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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-09-09, Page 44 -THE Nlf1RON IXPOSITOR, sarTtMlssa as ion Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Dab - General Manager/Ad Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Gregor Campbell - Reporier Larry Dalrymple - Soles Pat Armes - Office Manager Dianne McGrath - Subscriptions/Classifieds A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper $1BSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 GS T ,SENIORS: - 30.00 o year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 o year in advance, plus $78.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 100 Main St., Seobrth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, wit not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of o typographical error, advertising goods or services at o wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the less or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliv- erable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor Wsdnssday, Ssptsmber 9, 1998 ldillerisl sad Beason 01,1..2 - 100 Mals St ltrssl.,asuferils 1lelsphsas (510) 527-0240 Pax (510) 527.2656 Meals. Address - P.O. Be: 60, fssbsI k, ONwis, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper et Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 Students lose so much without extracurricular activities at school There is so much to be learned outside. the classroom. While books and lessons can teach a student much about the world and give them knowledge to find their place in it, there are -valuable Lessons for students in other parts of school life. All teachers in the province have been negotiating contracts as the ramifications of Bill 160, a bill that is changing education and adding to the workload of teachers, are being felt. Teachers are being asked to cover seven instead of six classes a day, eliminating what is often referred to as preparation time; time for teachers to help students, prepare lessons, meet with parents and work with students on extracurricular at;tivities. Either way, if teachers choose striking and work to rule actions or are unable to find time under new contracts with more classroom time, students are going to suffer. They are going to miss out on the lessons learned by working together putting together a yearbook or training and becoming a team that wins a basketball championship. They'll miss chances to explore and learn from field trips. If the role of the teacher evolves to a point where they don't feel there is some place for them in extra curricular activities, it's up to the community to come forward and fill that void. But if, during the struggles with Bill 160, no one calls for volunteers to coach or supervise events and our students are ignored, let's take it upon ourselves to fill the void instead of getting upset and angry with a situation that has been forced on us. STH How tigircess u Letters to the Edttorindtathcreubmissio can be made to us by,>girltindayc huronexp@#ea All letters and e and accompanied number: All su for both length an must -be signed fitlrpe telephone x to editing Seaforth woman lost much but always had her faith Susan was a music teacher in Seaforth in the early 1800s. She was 22. Her family were Methodists but she joined the Salvation Army - probably because of her music. She was accepted as an officer cadet in November, 1884 and by April, 1887, while serving in Southampton she achieved the rank of Captain. The date is interesting for a John Lightowler, whose first posting was a cadet in Seaforth in April 1884 became a Captain on the same day in Otterville. One could speculate that John met Susan in Seaforth 114 years ago and a romance was kindled. A romance that led to marriage and a fulfillment of their ambitions and their dreams. It was, as well, a life of adventure and travel and dedication...and hardship and sorrow. Susan and John were two of the twenty officers who boarded the S.S. Circasian in Montreal. It was a steamship with sails bound for England, the first Icg of a long journey to the other side of the world, they were taking the word of the Lord to the masses of India. The zeal and determination of their mission canbest be measured by a story from the army paper. the War Cry of October 19th, 1888. It quotes a. member of the group. "Remember us, and that God will give us mighty victories over everything in that dark heathen land." Their faith was tested before they left the shores of Canada. While marching from their barracks to the ship they were occasionally greeted by what became known as the "Quebec Salute." Rocks were thrown at the marchers. and the press reported "A number of stones were thrown, striking some, but no officer was seriously hurt." After 16 rough days at sea and a stopover in England for further training they arrived in India in December. A letter from one of the officers printed in the War Cry of February 9th, 1889 states "Captain Susan Copp left Bombay for South India". But no mention is made of John. Little is known about the years that followed. Salvation Army archives advise that in those early years, when officers were transferred overseas, as and dress to India - and lived separate from their flock, the Salvation Army officers lived amongst them and became Indian in dress and language and customs. Susan's letters tell of her marriage to John and the birth and the death of her baby son from malaria and dysentery. But mostly her letters told of her great joy in doing the Lord's work. In her letter to sister Annie of April 8th, 1892 she writes "I was in the hospital with malaria when my baby was born. he was very weak at first but seemed to be getting stronger. I was almost ready to leave the hospital with him when he took dysentery and after seven days of severe illness he left us and went to be with Jesus. John