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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-04-22, Page 6v a • e 6 Times -Advocate, A • ril 22. 1987 PRESENTATION — Exeter Public School teacher Joan Perrie presents a flower arrangement to Laura Greaves, guest speaker at the Huron Federation of Women Teachers Association's third annual celebra- tion of the Charter of Rights. Looking on are HFWTA president Mary Moffat (right) and Sally Rathwell, Clinton-Tuckersmith's elected representative on the Huron Board of Education. DONATIONS — Laura Mullin (left) accepted a cheque for $250 presented by Mary Moffat, president of the Huron Federation of Women Teachers, and another of $350 proferred by Eva Brophy representing District 1 of the Federation of Women Teachers Associa- tion of Ontario on behalf of the Survival and Friendship transition house for battered wives in.Goderich during the HFWT dinner meeting to celebrate the Charter of Rights. Public meetings to examine fami- ly violence will be held in Clinton on April 21, Wingham May 6, Goderich May 12 and Exeter May 13. All will be held in the local high schools at 8 p.m. Women teachers hear about equality moves "What is equality, and what do we mean when we say we want it?" That was the question posed by guest speaker Laura Greaves to the members of the Huron Federation of Women Teachers a4d their guests, the female employees and municipal representatives of the Huron board of education, at the teachers' third an- nual celebration of, the Charter of Rights held in the Stanley Complex. Greaves, voted the outstanding woman of 1986 by the London Junior Chamber of Commerce, applied her' experience as an executive on the board of directors of the National Ac- tion Committee on the Status of Women to give some of the background necessary to provide an. informed answer to her question. Although the road to equality seems to be three steps forward and two back, that is still one step forward each time, Greaves pointed out. Even • ,• •. • '• , Clearance of Selected Fashionable Spring Merchandise from k Koret * Tan Jay * Kates 20% off d Sputalry 7444/o44 Fashions for the fuller figure 14-44, 14'/2-24'/, 383 Main Street Exeter 235-1412 also London & Sarnia V43 OA,t °O • --aa /war seeming defeats can be turned around. The sudden cancellation by the Trudeau government of a woman's conference on the constitu- tion spurred the formation of the NAC, the largest grassroots womens' rights lobby in the country. Clause 28 of the Charter, guarantee- ing equality to all regardless of gender. reflected the work of a second conference on the constitution set up by these women. Governments asked for three years to tidy up their laws after section 15 was passed in 1982 giving men and women equality under and before the law, but discriminatory laws remain- ed on the books. LEAF (Legal, Educational and Action Fund) has been testing some of these. Greaves said the battle now is not against overt discrimination against women. That is easily recognizable, but subtle, systemic discrimination is now being uncovered. One example is Ontario's "spouse in the house" rule' requiring recepients of family benefits to live as single persons. Though this does not look like discrimination, almost all family benefit recipients are women. LEAF announced last fall it was going to charge the government with discrimination. but delayed when the ministry of community and social ser- vices .promised to amend the law. The "sex inspectors" were taken off the job recently, but the legislation re- mains. LEAF is going ahead with its plans to initiate legal action. Ironical- ly, part of a million dollar grant from the provincial government will be us- ed to pay legal costs. Another example of systemic discrimination is the law governing terms of employment of domestic • workers. Many are exploited, and are often in a position where they can't complain. Again, although the law sounds neutral, 98 percent of domestics are women. LEAF, which was set up to raise money to litigate cases establishing women's rights, hopes to intercede on behalf of these women by using a sur- rogate plaintiff. To illustrate the complexities of equality, Greaves brought up the Justine Blaney case. LEAF backed the young girl's court challenge of the Amateur Hockey Association's refusal to let a girl play on a boys' hockey team. That issue is still unresolved, and was sent hack to the Area 4-H clubs meet By Gary Wilson The first meeting of the South Huron 4-11 Safety Club was held April 8 at South Huron District high School. Members present were Cam Darl- ing, Tom Oke, Darryl 'tern, Mike Hern and