $750 for printing fees. One Hundred and Fifth Year & imes - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex K & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, JUNE 8, 1978 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Awaits sentence over wounding Milton T. Park, 204 Columbia Drive, Huron Park, was convicted on a charge of wounding with intent at a court sitting in Goderich this week. County Court Judge F. G. Carter presided. Park was charged following an incident on January 12 when an Exeter woman, mother of three, was seriously wounded in Huron Park. He had originally been charged with attempted murder and rape. The accused was remanded in custody until July 4 for sentence. IN EXETER HOUSE FIRE DAMAGE HIGH Damage wa*s set at $28,000’fn,,a Saturday eyeriincpfire at the home of Ken Broom, Mill St. Smoke was pouring from all stations when firemen arrived. Below, Mr. Broom is shown with firemen. He suffered burns to his hands and forehead. At the right can be seen some of the extensive damage to the interior. LOSS SET AT $28,000 Exeter fire chief Gary Middleton this week estimated damage at around $28,000 following a blaze at the Mill St. residence of Ken Broom. The fire, which started in a deep fryer in the kitchen, broke out around 7:30 p.m., Saturday. Most of the home’s interior was damaged. Neighbors Ben Fisher and Doug Heywood were the first to spot the blaze when they saw smoke coming out of one of the ventilators. Heywood entered through the back door and shouted to Mr. Broom, who was home alone at the time. The latter said at the scene that he must have dozed off. Broom suffered burns to his arms and forehead and was treated at South Huron Hospital. There was concern for some time that one of the children may have been in the home, but the youngster was at a neighbors. The only victim of the fire was one of the two family dogs. The other animal was saved. Chief Middleton, who sustained a knee injury and scrapes to his hands when he tripped while running to alter equipment on the fire truck, said the house fire loss was covered by insurance. The Broom’s had recently made extensive alterations to the home. Staff photos 13| Ax.? * S $ »> >; s.Z,..• 5* The days of eight or ten parties on one telephone line are almost over in the Centralia exchange, Peter Croome, local Bell Canada manager, said today. A four-year $600 million program is now underway throughout Bell Canada territory to introduce a four- party maximum service on rural lines and make available private or two- party service to most customers in the rural areas. Conversion to the im­ proved service in the Cen­ tralia exchange is scheduled to take place August 19, Croome said. As of August 19 multi­ party customers will have a basic rate increase and one and two-party customers outside the built-up areas will have mileage charges increased. All customers affected have been notified. The monthly rate for four- party service in the Cen­ tralia exchange will be $3.80, Croome said. When the conversion is complete, only two of the four phones on a four-party line would ring incoming call Hospital addition bid is $528,836 assistance, Cann noted that the hospital was in a unique position among hospitals due to the sizeable capital fund it has accrued. This has been accomplished through several bequests, interest on those funds, and some money set aside from operating budgets in the past. The new addition will house administration and new emergency facilities. The present emergency facility is outdated and in­ adequate to meet the grow­ ing demand of the 25-year- old hospital. The new emergency sec­ tion will be about three times the size of the present one and it will have a separate ambulance en­ trance. The contract is presently being drawn up and is ex­ pected to be awarded to the London firm later this week. "We hope construction will start as soon as possible," Taylor said, noting that the firm has in­ dicated the project will be completed within 26 weeks. The funds for the addition will come from the capital fund which the board has ac­ crued in recent years. Assistance will also be home, built in 1856, was literally falling apart and had to be replaced. It was extremely hard to heat. In deciding to proceed without provincial sought from county council. However, no provincial funds will be allotted for the project. The addition will replace the Carling residence, which was demolished last year. It was in a poor state of repair. When plans for the addi­ tion were approved last August, board chairman Carf Cann said the Carling Tenders for the addition to South Huron Hospital were opened by the board, Mon­ day, with the low bid being submitted by Kelly-Lyn Construction Ltd., London. The firm submitted a price of $528,836, the lowest of the nine received. The highest was $605,122. Administrator Elmer Taylor said the low bid was "pretty close” to the timates on the addition. Merchants stage seminar Shoplifting threat to economy signs and legal when an received.is SHOPLIFTING SEMINAR ■— Exeter Mainway merchants were given tips on prevention of shoplifting during a Monday seminar. From the left are Constable Bill Wilson, Rev. George Anderson, Mainway president Ron Cottrell, police chief Ted Day, local lawyer Gerry Gray and Constable George Robertson. T-A photo r ’’a ■L i, 1 1 • '"’’d 1 Mr OPP Constable Bill Wilson, OPP Community Services officer for Huron County told Exeter businessmen Monday that shoplifting costs Canadians one million dollars a day. Constable Wilson was one of several speakers at a seminar on shoplifting held ■ at the old town hall. It was sponsored by the Mainway business association. Exeter Constable George Robertson who was in­ strumental in organizing the seminar said, “shoplifting was once considered a minor social offence, but, it is now a serious threat to economy.” Robertson continued, expensive to shoplifters, but, our . "It’s ignore also ex­ pensive to identify them”. Constable Wilson said the Canadian cost of living is higher by 15 percent because of shoplifting. Participating in a panel discussion were Rev. George Anderson, police chief Ted Day and Exeter lawyer Gerry Gray. Chief Day said all stores should post signs saying all shoplifers prosecuted, suggested that tall display counters be avoided. Rev. Anderson said, "the onus should be on the shop keeper to make goods less accessible. They seem to be careless with counters and displays. Banks are pretty careful with their mer­ chandise.” Chief Day said the policy of local police was not to charge any juvenile the first time they were apprehended for shoplifting, but, notify the parents. He added, “If they are under 16 and it’s the first offence, we try to add the personal touch and give them a second chance.” Day said most shoplifting offences occur between 11 and one duty will be He also em- a.m. and 2 p.m. suggested more than staff member be on during noon hours. Asked by one store ployee if customers could be prevented from entering certain premises, lawyer Gray replied, "I’m not sure you can stop entrance, but, you can certainly control behaviour in a public place.” Chief Day suggested the police be called before any shoplifting suspect is stopped by a store owner or employee. He continued, "We can handle the situation better than you can.” Constable Wilson said a person does not have to leave a store in order to be charged with shoplifting. He com­ mented, "A person can go from one department to another. Evasion of payment is the key ingredient.” GOT A DEAL The parking lot at the South Huron rec centre is being paved this week. "We got a deal,” Mayor Bruce Shaw advised council this week. Cost of the paving has been set at $12,000, while previous estimates indicated the job would cost about $20,000. The pavifig will come out of the rec centre board’s budget, although it was not included in the figure ap­ proved by council earlier.