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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1976-03-03, Page 14Teacher Interview MR. DON DENNIS It has been said that Mr: Dennis, who hai taught at Madill for 8 years, is the best Latin teacher in Wingham. He teaches Grade 10 through to 13 ,Latin and Grade 10 Physical Education. Mr. Dennis taught previously at Lucknow High School for 6 years. Two more groups of -students have now successfully passed driver training and were able to get a driver's licence. The students are as follows: • Gordon Ruff, Jaekie•Ohm, Michael HeiM, Tom Miller,. Randy Fischer, Robert Armstrong, Brian Reid, Douglas Kuyvenhoven, Ellen Reid, Adele Vet-beck, . Brent Ireland, Henry , Van Dyke, John Sleeker, Martin°Askes, Carol Jamison, Ruth Hastings, Ken de l3oer, -Larry Wilkins, Irene Versteeg, 'Heather Neilson. ' The teacher for in-class driver training 'is Mr. Bender, while the teacher for in-car driver training"is Mr. Cliff Logan: Byi Myron McKee Advertising serves by informing. CANADIAN ADVERTISING ADVISORY BOARD School Daze PAN FOURTEEN, THE 14CKHOW SENTINEk, 1,,UCKNOW, ONTARIO WEDNESDAY, MARCH a, 1976 Teacher Interview Driver Training • ),',‘.w.!FrdmSt.ioden,ts • . . Fl. Modill.:Sp.condaii School Editorial There, is a vicious rumour' that has. been tingling through the halls, of F. E. Madill for some time,' so I - decided to dispell any uncertainty you may have. Someone has said 'there is apathy in our school-in VVingham! I'm quite certain that somewhere along the grapevine the idea has been severely twisted. If you want participation look at Our school teams, and if its co-operation you are searching for, look at the various clubs operating within the student .body. And don't _ forget the teachers and principals . • who supervise our clubs and who readily accept our challenges. •‘• Who could help being impressed by the way in which our student council is running this year under the leadership -of president 'Lois McLaughlin. It's not quite to the point where there is never a dull moment, but we certainly 'apprec- iate their function.' And what is a . school year without; of course, a yearbook? 'There are- a, lot of dedicated students working with editor Marilyn Congram to make -the most fantastic yearbook in the history of-god or F.- E. Madill." We cannot overlook One of our most important monthly happen- ings-7-dances. • Social convener Mark Tiffin has arranged for some of Canada's best known bands to perform -this year. It also takes students, prefects, chaperones and principals to help make the dances successful. • , We also have short drania productions- m at Monday morning assemblies to trim off the boredom of each week. Our thanks. , to Marlyn Murray and the entire Drama Club. What do you mean--apathy??? Look at our teams'and, coaches. We have football teams (and one. year soon , we are going to win again) and both girls and beys basketball and volleyball teams. They have long ' hard hours of Practice and this- is only the beginning. They all represent our -school well. , Our purple and white sweaters stand for spirit: the Mustang stands for strength. What is a team withdut -supporters? Look 'in the auditorium on a home-game day, or on, the banks of the football field in season-pow that is spirit!! Our teachers also give a great effort / -to get involved, never turning down a challenge shouted by some enthusiastic student, although usually it means certain defeat. Never-the-less, we have, student-teacher broomball, ping pong, volleyball and basketball matches. 'How many teachers would be willing to risk their lives being on a toboggan, with' helmets secure, being pulled by anxious home-robmstudents through snow, slush, water, and even mud-ours do. • So,unless the meaning of apathy has changed to become a synonym enthusiasm, then the rumour holds no validity. I believe in giving .credit where it is due, so take a long look around you and begin appreciating the standards and qualities you see. Remember, we can't be beat 'cause we're from Madill. JOAN LEISHMAN, Editor. Mr. Dennis' home town is- Atwood. He was raised on a farm near Atwood and attended Listowel ' High School. Mr. Dennis said as far as choosing a career, his _parents had a great influence. His father was' a farmer which requires a , lot of manual labonr. They advised him that if he had the brains to go to University ,that he 'should. This was when he decided to'take his chances on teaching. He trained for 3 years in Waterloo University. Mr.' Dennis enjoys sports, both as a participant and as an active fin. Repairing antique furniture or carpentry work is one of his hobbies. His favourite colour is maybe blue since he wears other colours as well. It has been rumoured that Mr.Dennis is one. of and maybe the best dressed man at F. E. Madill. Would you agree? Mr. Dennis really ,enjoys a good adventure or drama series on TV 'as opposed to comedy. The 'German Shepherd is his favourite breed of dog. Mr. Dennis stated that there was, a problem of attitude among students at F.E. 