HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-12-25, Page 4Your Community Newspaper Since 1860
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Publication Mail Registration No. 07605
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
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Editorial
Remembering
common
humanity is
greatest hope
for peace
Two thousand years after the birth of
the prince of peace, it's hard to know if
humanity is any closer to peace on earth
than it has ever been.
Some, in fact, might argue that we're
farther away than ever as United Nations
inspectors tour lraqui facilities looking
for weapons of mass destruction and the
United States government continues to
rattle its sabres.
Even though the world breathed a
collective sigh of relief at the end of the
cold war and the destruction of the
Berlin Wall a decade ago, last Sept. 11
brought us to the brink of despair and
war once more.
And, as North Americans indulge in
the orgy of consumerism that is
Christmas, continents like Africa face
devastation and annihilation from the
disease of AIDS.
Even at heime, news reports tell us that
the gap between rich and poor is
widening more and more with
homelessness a common sight in any
cityin Canada.
I's no wonder that places like the
N'Amerind Centre in London is
welcoming speakers like a native
prophet who spoke there last week
warning of the anger of the Great Spirit
over humanity's violence and destruction
of the earth and of a coming doom.
Words and actions of love, compassion
and justice are needed now as
desperately as they were when Christ
Coke and modelled them long ago. And,
hrist's message of love is a basic
spiritual wisdom echoed by the prophets
of every religious tradition - even those
who aren't celebrating at this time of
year.
While the idea of political correctness
is mocked by many, its aim is pure - to
stop the hatred and intolerance that
divides us.
As we gather together with loved ones
this week, remembering the humanity
we have in common with the rest of the
people of the world is our greatest hope.
Susan Hundertmark
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Opinion
Letters
Only Catholic students at CH S S
would have saved SDHS from closure
To the Editor,
It has been intriguing to review the various 'reasons'
brought forward by your readers and others during the last
year to show why Seaforth District High School was closed.
This unfortunate outcome, after several years of often -
unsavoury debate, probably could not have been changed.
1.There has been comment about `earlier' planning
decisions that were seen to be 'inappropriate and
premature'. (Having been part of that 'earlier' period — and
the direct target of many hostile affronts — I am still
unconvinced that the course of events could have been
changed.)
2.Much has been said about the 'fairness' of the Avon
Maitland District School Board. There are just 'not enough
trustees' on the current board, it has been conjectured, to
vote against school closings'.
3.It has been suggested that the current administration has
been 'insensitive' — and continues to 'hide' information.
I believe that the closure of SDHS has been the result of
only one factor.
It is the key factor that shut down the 13 small Section
Schools in McKillop Twp., the several Union and Section
elementary school(s) at Walton, southern Morris and Grey,
and the two McKillop Separate Schools, in the 1970s.
There were not enough kids. And hence, the school
boards of the day did not have enough money to sustain the
much -loved tradition of neighbourhood schools.
Even the most recent government funding report, while it
may solve some short term challenges for school boards,
will not forestall the closure issue.
We do not live in an age where residents want to increase
their taxes to meet such preferences as keeping small
schools open.
All that said, there WAS one decision that could have
guaranteed a secure future for SDHS. But it was rejected in
spades (with the same spirited and unsavoury debate) by
public school parents, students, and staff about 10 years
ago:
It was proposed by the two then -Directors of the former
local school boards (Huron CBE, and Huron -Perth RCSSB)
and, all the trustees of the day, to accommodate the
secondary Catholic students in the same building as the
CHSS enrolment at Clinton.
The death knell for SDHS was sounded as the community
of public board parents and taxpayers flatly rejected this
proposal.
If the new St. Anne's secondary school had not been
built, and the original plan been accepted, not only would
CHSS be overflowing today, but also SDHS would be
flourishing to the extent of again having portable
classrooms on site.
Literally millions of dollars would have been directed
into upgrades to serve the needs of ALL secondary students
in the centre of this jurisdiction.
There were other community-based ventures proposed for
SDHS in the mid-1990s, but they too were rejected as
unnecessary or untimely.
It is a sad commentary. Those of us in the middle of this
debate up to 10 years ago, obviously, failed to communicate
the negative outcomes of certain choices, with any degree of
success.
Paul Carroll
RR 2, GODERICH
is greatest Fear the to man
To the Editor: have been alleviated by the Every other creature has taking the wealth of other
Man's basic fear reaction education and scientific learned to handle their societies leaving poverty
is a device designed to systems of the day. His feelings. They know that and their own interpretation
protect him, make him wary positive feelings have been any anxiety projected will of political control. More
and alert to what is controlled and directed by stimulate a positive response modern societies have
happening in his external one of the religions which in another creature who has evolved an elaborate tax
physical environment. Over probably allowed two learned to survive by scheme designed to assure
thousands of years, man has people to get close enough relieving the prey of his that the wealth filters back
learned to understand the to reproduce to perpetuate anxiety. Other creatures to the political legal system.
natural phenomena of wind, the tribe or clan. evolve physically and Any bureaucracy fails
rain and snow, the way other More recently huge emotionally by learning to because it lives in the past -
creatures react to these societies have evolved with be stronger, run faster, jump the past laws.
phenomena. large armies and police higher and their payoff is Those who write laws to
Earthquakes and volcanic forces to assure that the that they feel more inhibit the individuals of the
eruptions are necessary to thought input of each comfortable with society and those who
produce mountains and land society is perpetuated as themselves and enjoy their uphold those laws are not
which everyone and every each society's truths or interval. interested in the future child
creature has enjoyed. Many beliefs. Man is the only creature who will react because he is
over thousands of years, has The individual has never who survives by stimulating a reaction.
learned as a society, to feel learned to be responsible for an anxiety in his own kind. The child reacts to not
comfortable in whatever their own feelings because This is achieved by being here by being here.
ecosystem he is born. his teachers have never economics. The potential His initial response in utero
Each individual's feelings learned to be responsible for leader has to have access to will depend on the anxieties
of the natural phenomena their own feelings. He has wealth to pay well his police passed on by her mother and
have depended on the learned to project his force and army. her reactions will depend on
integrity of those in charge feelings, to protect himself, It used to be that the how she has learned to react
of the society. His anxieties to everyone around him. empire had to enlarge by See CLOSURES, Page 5
Mrs. Wescott's-gift is z9 -pound
turkey shipped from Alberta
December 28, 1877
Mr. Thomas Coventry has
leased one of the stores in
Stark's Brick Block and
intends on occupying the
Boot and Shoe Store.
