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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-07-08, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, July 8, 1987 Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgama ed 1924 mimammi imes dvocate Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM ISO Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 519.235-1331 LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager eNA BILL BATTEN Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK IONGKIND Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $25.00 Per year; U.S.A. $65.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' Congratulations, indeed The 1987 graduating class at South Huron District High School established a record by having 23 members record averages of over 80 to join the designa- tion as Ontario Scholars. This is almost double the average number to attain such lofty standings and all should be congratulated for setting a standard that following classes will hopefully be challenged to meet or surpass-. There is a hint in the remarks by Principal Bruce Shaw that the en- thusiastic school spirit this year played a role in the record and that too is something that all those involved will be hoping will continue at such a high standard. With some few exceptions, the records attained by students in any line of activity reflect on themselves, their teachers, parents, fellow studentsand the entire list of others who are involved with them, and that entire team should take a bow. It is an accomplishment that the en- tire community savors. May not end battle Those who opposed the return of the death penalty in this country have cheered the result of the vote in Ottawa and many of those on that side are sug- gesting that the matter should now rest for a long time. That's a predictable response from the winners, and while the decision is lauded here, it should not necessarily remove it from public debate and scrutiny for an unusually long period, although that too i perhaps the fate such heated issues should suffer. The outcome appears rather decisive with 148 voting against 127 to turn down the bid to return the death penalty. The reality is that only eight percent of the Losing In my town, the new franchise of a nation-wide chicken restaurant delayed opening nearly two months because management couldn't find enough people to work. In, many malls and on many. Main Streets, the Help Wanted signs blossom like spring flowers in dozens of storefronts. Even in the more depressed areas of the country certain sectors, particular- ly the retail and hospitality industries, are facing 'a severe labour shortage. One family restaurant chain has been unable to open new outlets in Alber- ta because workers can't be found. That is not the type of storvyou'd expect from a province where it's been doom and gloom since the oil price collapsed. Can all these jobs be going begging despite high unemployment? It's a sad story, although not a new one. Two years ago, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business surveyed thousands of its member businesses across the country and found there were 170,000 job openings in small businesses in every sector, jobs that employers had a tough time filling. There is no single reason for such a gap between available jobs and workers. In some cases, geography is the deciding factor: some suburban malls are beyond the reach of public transit, making it tough for employees to get to work. As well, the lower birth rate is being felt. With fewdr babies, there are fewer teenagers who, historically, have been a major source of laborfor local businesses. i For some people, the lure of tax - majority had to switch votes to result in an opposite decision and that's a rather small number. It is a matter that should always be left outside party politics, but because there are methods whereby it can be quickly brought back to another vote in the House of Commons, people should be vigilant as to the position of those seek- ing an office there on such an isst e. It appears imprudent that the win- ners should assume the outcome will not be questioned for some long period or that it can't be changed. In a democracy, losers have every right to continue the battle, particularly when the decision is far from one-sided. the will supported safety nets such as Unemploy- ment Insurance is greater than the perceived benefit of steady work busing tables or selling shoes. , But just as important.a factor, and one that comes up repeatedly in CFIB's discussions with employers, is the fact that many young people have unrealistic expectations about their earning power. They want too much, too fast. Coupled with that is the experience of thousands of small business operators who have a hard time finding employees with positive attitudes about the job. Where, they ask, are employees who care about being on time, who are ready to work and to pay some dues before expec- ting a climb up the ladder. It is easy - too easy - to blame these high expectations and poor attitudes on young people themselves. They are, after all, what they're taught. Likewise, it is too easy to sling ar- rows at the educational system which is actually more of a mirror of our culture rather than a beacon leading the way. For it is truly our culture - in which we all have a stake - which is at the root of this spreading reluctance to do an honest day's work for an honest day's wage. It is one thing to enjoy the oil barons of Dallas, the overnight millionaires spawned by spqrts and other entertain- ment, or the fantasies of a major lottery windfall. But it is quite another to forget that the real world is shaped by millions of anonymous souls who work hard every day to make their own modest dreams come true, Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited WONDER WHYTHERES SUCH PUBLIC APATHY TOWARD YOU? WHO CARES! '..;>>IiliiwV) .+am• M�\\\—0Cy';V\tiQPS:;«WiJY•'a n%''% ,X4A,. 1444=M, y144**a040401AUM\ \\\\.: 'ahe9y'.O6.6.5.rm..✓. .'�,..T.. », . V.