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.