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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-11-15, Page 4!Ice flow Photo by Janice Becker Letters HCBE thanks media for coverage THE EDITOR, Many of the success stories from across the Huron Public Education system are communicated through- out the pages of our weekly newspapers, across the airwaves on CKNX radio and illustrated in video clips on BBS TV on a regular basis. The trustees of the Huron County Board of Education by resolution at the regular meeting of Nov. 6 have asked that their appreciation be expressed for sharing the achieve- ment of our students and saff in this fashion. Thank you! Sincerely, Paul Carroll, Director of Education. THE EDITOR, The Women's Shelter and Counselling Services of Huron provides women and their children with refuge from violence. In the past year, the shelter has housed 135 women and 211 children. Shelfter staff have answered 1,615 telephone calls from women in crisis, and provided over 6,000 hours of counselling to women and children of Huron County who were victims of violence. By immediately providing women and their children with the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, and clothing - the shelter prevents the continuation of the cycle of violence. During her brief stay at the shelter, a woman can begin to eliminate the violence from her life and the lives of her children, by THE EDITOR, Regarding the Letter to the Editor from Neil McGavin in last week's issue of The Citizen. Neil, if your schools were doing an adequate job of education, our schools wouldn't be needed. Many others are sending their children to our schools taking the opportunity while in a safe place to think and plan for the future. She can then begin building a safe life for herself and her children. The board of directors of the Women's Shelter and Counselling Services of Huron recognizes the necessity for the government of Ontario to act in a fiscally responsible manner in order to put this province's financial house in order. However, it is our sincere hope that the government will also recognize the need to make thoughtful and well-informed decisions regarding the safety and well-being of the women and children of Ontario. Sincerely, Susan Pye, President, Board of Directors, Women's Shelter and Counselling Services of Huron. because they are seeking a Christian education based on sound morals. And by the way, Neil, a sharing of facilities was attempted. You know who turned down this approach. Clem Sterner, Brussels. Shelter president sends plea to province Reader writes response to man's letter to the editor PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1995. C The North Huron itizen C N A RIBBON BLUE AWARD P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ord. Editor, Bonnie Group NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 1995 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Advertising Manager, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $23.00/year ($21.50 plus $1.50 G.S.T.) for local; $33.00/year ($30.85 plus $2.15 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Llstowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $62.00/year for U.S.A. and Foreign. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mall Registration No. 6968 Changes start at grassroots The new Progressive Ontario government in Ontario wants to change the education system and wants to change the tone of Ontario society to make people more self-sufficient. Since fundamental changes start at the grassroots level, perhaps the government should look for inspiration to school programs such as that operated by former Huron resident Mac Taylor in Dawson Creek, B.C. Taylor, as related in a story that appeared in The Citizen a couple of weeks back, operates an Enterprise Centre attached to the high school in Dawson Creek. Looking at the local economy of the remote community in northern B.C., Taylor realized there were few job openings for his young students without having to move away, thereby being lost to the community. The option for some of the students, he felt, was to have them create their own jobs. As part of their schooling, some of the students study all the skills needed to start a business and create their own jobs. They pass only if their enterprise makes money. Strangely, in an educational environment that tries to cater to the special needs of all kinds of students, from classes for exceptional students to art and music classes, there is little encouragement in Ontario for students to think about one day creating their own business. The impression most young people get as they progress through the system is that they are expected to get an education then go work for government or big business. Most students will choose this more comfortable course but for some students, creating jobs right in their own hometown might be an exciting alternative. If Ontario is really "open for business" as the government claims, the long-term solution must not just be inviting multi-national companies to come in and buy up the province, but must be to encourage a new entrepreneurial spirit. As Mac Taylor says, teaching young people to be self-employed protects them against unemployment, something the government wants to reduce. Surely then the government should want the school system to encourage enterprise centres in high schools. Having centres is no guarantee of success. Teachers like Mac Taylor, who have both an educational and entrepreneurial background, are rare. Still, including entrepreneurial studies in Ontario schools could be good for some students, and in the long term, the first step in creating a dynamic economy, both in rural areas like Huron County and in the province as a whole. — KR Free speech must be responsible The Prime Minister of Israel is murdered by an extremist group that feels he is a traitor for seeking peace with his country's former enemies. The life of the Prime Minister of Canada is threatened by a man who breaks into his house with a knife, and apparently was motivated by the results of the Quebec referendum. A Hamilton doctor is shot in his home, perhaps because he conducted abortions. The link tying all these actions together is extremist talk that may have promoted violent action. Israel is a nation torn apart by those who are so zealous of the Zionist dream of reclaiming the original Jewish homeland that extremists in a West Bank settlement actually raised a monument to a Jew who gunned down 29 Arabs as they worshipped in a mosque. These same extremists portrayed Yitzhak Rabin as a Nazi for daring to propose giving up land to the homeless Palestinians in an attempt to build a lasting peace. They created an atmosphere of hate which created the conditions to make people think they had the right to kill this evil man. Prime Minister Jean Chretien wonders if the same kind of talk may have prompted an attempt on his life. This seems to be a case of one muddled man who somehow wandered past RCMP guards with a jack- knife and got to the door of the prime minister's bedroom, but perhaps the demonization of Chretien by the separatist leaders in Quebec helped create the conditions to promote a sick man to a sick act. Anti-abortion protesters, frustrated by their inability to stop what they see as an evil act, often turn to extreme words. This has created an atmosphere where some people take violent action. We all have the right to free speech but with that right goes the responsibility to be moderate in our words. In creating an atmosphere of hate we share the blame when someone acts out that hate. — KR E ditorial