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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-06-18, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1997 C itizenTheNorthHuron (♦QNA P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@huron.net Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, 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 $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) In Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $75.00/year In other foreign countries. 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 E ditorial !........... .J~l Let the people decide Starting this week, Huron County councillors will take a new look at the issue of amalgamation. Pushed by the provincial government’s desire to reduce the number of municipalities and prodded by the decision of a provincially- appointed commissioner to impose one government on all of Kent County, including Chatham, councillors feel a new urgency to make changes. So far, however, studies into amalgamations of various groups of municipalities in Huron haven’t shown there’s much to gain financially from a merger. Balanced against small savings is the loss of contact with the people. In Bruce County, for instance, there’s a proposal to reduce 31 municipalities down to eight. It means that instead of having a municipal councillor perhaps as close as your own neighbourhood, you'll likely not even know your representative (look at the county school board system — which just got worse with Huron now having only four representatives on the new Huron-Perth Board of Education). The provincial government had originally wanted amalgamated governments in place for this fall’s municipal elections. Obviously it’s too late for that now. Those elections, however, provide an excellent chance for county municipalities to give the people a chance to decide what form of government they want. Since there will already be an election, it won't cost that much extra to tack on a referendum question about how people feel about amalgamation. If the county comes up with a plan, let people vote on it. If groups of municipalities agree on a proposal, check to see if the people approve. If there is no plan in place, ask people if they think it’s worth the effort and expense to come up with an amalgamation plan. Right now municipal politicians are running scared from the threat of an amalgamation being imposed by Queen’s Park. Let’s remember, however, that what really matters is what the people want, not the provincial government. We should be giving people as much information as possible and letting them decide. If people want amalgamation, fine. If they don’t, then let the Harris government risk, with less than t two years left in its mandate, going against the wishes of local voters. County politicians should seize this opportunity to give the power back to the people. — KR Correcting a big mistake It has taken nearly 30 years but Ontario seems finally to be ridding itself of the worst of the changes brought into its education system by the Hall-Dennis report in 1968. Reacting to a strict, competitive system, the Hall-Dennis report emphasized a system that would centre around the child and in which all effort would be to build the child’s self-esteem by letting each child advance at his/her own pace. Education was supposed to challenge the child who would then love learning. There would be an emphasis on creativity, a reduced emphasis on learning by rote. But the well-meaning changes didn’t work for many children and certainly left parents frustrated. The hard fact is that there is success and failure in the world and trying to prevent children from experiencing failure doesn’t do them a lot of good in the long run. The hard fact is that before you can be creative, you have to have the tools. A child banging away on a piano is not creative. A child who takes the time to learn the notes and then plays a tune, is being creative. The result has been a nightmare. Ontario has graded near the bottom in testing of basic skills among the Canadian provinces and Canada has graded low in the world’s industrialized countries. Young graduates lack skills in maths and sciences and writing and spelling. (Trying to find a young journalist who understands writing and can spell can be a challenge for newspaper editors.) So the announcement by Education Minister John Snobelen that a new elementary school curriculum is to be introduced next year will be welcomed by many parents and employers. Let's hope, however, that the emphasis on testing doesn’t send the pendulum too far back to the pre-Hall-Dennis days when the provincial “departmental” examinations were a tool used to terrorize students. And let’s hope the education system continues in its goals to turn out well-rounded young people, not just become a training school to prepare them for the needs of their future employers. — KR Photo by Janice Becker Letters to the editor THE EDITOR, As the Brussels Homecoming Celebrations Weekend draws near, we, the undersigned, invite the residents of our village to join with us to help celebrate the occasion. The requirements are simple - fly the largest Canadian flag you can, preferably on a free-standing flagpole on your lawn or property. If this is not possible why not fly one from a flagpole attached to your residence? There will be a draw with several prizes for all flag flyers. Entry forms will be available at the Homecoming Headquarters' office, Turnberry Street, commencing Wednesday, July 2 and can be filled in there. Closing date for entries will be Friday, July 25. Please note that residents who are already flying a Canadian flag are also eligible for this contest. We extend a most cordial invitation to all Brussels citizens to participate. Your flying flag neighbours, Joan and Howard Bernard Tammy and Duane Gibson Jean and Bill Little Mary and Jim Mann Agnes and Hank Ten Pas Sheila Richards. THE EDITOR, On Monday, May 19, the Brandon Cemetery Board near Belgrave, was informed by a visitor to the cemetery that about 10 gravestones had been toppled to the ground. We ask the person or persons responsible for this damage, to contact any member of our cemetery board and we will quietly figure out a method of putting things right. Most of us at some time or other have done things that we later regretted, so we appeal to whoever is responsible to come forward. We believe that someone in our area knows the person or persons who did this damage. We ask anyone to contact any board member with information regarding the people or person responsible, and if the culprits have not come forth on their own, we will take appropriate action. It costs money to repair this damage, so if anyone wishes to make a donation for this cause, please contact any board member. Thank you, Ross Procter..........(519) 887-6378 Lome Campbell ...(519) 357-2489 Ross Anderson.....(519) 357-3317 Clare VanCamp ...(519) 887-6210 Garner Nicholson (519) 357-3247 Charles Cook.......(519) 357-1107 THE EDITOR, Hire a student by July 25, from either the Listowel or Wingham Human Resource Centre for Students and have your name entered into our Employer Appreciation Draw. The draw is designed to promote "Hire A Student" Week which runs from June 16 until June 20. For every job order placed at the Centres this summer, the employer's name will be entered into the draw. The prizes, which range from free passes to a fitness gym, to dinner, to the theatre, have all been generously donated from employers throughout the Centre's service area. Despite the tremendous support from employers who have already hired students, there are still hundreds looking for summer work, whether it be full time, part time, or casual. No job is too big or too small. To place a job order, contact the Student Employment officers, Lana Thompson and Kendra Newell at 291-2922 or Cherilyn Bsylma, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 357-4990. The Human Resource Centre for Students is located at 210 Main Street East, Listowel. The , Wingham Centre is located at 108 Scott Street, Wingham. Today's students are tomorrow's future. Help them gain experience, skills and confidence by employing them in a valuable summer experience that will benefit all. Lana Thompson or Kendra Newell Student Employment Officers. A Final Thought To share with a friend is to see twice the beauty.