'Students aren't as keen as they could or 'should he. The.only way thiS will ever change is if the whole social life of the community,' is altered. The educational system must all change such that a teacher has freedom to do what he 'can do best. School spirit has not improved .at all this_ year. The same students are participating and the same sport's or clubs, while others do nothing." • Mr. Dennis helps with the football teams and last year he was a hockey team coach, in Lucknow for House Leagues, Club News The Reach For The Top Team played their first game of the seven against a very' competitive team from" Elmira. The team composed of Marilyn Congram, Stan Loree, Donald Sanderson and Gordon Wray played an excellent game and wan by a score of 200 to 160. 'They will now advance against Walker- ton. The in-school junior mathematics contest was written on Tuesday to decide who would write- the national contest. The top two contestants in each of grade 9, 10, and-11 are chosen. This year they are: grade 9, Jeannette Strong 9K, Ken Metzger, 9H, Tom. Henderson 9D, Ron Unran 9R, Janet Wood 9R, Jerry ,King 9R, Steve McKay. 9G, Noreen Rahn 9H,, Jim Laidlaw 9F and Doug Treleaven 9M. Grade 10: Steven Johann 10D, David Housser 10D, David Cronin 10B, Daren Richmond 10H, Jay MacLaurin 10E, ' Barbara Loree 10E; Jerry Bremner 10A, Ruth Ann Alton 10A, Sheila Shobbrook 10K, Ryan 'Hayes 10C. Grade 11: Jim Blackwell, Keith Metzger, Oscar Meir, Lori Moir, Eileen Fischer, Mike MiloseVic, Debbie Adams, Doug Kuyven- hoven, John Campbell, Twyla Dickson. The Amateur Radio Club recent- ly purchased a SX111 Hallicrafter Receiver. The primary use of this unit will be to enable the members of the club to, practice morse code: This is done by listening to station WIAW 'which regularly. transmits perfect code for beginners ranging in' speed from 5 to 35 words per minute.. , We wish to' thank thp student council for making this possible.:. Why? Why must people hurt each other, hi so many different ways? Why must they impress each other, With fancy, phonerplays? Why can't they just be themselves? What's wrong with being free? Why then are we all caught between, -The bounds of conformity? Teena 0' Hagan I- MR. ROBERT DAMSMA . In this week's edition of the 'school page we are featuring a special article on Mr. Damsma, the EngliA teacher behind' the school, page who corrects • all our silly • grammar mistakes. • ' Mr. Damsma 'was born in Holland in 1940. When he was 7 years old his family moved to Canada to live on a farm . near Kitchener. Mr, Damsma receiVeci all his elementary , education, iii ,a one room school house. From there he went .to Waterloo-Oxford Dist- rict High' School near Baden. He graduated from Grade '13 and went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating in 1964 with a'B.A. in. Education. He taught for 2 years in a private (Protestant) school, in Toronto. For two summers he 'attended the Ontario College of Education • for his canadian teaching certificate. In 1967, he moved to Ripley and taught primarily Latin and Physical Edu- cation for four years. Mr. ,Damsma has been teaching at Madill for five years.' He teaches English, Grades 10-12. Mr. Damsrna is the father of 2 girls and ow boy (ages 10, 8 and 3) and resides in Lucknow. favourite colour is blue. His hobbies are vvorking with _wood creating furniture and toys,' picnic tables and-working on houies. He enjoys hunting, especially ground hogs. Skiing, hiking, camping, Mechanics and reading are other . interests. Mr.. Damsma stated that F. E. Madill is a good school, it has pleasant' students, an atmosphere' conducive to education, it is clean, the staff is helpful and friendly, naturally! Mr. Damsma comment- ed on school spirit. He said that students- come. from too „wide an area to develop unity or together- ness. Instead they identify more with their own town than with their school. As 'a suggestion for more student- involvement "in sports he suggested that maybe if the student- body was organized in teams or house leagues (using various colours) it would excite more interest. "Students should consider high school as a time of Opportunity, not as something to be endured for a few years," said Mr. Damsma.. Mr. Damsma has a few philoso- phies of life which he was willing to share with us. , 1. Be brave enough to defend your own point of