and I were with him. He died at quarter past four in the morning. It was March 15th, the day of my 33rd birthday." When 1 sat with Susan on her small back porch in the summer of 1932, I didn't know any of this. I was eight and she was 73. Her small frame house was then almost directly across the street from the Salvation Army barracks on North Main Street, where it stands today. I watched and was fascinated by her skill. She wove beautiful baskets, I can still see her, dressed in her Salvation Army bonnet and ankle length black -dress with a stiff collar embroidered with the letter s. Aunt Susan was my grandmother's sister - and as her hands skillfully wove the dried reeds in and out it began taking on the shape and form of a basket. She talked to me of her wonderful life and her love of the Lord. She was so very proud of her lifetime of spreading the word of God. Even though it cost the life of her son and her husband....and her sight. Although over 65 years have passed and I was only a small boy of 8 I still remember the open and honest joy that seemed to radiate from this blind. frail lady. She had lost her husband and her baby - and her sight in India...but not her faith. This photograph of Susan Copp and John Lightowler may have been taken on their wedding day in Bombay. (Photo courtesy Clare Westcott) far as personal records and files were concerned, they ceased to exist. Although the Salvation Army pioneered the cause of equality as far back as the 1860s, and women were given the same rank as men, once a woman officer married she was simply buried in her husband's file. Thirty years ago, among papers left by my father I found Susan's letters to her sister Annie, who then lived on John Street. I made copies and gave the original letters to the archives at the Army Heritage Centre in Toronto. The letters told of the hardship and trials of living in a country of different cultures and values and the sadness of being so far from family and friends. Reading and rereading the letters. now over 100 years old brings on a deep feeling of respect and admiration. Unlike missionaries from other faiths who brought their values and language Cardboard boxes used to be fun Where have all the children gone? I can remember a time, not so long ago, when kids made their own fun. Cardboard boxes could be turned into everything from a spaceship to puppet theatre. Kids from throughout the neighborhood would be riding their bikes around and if they saw any action like that happening on front lawns or hack yards. they'd stop and join the fun. Other times, small groups of us would go off tramping through the woods at the edge of town where our neighborhood was located. At five years of age. what turns out to be a small bush now, was a huge jungle to be explored. We'd build forts inside, discover other forts that had been built and find secret places like a pond or a creek that could hold our attention for hours. While in today's society, the thought of a five-year-old taking off on his own is enough to give any parent shivers, there are still plenty of parks around where kids could play spontaneously within the eyes and ears of several neighborhood parents. Seaforth is small enough that. while it would be unwise to think nothing bad could ever happen. neighbors still keep an eye out for one another and there are no fears to keep children out of the various playgrounds. So where have they gone. I have driven around numerous times looking for that extra photograph that might be needed for the paper and parks and playgrounds used to be a great place to find them. But in the past few years, the number of children in these places seems to be dwindling. I have seldom seen children using equipment in our playgrounds. 1 can't remember the last time Fve passed through a neighborhood and heard kids yell out, "Car," interrupting their street hockey game so I could get by. I think it's a fair assumption that the number of home computers has risen almost as much as the number of children who play outside has dropped. While it offers parents an assurance of where their children CONTINUED on Page 5 Silo gas may be a problem this fall due to weather The Farm Safety Association has issued a warning that silo gas may be a problem this fall as a result of weather conditions across the province this summer. The drought in parts of Ontario sets the stage for the formation of silo gases since plants have been under stress. The Association warns that any silo should be considered a confined space and appropriate safety 'Pnot be -entered unless the measures should be taken. Silo gases can form in silos immediately after haylage or Farm alert corn silage is put in and can last for up to three weeks after filling is completed. Sealed silos have an oxygen deficiency due to build-up of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases. Both of these areas should rules of confined space entry are followed including the wearing of appropriate self- contained apparatus. Basic Entry Procedures for Confined Space: 1. Test the atmosphere for oxygen, toxic gases and explosiveness. 2. If a dangerous atmosphere exists, you must wear a self- contained breathing apparatus. Ventilate the area -if possible. 3. All mechanical and electrical equipment must be locked out. 4. Use the "buddy" system" and wear a lifeline. Sufficient equipment and manpower must be available. The extra person is there to summon breathing assistance if needed. 5. Establish some form of communication; verbal; hand signals; line signals. 6. Never re-enter a confined space without retesting or venting the area. Gases may be a significant problem in areas where crops were damaged due to hail or where excessive rains have contributed to weed growth. Weeds and stressed plants tend to harbor higher concentrations of free nitrates which are converted into silo gas or nitrogen when put into the silo. 6