The managers of the
Presbyterian Church in
Egmondville are asking for
tenders for the erection of
their new church. It is
intended to proceed with the
erection as soon as the
weather will permit.
The dedication service in
connection of the new
Methodist Church in this
town was held on Tuesday.
Rev. Dr. Ives of Auburn, New
York, preached in the
forenoon and in the evening
there was a tea meeting at
which Dr. Ives again gave the
address. It will doubtless
surprise some to learn that
the enormous sum of
$16,000 was subscribed
during the day and evening.
Mr. A.G. McDougall who
has been sojourning in
Liverpool for several months
returned home on Saturday.
December 26, 1902
St. Paul's Church for the
first time was lighted on
Saturday evening last with
electricity and it was found to
be a great improvement.
Mr. J.B. McLean's new
residence at Kippen is
nearing completion.
Mr. John Moffatt of
Kippen has kindly
remembered his daughter
Miss Lillian the way of a
Christmas present by
presenting her with a new
organ.
The grain market in
Kippen for the past few
weeks has been very brisk
owing to the large amount of
grain coming in.
Mrs. J.B. McLean of
Years agone...
Kippen has disposed of 22
turkeys for Christmas.
Miss Hartry of Seaforth
who has taught the
Tuckersmith school for three
years with great success
retires to attend the Normal
School.
The Jessie McLaughlin
entertainment under the
auspices of Lady Nairn
Camp, Sons of Scotland, was
fairly successful. No doubt
the lack of sleighing and the
cold evening prevented a few
from attending.
Mr. William Gram of
Hillsgreen has purchased a
nice driving horse from
David Nichol of Hensall.
December 23,1927
Mr. George Lowery of
Huron Road East, brought
into town a brood sow that
was the largest thing in the
pig line Main Street has ever
witnessed. It measured six
feet, five inches in girth and
was over seven feet in length
and weighed close to half a
ton. She was a real pig.
Mrs. William Westcott
received a most appropriate
and acceptable Christmas gift
from her son A.L. Westcott
from Halkirk, Alberta, in the
form of a 19 pound turkey
which was shipped all the
way from Alberta.
The new Ford car was
shown and demonstrated for
the first time in Seaforth at
J.F. Daly Ford Showroom
and attracted most unusual
attention.
The snow storm of
Saturday and Sunday has put
a good many cars off the
road. The highway from
Stratford to Goderich,
however, is open to cars.
Mr. Robert Smith, of
Mitchell, has spent a few
days in town this week. Mr.
Smith , who has recently sold
his business, intends on
moving to Seaforth to live.
December 26,1952
The First Presbyterian
Church Sunday School was
filled to capacity Monday
evening for the Christmas
Concert. Rev. D. Glen
Campbell was the chairman
and Mrs. E.A. McMaster,
Mrs. Frank King, Miss
Shirley McPhee and Miss
S.L. McLean accompanied
the children in their
exercises.
Seaforth Baldwin Junior
B's lost their fifth straight
game on Saturday night as
they bowed to the Sarnia
Sailors. A brawl in the
second period sent five
players to the penalty box.
The Seaforth line-up was:
Baker in goal, Storey and
Scholly as defense, Doig at
centre with J. Muir and
Broome as wingers. Butson,
Shine, Morton, Elliott,
Aitchison, Pike and R. Muir
were the alternates.
Alex Darling of Dublin,
who has reached the age of
86 years is still an Expositor
reader and he has been for
many years. He is one of the
Expositor's oldest
subscribers.
Mr. and Mrs. Garnet
McClinchey, of Seaforth, had
received word from their son
John that he will send
Christmas greetings from
Germany over CHML
Hamilton.
Mrs. J.B. Fox of Hensall
was hostess for the Christmas
meeting of the Arnold Circle
•
of the Presbyterian Church in
Hensall.
The WMS of Walton
United Church held its
meeting in the church's
basement with Mrs. Martin
presiding. The presentation
of a life membership was
made to Mrs. Silas Johnston.
December 29,1977
Ed Chappel, who has been
the road superintendent of
Hibbert Township for the last
29 years, is retiring this
week. A banquet was held in
his honour in Mitchell last
week.
Five people were taken to
hospital suffering
undetermined injuries
following a four car pile-up
on Highway 8, just west of
Holmesville on Thursday.
Claire and Con Eckert, of RR
1 Seaforth, were two of the
injured persons taken to
hospital.
William J. Leeming, of RR
4 Walton, was re-elected
president at the annual
meeting of the Huron
Plowmen's Association held
Dec. 19 at McKillop
Township Hall in Winthrop.
Susan Leonhardt, of
Seaforth, has been living and
working in Iran since 1974
and she has recently returned
home to spend a few weeks
with her parents. As a
landscape architect, she has
found that there are many
opportunities for educated
Westerners in Iran.
As planned a choir of 50
Seaforth Public School
students sang a complete
program of Christmas songs
and carols. The large groups
with their music supervisors,
Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Neil
Bell assembled in the new
foyer of the home's new
wing. This choir was made
1