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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-20, Page 1Sports_____■_____Feature g_____News J Entertainment F.E. Madill athletes advance to OFSSA meet See page 9 St. John hosts child abuse seminar See page 10 East Wawanosh unveils township's history book See page 11 Blyth Festival appoints interim publicist See page 27 The North Huron Blyth council freezes summer staffs wages Vol. 8 No. 20 Chess Mania 3 Over 46 students were putting the moves on each other at Hullett Central Public School Thursday afternoon during the third annual Chess Mania tournament. There was also a lot of thinking going on as evident by the expressions on ofthe faces of (clockwise from top, right) Joel Leitch Wingham Public School, Adam Anderson of Hullett Central, Shawn McKinlay of Wingham and Kris Huiser of Hullett. N. Huron Group hears student’s concerns The number of students dropping out of secondary school is a prob­ lem, said an F.E. Madill student to the North Huron. Community Development Steering Group at its May 14 meeting. Marlaine Lindsay discovered the problem through a survey she con­ ducted as part of a geography pro­ ject. Of the 900 surveys distributed to Madill students, she received 727 back. One reason for drop-outs, she told the group, is school related. "Kids are bored with school," she said, adding that the programs offered are not what students want. OAC's (Grade 13 subjects) are only the basics, she said. "Other sec­ ondary schools offer OAC's in Latin or drama." The second problem is family related, Miss Lindsay said, explain­ ing that more help is needed for students in troubled family situa­ tions. While drugs are not as prevalent as in the cities they are a problem in small town schools as well, said Miss Lindsay. As well, part-time jobs, puts demands on students, such as increased pressure with less time for studies, that increases the chances of their dropping out of school. Forty-nine percent of the students surveyed worked at part- time jobs. Miss Lindsay -said that statistics have shown that students working over 15 hours a week, are more likely to drop out. The demands of high school, particular­ ly for OAC students, are enough pressure without adding the demands of part-time employment. "Students see freedom and money in the work world, as well," she added. Miss Lindsay suggested schools initiate work- study programs that would co-ordinate the times in school and on the job for students. Another finding showed 65 per cent of the students surveyed do not participate in any clubs or sports at school, which again contributes to boredom. Miss Lindsay told the group she has seen students sleep­ ing in class and causing mischief, simply because they are bored. By being encouraged to participate in a sport or club she feels this problem would be decreased. Miss Lindsay backed up her fini- dings with excerpts from a K-W Record editorial, which suggested that classes need to be made rele­ vant to bored students. Entitled, 60 cents "Give Kids Reasons to Stay in School" it recommended raising the legal age for dropping-out from 16- 18 with consideration given to flex­ ible arrangements for combining working and class time. Miss Lindsay said that parents need to encourage by praise and create constructive atmospheres for their children. She also expressed some criti­ cism for the co-op programs, while agreeing with the committee that it is a beginning. She said co-op lacks exposure and the instructors "don't reach far enough into the work world to get new placements for interested students." Economic committee member Wray Wilson, said he felt opportu­ nities shouldn't be limited for stu­ dents that can't provide transportation to the job. "It's better than what we had in the past and maybe this group could look at helping to promote it through the businesses," he said. Robin Dunbar suggested present­ ing Miss Lindsay's findings to the Education Committee to have them come up with some direction to lake. It was also recommended that Miss Lindsay bring her findings to the attention of the school trustees. Blyth Councillor Steve Sparling presented the Recreation Commit­ tee's recommendations regarding wage freezes and cost increases for the tourist booth and the summer recreation program to Council, May 13. In 1991, the tourist booth was In other items, the committee offered their support to the propos­ al of George Underwood for a soy bean processing plant near Wing­ ham.continued on page 6 Ribbon cutting opens new OMAF building The official opening of the new Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food office in Clinton attracted two provincial ministers and a host of local dignitaries Thursday. Elmer Buchanan, Minister of Agriculture and Food and Fred Wilson, Minister of Government Services, which built the 8900 available to the public for approxi­ mately 460 hours of service, with the operators' wages set at $5.50 per hour. A Summer Employment Experi­ ence Development (SEED) grant of $1530, from Employment and Immigration Canada, reduced the actual municipality cost to $1040. Because the grant is not available this year for tourist booth opera­ tions, Councillor Sparling recom­ mended that the tourist booth be open only for 300 hours, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily and 1:00 or 1:30 p.m. on matinee days. The wages, he stated, should remain at $5.50 per hour in order to keep the cost to rate payers at $1800. Wages for the summer recreation program will also remain as in 1991; $6.25 per hour for the leader, and $5.50 per hour for four assis­ tants. Councillor Sparling proposed an increase in rates for the program, from $45 per child to $67, from $55 for a family of two children to $82, and from $60 for three or more children of a resident family to $90. For children of a non-resident family and summer tenants the rates will increase from $55 per child to $82, from $60 for a family of two children to $90, and from $65 for three or more children to $97. The summer recreation program which ran for six weeks in 1991, will run for only four weeks in 1992, with an additional three days for preparation and two days for clean up. Councillor Sparling said that he believed there would be no significant change in the quality of the program despite reducing the length by one-third. The cost of the summer recre­ ation program to the municipality in 1991 was $6515. Because of the proposed wage freeze and expendi­ ture cut backs, and a redirected SEED grant of $1700, the cost to rate payers and the municipality for the 1992 program, will be only $3000. The recreation committee also proposed increased camping fees at the recreational park, establishing the 1992 fees at $10 per night or $50 per week (seven days). square foot office, were on hand to cut the ribbon before an invited audience in the auditorium. Also taking part in the ceremony was Paul Klopp, M.P.P. for Huron, and Parliamentary assistant to Mr. Buchanan; Huron Warden Robert Fisher, and Clinton Mayor Murray continued on page 17 OPP report 12 liquor seizures over first holiday weekend Wingham OPP reported a fairly quiet holiday weekend in the detachment area. A spokesperson said there were 12 liquor seizures over the course of the three days and no serious accidents. fhe only incident in this area was a car fire that caused severe dam­ age to a 1981 Ford, driven by Mr. Robert Mayburry, 51, of Gorrie. Police say Mr. Mayburry and his wife were travelling north on Queen St. in Blyth, when an electri­ cal fire started under the hood. Blyth firefighters were called to the scene.