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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-03-18, Page 3 THE BRUSSELS POST, MARCH 18, 1981 — A3 Brussels WI 71 years of leadership BY DEBBIE RANNEY "For Home and. Country is. a long-stand- ing motto of the Women's Institute. In Brussels, the Majestic Women's Institute continues to. carry on the tradition by sponsoring 4-H, offering courses in :various aspects of homemaking as part of many other functions. It was Adelaide Hunter 'Hoodless who !founded the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada. When addressing a meeting of the Farmer's Institute-of Stoney Creek in 1897, she suggested farm women should have their own organization to study homemaking. Several days later on Feb- ruary 19, the first Women's Institute was organized in the village of Stoney Creek. Since that time the movement has spread throughout Canada and to many parts of the world. Mrs. Hoodless advocated the teaching of domestic sciences in the schools. A Women's Institute was first organized in Brussels on January I I, 1910 and during the war years, much of the W.I.'s time was spent sewing, knitting and packing boxes for the war effort. This Institute disbanded in 1920. In 1939, while Mrs. Harold Speir was district president of her school. section in Grey Township, she realized the women of her school section had no common meeting place to assemble for education and entertainment, On November 16, 1939, she called a meeting at her home of the women of the community and a Women's Institute was organized with 34 members. The new Institute was named Majestic to commemorate the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada in 1939. Meetings were first held in members' homes on the second Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. In 1947, because of increased attendance, meetings were held in the Public Library where they continue today, now on the second Wednesday of every month. In the winter, members meet in the afternoon and in the spring and fall in the evenings. During the months of July and August, no meetings are held but the W.I. goes on bus trips. NON PARTISAN According to the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario, the Women's Insti- tute is an educational, non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-racial organization Programs are planned under a conven- orship structure. Members are encouraged through information and experience to be responsible citizens and are taught ibe know-how of nutrition, crafts and clay-to- day current topics. The objectives of the Women's Institute are to help women acquire homemaking skillS; to help discover, stimulate and develop leadership.; to help identify and resolye needs and prOblems in the commtinity;, to help develop better inform- ed, happier and more useful citizens, Each month's programs planned by the convenors of standing committees like Agriculture and Canadian Industries; Family and Consumer Affairs; Educator and Cultural Activities; Citizenship and World Affairs and Resolutions. If a woman wanted to know how to become a good homemaker, the Women's Institute is apparently the place to learn.. A lot of the course information conies from the Home Economies Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture. It's a real edticat,,m for homemakers,- one of the Institute members said. Sewing skills can also be learned as well as quilting, crocheting and a number of other handicraft skills. And young girls can start to learn their homemaking skills, before ever becoming W.I. members since the W.I. provides leaders for the 4,-H homemaking courses. In these courses, the girls learn about food, clothing, sewing, • decorating. enter- taining and even about gardening. A FOUNDATION "It gives the girls a wonderful foundatin for homemaking." a W.I. member said. Asked what the W.I. has to offer that younger women 'night be interested in, another member replied that "if she's a young homekeeper she should be interest- ed in practically everything we have," But 4-H and homemaking ideas are just a little of what the W,I. has to offer. in ,the W.1.'s Twecdsmuir histories Brussels now has a permanent history of such things as the town bell, the schools, water works and even of different farms and houses in the area. Each member also does a ouse log -- a history of their house and the families who have lived there. When a family moves, the log is left so that the next ypeople who occupy the house can fill in their family history and the changes they make to the house. Other things of interest the W.I. offers are short courses for Seniors, and a Huron County Scholarships program. Members demonstrate crafts at the Nursing Home. The W.I. also donates prizes for the fair. , The Women's Institute does charitable work for such organizations as the Cancer Society, the C.N.1.B. and others. There's also the social aspect of the Women's Institute. Lunch is served after the meetings and as one woman pointed out she gets to see the women from all the different churches in Brussels whq she wouldn't see normally. Currently the Institute has 34 paid-up imsmbers, but more would certainly be welcome. Form education action group BY SHELLEY McPHEE In an attempt to improve the quality of' education, to reinstate the recently dropped courses in the local high schools and to have more voice in the administra- tion, a Citizens Action Group for Education (CAGE) was formed in Clinton Monday night, More than 70 people attending the open meeting at Clinton Public School un- animously agreed to form CAGE to be the public's voice for education in Huron County. Headed by Moira Couper of Bayliekl, CAGE aims to study education in the county and monitor action which may reduce standards. As was most people's concern, CAGE plans to research and obtain in- formation in an attempt to save the Machine shop at Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS) and 20 other courses recently dropped in Huron's high schools. CAGE will also encourage co-operation between elected officials of the board"of education, teachers, students and parents. There was no opposition to the formation of CAGE and Carnet Harland of Clinton commented. "This group has a real function to perform. We need a well-rounded education in Huron and I support