- Split was No doubt some time over Canada Day some readers had occasion to read about population statistics in this nation, although they were probably just as quick- ly forgotten unless they were shocking or attention grabbing from an individual's piont of view or interest. Possibly the one that remains in the back of one's head is the life expectancy rate. Most women take delight from know- ing that they are expected to live longer than their male cohorts, while the latter would prefer not to have that point repeatedly mentioned. The point to remember is that there are always numerous ex- ceptions. The male who may per- mit it to stupidly worry him has only to glance through the obituaries and find names of women who have met their demise at an earlier age than he has already attained. There are occupations which have been weighted heavily in favor of one sex or the other and it would only be required to look at the logistics for careers such as nursing or lumberjacks to bring that out rather conclusive- ly, although there are none in this country which remain the sole do- main of one or the other, with the exception of a few plausible exceptions. Even some of the long-standing male clubs steeped in genera- tions of total male domination have opened their doors to females, although some continue to battle any inroads. A plausible exception in occupation lists would include some of those male clubs that provide washroom at- tendants as part of the service to membership. Presumably, a per- son assigned to washroom duties surprising in any club would be based upon the particular sex stated on the door. Oh well, there may even be changes made in that regard as advances continue! If you're wondering what pro- mpted this entire discussion on male and female logistics, it was looking at some of the grade eight graduation pictures in last week's issue. It must be admitted thatTve assumed,that populations in the Batt'n Around ...with The Editor area schools are fairly evenly split between males and females, but the graduating classes had some pronounced exceptions in that regard. The Precious Blood class, for instance, had one male and seven females and was the most lopsid- ed of those quickly glanced through. On the.other side of the ledger, the Grand Bend class was dominated the other way with 12 males and only two females. While the majority of others were fairly evenly balanced, there were a couple at 15-3 and 20-8. The interesting point in some of those one-sided situations is that it has probably been that way since kindergarten days in those classes and most would recall the pros and cons of being in such a minority or majority, although hopefully it was not a point that was raised too frequently and had no negative ramifications. Another point worth broaching is in the list of Ontario Scholars at SHUNS, a group of students who deserve considerable com- mendation. Readers from either side have won no bragging rights as it was a 12-11 split between males and females, and obvious- ly that's a perfect split in an uneven number. The gals may mention that they won the battle, but the males can quickly counter that by noting that the top student in the five grades was a male in four of them. * * * *. While the movement for sexual equality has not yet moved into the population statistics, most of the current disparities which show up periodically will pro- bably continue to exist even when parents have the absolute power of choice over the sex of offspr- ing at the point of conception. Somewhere down the road it may be that the current debate over equality will reach into the area of scholarships or students rankings. Current graduation ex- ercises generally name the top female and top male and that ap- plies in some scholarship awards as well. This year's designation at SHDHS was not open to debate as a boy and a girl finished one-two in the standings and the top scholarships were justified in that regard. There are, however, years when the top male or female may be below number two and wins on sex and not scholastic standing. That could prompt an in- teresting debate on this equality bit and I hope I'm around to hear it! A favorite toy It was Tuesday morning. The last week of school. The school bus was due in ten minutes. Sud- denly Duncan remembered: "I have to bring something for Show and Tell." After some rummag- ing around, he asked: "Can I take Bruno?" Bruno is his favourite teddy bear. Bruno is also suppos- ed to be a "bedtime toy", not to be taken (and left) outdoors, not to be kicked around and dragged around like some other cuddlier. The truth of the matter is that Bruno is a genuine "antique" ted- dy bear, almost worth its weight in gold. A museum piece, really, but very much loved by Duncan. "Duncan, why don't you take something else to school? Show and Tell things are supposed to be different, like birds' nests or fossil rocks or things like that." "I want to take Bruno. Ile is my favourite toy." I went to fetch a colourful map of Canada, showing all kinds of tourist attractions. "Here is something for Show and Tell," 1 said, "there is lots to show and plenty to tell. You can..." "I want to lake my Bruno!" Duncan cried, and I was wonder- ing whether I should let the kid take his teddy just this once, since he was getting upset. Elizabeth noticed my waver- ing. "Your Daddy has said no. Duncan, and he is not going to change his mind." An indirect message to me: "Remember sec- tion 5, subsection 1 (a) of the Parenting Course - BE CONSISTENT." "You'll take the map today, Duncan, and you can take Bruno next week." "There isn't going to be school next week. I'II never he in kindergarten again, Daddy. Please, can I take my Bruno?" "No. You're taking the map or nothing." "I don't want to take a map. I want to take Bruno. He is my favourite toy." "Look at this beautiful map, Duncan," I said as I spread it out on the kitchen table. "You can show where we live... and here are the Great Lakes... here are the Rockies.. and this is where the Inuit live..." "I want to take Bruno." Out went his lower lip, and out came4he tears. 1 felt badly. Why hadn't I kept my big mouth shut and let him take his teddy if it meant that much to him? But now I had to prove that I was a consistent parent. I took the boy aside. "Listen, Duncan," I said, "the school bus is going to be here any minute. If you won't take the map, you'll have nothing for Show and Tell. Why won't you he a reasonable boy?" "I don't want to take this stupid map, I want to take Bruno." "Duncan, you're not taking Bruno, and that's all." "I'm not going to school if I can't take Bruno". "We'll see about that. You'll go to school if I have to carry you to the bus." "How come Michael didn't have to go to school when he didn't feel like it?", Alexander in- tervened on behalf of his brother. "Michael who?" "Michael Miller". "Because our name isn't Miller", I said with more deter- • mination than logic. Stephanie offered to take the map "in case Duncan changes his mind in school". And away they all went, poor Duncan in tears. What a way for a five year-old to start one of his last kindergarten days. Half an hour later, Elizabeth came to my office: "Would you like to feel like a giant heel?" "Not particularly", I said, "what have I done?" "I've just read the little kindergarten calendar on the fridge that Mrs.Fraser has prepared for the whole month, the one I read two or three times every day. Except this morning. Guess what the entry for today is?" "Don't keep mein suspense, 1 can't bear the stress. What does it say?" "Sharing Time for -Boys: Bring a favourite toy." We flipped a coin to determine which of us was going to drive Bruno to school.