Gary Wilson. ()ur leaders were Bob ,Pavkeje and Maurice Ryan. The topic of the meeting was First Aid. Jim Hoffman of Hoffman Am- bulance Service was there to give us a demonstration on first aid, and to tell us what was in a first aid kit. We again wish to thank Jim for his presentation. Our club only has five members. Anyone who wishes to come out we would be most eager to have you. The next meeting will be held on May 8. The location is not yet known. ¥ ¥ ¥ By Mary -Lynn Oke The Hurondale "Surviving Singles" met for their sixth meeting at Pat and Wendy Ballantyne's where we discussed travelling. The meeting began with the 4-11 pledge and roll call which asked "Where would you like to go for a week's holiday?" Then we divided into three groups. Group one looked at the car and talk- ed about any repairs a car owner might have to make and how to check to see if everything is running right. Group two stayed inside and discussed answers for our books. Group three learned now to take pro- per care of a bike. We discussed home activities, when our book was due and when to have another meeting tadiscuss Achieve- ment Night activities. That meeting will be held on April 23 at Sheryl and Tracy Oke's place. ¥ ¥ By Cheryl McCarter Exeter II 4-11 Club mel April 15. We talked about taking a trip - getting around and what we would use. We learned never to hitch hike. Members visited MacLean's to learn how to care for our bicycles. We also learned the rules of the road. We will meet April 20 to hand in our books and practice our skit for Achievement Night. RUMOR'S Unisex Hair Design • Complete Hair Care Service • Open six days a week • Appointmerits not always necessary CaII: Janet, Sandy or Joyce 235-0202 414 Main St., S., Exeter, Centre Mall Announcing Weight Watchers April registration fee.:. SAVE $12.00. Vtk've zapped fhe regrstratxxf fee JOIN WEIGHT WATCHERS right down to nothing to make QUICK START pta's eairing )t Might Watchers eaen lar PROGRAM • NOW!! $8.00 Thr pay fee anrd you get it all in our Quick Start Plus Program - delicious , menus and food plans, group support and our exciting NEW optional exercise plan. In addition, your weigh in is conducted in complete privacy. 1987 Quick Start Plus. Zero in on it benefit, .,nd as quickly as you can say "zip" you'll dart .s ' ,tC marvelous results. Better hurry tha,gt • because we can't j N1' . t 5C Offer va1/41 n Parti K..,•.,. f • I ZIE 1 Can now kr tri kx atm r tri r ass rw'.rMj you 1.800.265-9291 Trivitt Memorial Ang. Church Main Street at Gldley Mon. 6:45 p.m. 1 • Human Rights Commission of On- tario to see if it violates the Charter. Greaves said she realizes this is a minefield: if Justine wins, and all amateur sports are open to both sexes, what will happen to womens' hockey? She emphasized the implica- tions for the Federation of Women Teachers Association of Ontario. She believes that because of the historic and physiological differences bet- ween men and women, women teachers need to maintain a separate organization while working toward equality of pay and opportunity. "We must think carefully about what we want to preserve", she cautioned. Greaves listed some of the modern pioneers in the fight for equality. In- cluded was Lucy Richardson, who organized military wives to challenge regulations that discriminated against spouses and female members of the forces. - Irene Murdock lost her court case for an equitable property settlement after divorcing her rancher husband in the days before the protection of the Charter and the family law reform act. One of the first cases LEAF back- ed was a challenge by Stella Bliss in a Yukon court to retain her maiden name after marriage. She lost the case, but won in her battle to be awarded costs. "Stella and Irene paid for our mobilization, and I don't think we can forget that", Greaves said. Greaves advised her audience to decide what they want and why they want it (which she admitted was easier said than done) then work to get it translated into law. Greaves said those most in need are least able to finance litigation, and least likely to initiate court action. She said the Charter is here for our benefit, LEAF is here to initiate court action, and governments are the main funders of this litigation which is always against them. Greaves suggested that women become more aware, and screw up their courage and be a plaintiff when they encounter discrimination. "We can't forget our history, and how long it took to get this far. We can't let up pressure on the courts to win one more yard - or metre - of equality", was Greaves call to action. 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