CAGE." ' SILENT' TOO LONG Many in attendance agreed taxpayers and parents had been silent fill, too long. and they supported Mike Falconer of Clinton when he stated. "Stand tip and tight for your' rights and your children's," "You're part of the problem," he added, "Next time there is a teachers' strike you'll have to get behind the board of education, even if your children's education has to suffer for four or five months," Tony McQuail, NDP candidate for Huron , Bruce suggested CAGE work with the teachers rather than set them as adversaries: "Parents fot far too long have allowed themselves to be pushed out of education and the administration has opted out of adinitistration," he noted, Mr. McQuail suggested many problems in the education system are at the admittistra- tiVe and he said CAGE Should not "conduct a witch hunt" on educators, but try to make the system work, It was suggested CAGE take a close look at the high schools curriculum iii an attempt to trim off excess fatatiti Don Welsh, of R.12, 5. Clinton questioned the board's priorities. He noted while the machine shop at CHSS has been closed, the school still has a large football field and good physical education facilities. He noted that during his high school years, the phys ed class used the Clinton Community Park as a playing field. Mr. Welsh suggested too much emphasis is placed on physical education and noted: "If- there arc budget cuts to be made, perhaps there would he (in phys cc!) a place to start." A Sectforth parent noted because a math had been dropped there, her son would have to take two night school courses to get the three maths required for his future . in engineering. She noted that perhaps if her son had known in Grade 9 that courses he needed wouldn't be offered in Grade 13, he would have studied different subjects. 'CAGE hopes to watch over education so these changes don't come unannounced." Mrs. Cooper explained. Many present objected to the high salaries teachers are being paid and Bill Schoonder- woetd said, -If the teachers don't get what they want, then our children don't get the education." REPLACEMENT RIGHT Schoondcrwocrd suggested to avoid future strikes, changes in the right to strike should be made and if a teacher outprices himself, the board of education should be able to find someone to replace him, "We have no say at all," Carol Kerrigan 'of Clinton added, "we just pay. The schools are the reason our children arc there, but they seem to be at the bottom of the priority Mr. Schoonerwoerd also noted $26 niilliciii Was spent on education in the county last year and 85 per cent of that went to salaries. "We'd be better to keep the machine shop open and not the adMinistration," he suggested. Mrs. Couper noted taxpapers are already burdened enough and CAGE would be looking into the possibilities of getting financial assistance froth the government, She said, "We've conic to a point where we're going to have to make choices. We must alter the programs but there must, be creative ways to make the best of these." CAGE will be lOoking at all, concerns voiced at the Monday Meeting, The new. organization is also looking for support and is forming publicity, industrial, political pressure, fund raising and students commit= tees. While Mrs. Couper is heading the group. Brenda Whyte of Seatorth is the A request from Brussels .Public Home and School Association for $350 to help " fund the construction of creative .playround equip- ment for the primary area of Brussels Public School was turned down by the Huron County Board of Education members Monday afternoon, Cost of the materials for the project valued at $8,000 BY DEBBIE RANNEY Brussels council will receive a subsidy. of $9,271.86 from the Ministry of Transportat- ion and Communications, (M.T.C.) this year, it was learned at last week's Brussels council meeting. . As well council decided to set up a meeting with the township council of Morris and Grey to discuss the fire protection agreement they have with Brussels. Council had received a letter from John Ritchie inquiring about the flooding in his basement. In the letter he said that in the fall of 1980, Clarence Doherty, an inspector for B.M. Ross and Associates (the village's engineers) said that to resolve their drainage problems they should connect their tile to the sewage pipe that will service their house. "After careful consideration, this action would seem to be most unsatisfactory and indeed hazardous," Mr. Ritchie wrote. He added the possibility of sewer gas seeping into the basements was extremely realistic; and a blockage iii the Sewer• system of some nature could cause a backwash-of sewage to flow into the basement, In the letter, Mr, Ritchie said it was felt an alternate remedy must be reached. After reading the letter, council decided to refer. Mr. Ritchie back to Mr. Doherty of the engineering firm to see what solution can be worked out. To the editor: Continued from page.2 take pictures, but they could only put in one picture per team, per season. So it was decided to wait and take the picture when they were finished with all their trophies. At no tithe has there ever been a refusal to take pictures of the teamsi just the frequency, and this is not the choice of the Employees of the Brussels Post but it is the policy of the owners of the Post. Before stories are repeated; the facts, not fiction should be known. Gossip hurts us all and when it causes te,•;gttations it is the whole community which J u ffers Before you speak Or repeat. Please stop and think, A concerned citizen Vice-chairman and Marg Coventry of Clinton is the secretary-treasurer. B of E says no to request for BPS playground funds is $700, half of which has been raised by the Association. Conestoga College at Vanastra has drawn a set of plans for the equipment and will partially construct the unit free of charge. Parent volunteers will complete construction and installation. of the equipment. While board members ap- proved the project, the Association was urged to ' seek funding through the Ministry of Community and Social Services under the auspices of a Brussels area service club or organization. It was pointed out that other community school pro- jects have been funded in this manner at no extra cost to Huron County taxpayers. Will discuss fire agreements