view; be an individual, a somebody. Yet you need others as they need you. 2. Take dime each day to consider what you've done, what :you're doing and where 'you're going. • 3. Prepare, for what you know is coming, but don't waste time doing the same for the unexpected, These philosophies all hold helpful advice. They only need to be put • into practice. • "Each day brings it's own spark of humour," said Mr. Damsma, "that's one of the joys ,of teaching --no two -days, no two classes, no two students are the same. I have heard the' expression 'you don't have to be crazy" to teach, 'but it sure helps.,' That isn't true, of course, but I do believe that -a sense of humour is indispensable for a teacher. I'm grateful that both' students and teachers of P.E. Madill can share the gift of humour." I'd agree to that. Wouldn't you? By--Mary Anne Alton. DOWN AND OUT Spme folks who are now takimr the'stumn will he takin the count after the fall eleetidns. A group 'of grade 13 students were at a loss .as how to go abotit their horrible rate problems. One day the teacher was absent' and-in his place sat Mrs. McBride, a former well-loved teacher. To the class! surprise, they were able to 'get all the problems given to them by her. The teacher's surprise was even 'greater. After a moment's thought, he attributed it to the fact that, "You must, not be distracted as much by her as.by me." An onimous silence followed. then a voice retorted from the back 'of the room, "Yek, we didn't have to sit here half the class wondering what . she was!" , . Mr. Hofer sent'a'greasy-handed student to Mr. Willis' room to borrow a wrench. 'On trying the • door it .seemed to be locked. The • student Was about to give up when he sighted Mr. Willis coming down the hall. After hearing the situation Mr. Willis 'grabbed the door handle and with a ilick of the , wrist and grease up to 'the elbows, the-door opened. Seeing Mr. Willis slightly perturbed about the grease, 'the student hastened to apologize. The teacher 'glared at him. 'I' might believe you if you'd wipe _that' smirk Of your face." There seems to be a new illness going around the school. If you keep your eyes open you'll be able to see prime examples 'of it. It's called "Crutchesurvarem". By the number of cases present it must be caused by.a virus. There are other diseases which follow a' weekly cycle., On Monday morning ,you can oserve the "Monday Morning. Blues". The patient here is listless, inattentiv,e, frequently holds his, head while uttering "sh": The duration of this malady is . usually a day or two, 'but extreme examples have been known which have lasted from Monday to Friday. The mid week illness is known as the "Dulldruns". patient is extremely bored and not very talkative, because the events of the past week end' have already been related and it's too 'early to make plans fora the coming one. This illness usually disappears by Friday. Friday brings on the"final weekly illness,' namely. a form Of hyper-tension and hyper-activity -known as "Letsgetouta'here.". This one affects students , and teachers , It- creates "a universal atmosphere or' reStless- ness, with excited chatter, week end plans, and frequent glances at the clock. If reaches- its peak during the mad rushes to lockers at 3.24, Friday afternoon. When asked if there, was• any humorous situation that he was ever involved with while teaching • at Madill, Mt. Dennis replied, "One day I was' instructing some students 'in how to cross-country ski. - The students were asked 'to bring suitable footwear for the sport (e.g. snowmobile boots). One fellow approached•me and explain- ed that the only shoes he could find were the ones he -had on, which were high heeled platforms. The boy exclaimed "I can hardly even walk in them so I don't know whether I'll be able to ski with them!" Having Mr. Dennis for a teacher this year I 'can remember one day after he had been playing ping pong with Mr. Inwood at lunch hour, he came in slightly slouched over and holding his back. For the rest of the cliss all he could do was git in a chair and move the chair along the blackbeard with his feet. Once in a while We'd 'hear a groan. Oh!' The pain of teaching Latin. Hopefully Mr. Dennis will con- tinue teaching at Madill. ti do MARY ANNE ALTON f' 'INSPIRATION "Blisters are a painful experience, but if you get enough blisters in the same place, they will produce a callus. That is what we . call maturity." Did you know that F. E. Madill has a school ''motto? It is Fidelis Et . ParatuS which is Latin for 'Faithful and Prepared'. A noisy room, laughter , Then silence. Quiet footsteps, a flushed face, More liughter. Fading footsteps and the creation, Of insecurity. • Teena 011agan