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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-02-03, Page 6Imagine you had a sales staff calling on 2000 homes a week That's what you get when you advertise in The Citizen. Every week your message, whether a tiny classified, or a full page ad, goes to more than 2000 homes in North Huron . . . and unlike many salespeople, we're welcomed inside. What's more, we're often asked to stick around for a whole week. If you're not taking advantage of this opportunity to tell people about your business call today. Put your sales staff to work for you. Call: Jeannette McNeil or Julie Mitchell: 523-4792 or 887-9114 PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1993. Community support has helped, principal says Continued from page 4 recognize Lloyd Koch, Executive Director of Wingham and District Hospital, the Wingham detachment of the O.P.P. and the staff of CKNX radio and television for their co-operation and understand- ing. Tragedy is always difficult to deal with in a school but the support of the community-at-large has aided greatly in helping us to cope with this situation. H. J. Murphy Principal. THE EDITOR, By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot A pilot junior kindergarten pro- gram will not be implemented this year, Huron County Board of Edu- cation trustees decided at their Feb. 1 meeting. Citing timing, cost and lack of public support, 11 trustees voted against a recommendation to imple- ment a JK pilot program at four county schools. Five voted in favour of it. The decision follows months of debate and work by the Ad Hoc Committee on Junior Kindergarten which had recommended the board implement a JK pilot program at Vanastra , Robertson Memorial, Zurich and Turnberry Central Pub- lic Schools in preparation for 1994, when the Ministry of Education has mandated all boards have a JK pro- gram in place. The committee suggested by going ahead with the pilot project, they could take advantage of gov- ernment grant incentives and according to projected figures, actually make money on the ven- ture. Using projected enrollments, annual costs and government grants, HCBE administration had calculated that JK would actually make $190,620. However, many trustees ex- pressed their distrust of government grant incentives saying they were only there to encourage boards to become involved with JK and would dry up once the program is established. "I'm skeptical about JK making money," says Goderich Trustee, Norman Pickell. Several other arguments in oppo- sition of the JK pilot were voiced including timing, lack of public interest and its relation to daycare. Blyth/Hullett Trustee John Jewitt said "If we proceed with JK before it actually becomes law, we have no right to say to taxpayers that we were forced into it." So far, JK legislation has only received first reading in the House of Commons. Trustee Pickell agreed. "I can't live with bringing JK in this year. Why should we bring it in a year ahead when we've repeatedly told the Minister of Education and our MPP we're opposed to it." Lack of need for JK in Huron was also raised by trustees as a negative factor. "In all honesty, I can see no sup- port for JK here," said Stephen Twp. Trustee Bob Heywood. Joan Van Den Broeck, a trustee for Goderich Township, said she felt JK was more a daycare issue than an educational issue. "If it were an educational issue, there would he research data to demonstrate that JK has produced students that are better socialized and more effective learners than other students and that is simply Howard S. Billings Regional High School, Chateauguay, QC, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. To celebrate this occasion, Billings High School will be hosting a variety of special events throughout the year, with a gala celebration on May 21 through 24, inclusive and we would welcome all former students and staff to attend. If you or someone you know attended or worked at Billing's High School, would you please forward all names and addresses to: Howard S. Billings Regional High just not the case," she said. Though the recommendation was defeated, the JK issue hasn't been settled. Trustees will be able to bring the issue to the table again. Also, it was decided that the board would pursue the preliminary capital grants from the Ministry that had been promised to the board in 1992. As well, these funds would be taken into account in the board planning, development and budgetary processes. The Ministry had granted the board $580,000 for JK implementa- tion at Colborne, Grey Central, Hensall, Holmesville and Walton public schools in the year 1993. School, 25th Anniversary Committee, 210 McLeod Street, Chateauguay, QC J6J 2144. Tel. No. 1-514-691-3230. Fax No. 691- 0643. Peter H.C. Mitchell Chairman 25th Anniversary Committee. Ed. Note: The Citizen does not ordinarily publish unsigned letters. However, due to the sensitivity and intent of the following we decided to make an exception. THE EDITOR, I am writing in concern with the deaths of the two Brussels area teens, who lost their lives Monday, Jan. 25 in an automobile accident. As a teenager I feel what I have to say should be heard. In the last three years and four months, I, along with hundreds of other teenagers in the area, have had to deal with my friends dying. I am in a central area and have known most of the teenagers who have died in the Clinton-Seaforth- Brussels-Wingham area. In the last three years and four months there have been at least 13 deaths, all of them being teenagers, 11 of those being traffic accidents and I am not counting the other accidents for teenagers who have been injured and have not died. Some of the deceased I knew, and some I did not know, but from the positive attitude of the community and all the good comments stated about the deceased, I feel like I did know them. A lot of this is because each time someone dies, the community sticks together or gets closer and tries to help one another and this is a very good thing. Having to deal with such a large amount of deaths in such a short period of time has been hard for myself, along with many others because the deceased were so young. I and probably a lot of other kids my age have become afraid to drive with someone else or drive myself because I am afraid that I will be in a car accident and die. I have even gone as far as writing my will. As you can imagine, this is one of the worst feelings in the world to think that you are always going to die. The only positive outcome I have had from it is to drive a little bit more carefully. All I can tell myself and others is that every time I leave my house I am going to be as careful as I can be and I will always say goodbye to my family and friends because I may not come back. I want to give my very deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Stephanie Henry and Stacey Hunter, and I hope God gives you the strength to carry on. To all the high school students, get help and just hang in there. Some day things will get better. I wrote a poem because I thought maybe it would heal some of the pain everyone is feeling right now. I hope it helps. Why do people die you ask? I'll tell you what I know They've lived as much as they could have lived Their time was up to go. So young in spirit and at heart So beautiful and free They are the children of the sky For as far as we can see. For ever they'll watch over us And make sure we're okay Forever they will be with us From night till dawn till day. Someone's laugh, a word, a smell Will remind you of their ways Enjoy it, breathe it For the time, it will bring back those days. Times may come when you will dream And see them in the skies Times may come when you will hear Believe, it's not your ears or eyes. For a long time you'll be very sad For a long time you will cry You will forget them never again No matter how hard you try. Only say goodbye for now Not forever amen Only say goodbye for now Until you meet again. A concerned teenager from the area. Trusters say no to JK pilot prog.