HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-13, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13,1992.
The Other Side Letters
Maybe I'm
functionally
illiterate
Education officials are taking a
horrible beating these days over the
growth of illiteracy in the country.
How with all the money we spend
on education can so many people
be illiterate in this day and age?
Maybe the key, though, is that
"illiterate" today is accompanied by
the word "functional". All these
illiterate people may be able to read
and write but not well enough to
function in today's complicated
world. But is it that people can't
read as well as their parents and
grandparents, or is it that things are
just sq complicated these days that
even if you're well educated you
can't function.
I can read well enough to get a
university degree, can write well
enough to make a living at writing
but I'm growing to suspect I could
qualify as functionally illiterate
after trying to decipher some of the
material coming across my desk.
Take for instance the latest manual
for mailing newspapers that arrived
from Canada Post last week:
"Every item of each publication
for deposit under the Local Distri
bution Option for delivery in an
urban FSA must have the valid
delivery mode code for the postal
code of the address as provided by
Canada Post. Delivery mode infor
mation is provided for a specific
period and must be used for mail
ings posted during that period. The
alpha data character identifying the
period in which the delivery mode
code is valid, must be provided for
each urban address label as speci
fied by CPC Postal Code Manage
ment.
"The delivery mode code may be
printed in any line of the address
except the "Key" line or postal
code line at least three blank spaces
to the right."
Huh?
One of our people, more bilin
gual than I (not English and French
but English and Canada Post-ese)
found something in a rather large
manual. Maybe that would help:
"Mode of delivery information is
required for all delivery installation
addresses. Mode of delivery infor
mation is to be placed on the same
line as delivery installation infor
mation. However, if there are phys
ical restrictions, the mode of
delivery information will be placed
on a line above delivery installa
tion information."
Beam me up, Scottie!
Now this is just Canada Post. If
you're going to function in business
today you also have to leam the
unique language of Revenue Cana
da to fill in GST returns; the regu
lations of the Ministry of Labour
for employment standards, the talk
of lawyers when they try to tell you
how to stay out of jail; and the lan
guage of your accountant as they
tell you you're not ready to file for
bankruptcy yet but you'd better not
buy luxuries like that new pencil
you were contemplating.
Even when you think you know
something you can't be sure. Take
the directive we got from Canada
Post that mailing lists must be 95
per cent accurate. Simple, we
thought. We can't have more than a
few mistakes in things like address
es or postal codes. For once, "don't
worry, be happy."
Ha!
We found out along the way that
what Canada Post thinks is accurate
By Keith Roulston
and what you and I think is accu
rate are two totally different things.
Remember all those hours you
spent in public school practicing
the correct way to write an address
on an envelope? Forget it. You're
wrong!
According to Canada Post you no
longer live in Ontario, shortened to
Ont. You live in ON. No period.
Matter of fact, there's not to be any
punctuation in an address label on a
newspaper or magazine at all.
Your address isn't R.R.3, or Box
233, it's R R 3 or PO Box 233. Try
writing it the new way on an enve
lope when you've had 40 years of
doing it the other way. Imagine
changing the addresses on a 15,000
name mailing list as we have to do
with one of our publications.
Now I know experts tell us we
are going to have to upgrade our
education on a regular basis
because of rapidly changing times
but where do I go? Does any uni
INVITATION
&
PROGRAM
PROGRAM
HOMECOMING REGISTRATION
Thursday Night at the Concert
Friday night at the Dance
Saturday & Sunday at the Township Office
Thursday, July 2
8:00 p.m. OFFICIAL OPENING & KICK-OFF CONCERT
at the Arena
- an old fashioned concert featuring
local talent
- entertainment for the whole family
DONATIONS AT DOOR
Friday, July 3
8:15 p.m. FAMILY DANCE at the Arena
Joe Tiffin's Orchestra
- crowning of Prince & Princess
- Judging of Beard Growing Contest
- costume judging
- dance competitions
Bring out the whole family. Heritage costumes encouraged
but not necessary. Lunch provided.
$5.00 per person $12.00 per family.
No alcohol served in Arena. Beer tent open.
5:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 5
11:00 a.m. COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICE
at the Arena
- all faiths, special music, special speaker
12:00 p.m. POT LUCK LUNCH following - please bring
sandwiches or cookies - hot & cold
beverage provided
2:00 p.m. Two pitch games must be 2 generation
family teams - register by Sat. 4th
(Contact Jim Taylor)
2:00-5:00 p.m. SCHOOL REUNION - at East Wawanosh
Public School
2:00-5:00 p.m. QUILT DISPLAY - at East Wawanosh
School by Women's Institute
- tea will be served
12:30 p.m
Sharp
2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
PARADE
Entry forms to be in by May 30
(Contact Don Pattison) 357-2817
SPORTS
Horseshoe Tournament
(Contact Niel Edgar) 357-2122
Volleyball Tournament
Pre-register teams by Fri. - Forms will be
available (Contact Murray Shiell) 357-3599
Belgrave Senior Women vs.
Belgrave Tri-County Midget Champs
1985 - 1986
versity offer night courses in
"Bureaucratic Gobblety Gook
101"? And if one did, could they
possibly keep up with the industry
that is manufacturing these insane
instructions? I think few areas of
the economy have shown growth in
recent years than the departments
of large institutions that keep com
ing up with this double talk...unless
it's the accountants and lawyers and
consultants we have to hire to help
us cope with the deluge...and
maybe the psychiatrists that are
going to get new business if it
doesn't soon stop.
In 1967, an average farm in
Bruce County sold for $19,000. A
crop of 85 acres of wheat was
grown, and the farm grossed
$32,886. Today, the same farm,
growing 85 acres of wheat, would
gross $12,665.
WAWANOSH
EAST
WAWANOSH
TOWNSHIP
3:00-4:00 p.m. Penny Carnival & Puppet Show in
Continued from page 4
sure wouldn't want stitches.
Do I have to carry a stick to
protect these children and myself? I
really hope not. Beware of dog
signs are fine but dog owners with
common sense are not going to
chain their dogs close to sidewalks.
A small child that is not able to
read yet would not stand a chance
if attacked.
If I owned a dog and it had bitten
someone I would take
responsibility for my dog's action
and apologize to that person. Dog
owners should be more responsible
for their pets.
People should not be afraid of
walking down their sidewalks.
A Sidewalk Walker
THE EDITOR,
On Saturday, May 2, over 25
parents, teachers and students
gathered at St. Joseph's School,
Clinton for their annual work bee.
Not even the rain could dampen the
wonderful co-operative community
3:05 p.m.
.Anytime
4:10 p.m.
Arena Auditorium
Whitechurch Ontario Juvenile Champs 1962
vs Belgrave WOAA Grand Champions 1963
Jamboree (Contact Arnold Bruce) 523-4274
Slow Pitch Game North vs. South
Contact Doug Shiell (N) 357-1638
Garth Walden (S) 523-9295
BARBEQUE
DANCE - "Rebound"
Lunch Available - cash bar
2:00-5:00 p.m. Pictures form PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST on
display in the halls of East Wawanosh School
3:00 p.m. Jamboree Entertainment in Arena
5:00 p.m. FAMILY PICNIC - bring your family's picnic
to the Arena area
SHIRT TAIL PARADE
Music in the Arena following
9:00 p.m.
SOUVENIRS
Plates (George Reid paintings)
Mugs
T-Shirts
Hats
HISTORY BOOKS
AVAILABLE TWP. OFFICE
spirit that was evident that
morning. New meaning was given
to the clichd “as busy as bees” as
everyone worked together to paint
hopscotch lines, prune shrubs,
prepare flower beds, plant trees and
grass seed and construct a sand
box.
On behalf of the playground
committee our sincere thanks goes
to the students and staff for the
general yard clean up on Friday
afternoon; the students of grade
five and six for their creative
hopscotch patterns; the parents,
teachers and students for their
efforts on Saturday; the fathers who
loaned their trucks and equipment;
the generous donations of
evergreen trees and materials from
suppliers and to those who couldn't
be there but lent us their support or
sent food. What a great way to end
Volunteer Week and begin
Education Week! Many hands do
make light work.
We hope everyone will come out
to the school on Friday, May 22 for
our annual barbecue and variety
concert. All proceeds to the
playground fund. We will also be
dedicating rose bushes in memory
of Mrs. June Holmes that evening.
Again, Thank You!
Joanne Riehl
President, St Joseph's CPTA