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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-12-13, Page 9December 13. 1989 Letters to the Editor Precious Blood supporters upset about negative report Dear Sir: I am writing to complain about your Wednesday, December 6, front centre -page headline "Report names Precious Blood School", and the article.ac- companying it. 1 disagree with the comments of "unkept" overall appearance. I visit this school two or three times each school week and have never considered it that way. The specific comments mentioned were a leak- ing or broken soap dispenser and a mirror that need- ed replacement. I would not consider either of these a health hazard or-unkept. It is to be noted that the school has been trying to get these items repaired and have has them on back order for nearly a year. Of greater concern, however, is who or what ex- actly is the Public Institution Inspection Panel? To the best of my knowledge, this group of citizens are chosen randomly. They may or may not have any experience in assessing public safety and health standards. Indeed, from the gist of their report it seems that they are favorably impressed by brand new tastefully decorated (at the public expense) buildings. Precious Blood School is an older school with various temporary classroom additions. But it certainly is not "unkept"! If there is any benefit from this report and your press coverage, it might be that the School will get the money to build a brand new school with asso- ciated new paint and decor to impress this Panel. As well, I might criticize the sensationalism of your press coverage. It really suggests that the school is much worse than even mentioned in the report by making such a big deal about a leaking soap dispenser. Subsequent to your article a Health Inspector was invited to the school and did indeed give it a clean bill of health. I am pleased and proud to state that my three chil- dren go to Precious Blood School because I choose to send them there. If I thought for one minute that it did not have a clean bill of health and was unkept don't you think I might have been the first to com- plain. I have been to most of the schools in the im- mediate area giving talks to classes or evening groups. I would consider Precious Blood School better kept than most. I was in one school last week where a mouse kept interrupting the lecture! I won- der if the Panel assessed that school? If the Public Institution Inspection Panel is going to label a school as unkept and not give it a clean "bill of health" because of a leaking soap dispenser, then perhaps it is time we changed the selection of this Panel. It seems that these lay citizens judged public edifices by overall cosmetics rather than functionality with due regard to age and history. I suggest that if the Panel members are not really experienced or trained in making health and safety statements, that they refrain from doing so and leave it to the experts such as those in Public Health, Fire Department or the Town Building In- spector. Sincerely, Dr. Linda Steele 4 Dear Editor: After reading your headlines Report Names Pre- cious Blood School I was angered by the lack of ev- idence to support the derogatory remarks, directed towards our school and indirectly towards the staff of our school. The only specific named was the soap dispenser. This does not justify the general vague comment, "unkept over-all appearance". Our custodian has at all times done everything and anything he can to keep our school very clean and orderly. He gives more than he is required or ex- pected to give. We have heard only positive com- ments from all visitors to our school. This kind of unsubstantiated reporting can do great damage to the individual's reputation as well as the reputation of Precious Blood School. I would also question why of the 21 buildings inspected, Precious Blood was chosen for the headline. I am proud of our school and I am proud to be a member of the Precious Blood School staff. Mrs. Glens Tripp Grade 7/8 Teacher Dear Sir. Regarding your article in the December 6, 1989 edition of the Exeter Times Advocate on the condi- tion of Precious Blood School. As Dental Health Educators we have reason to be in this school c a bi-weekly basis. When we read the comment that Precious Blood School and we quote "is unkept" we felt it necessary to disagree with this statement. We also have reason to be in the children's washrooms and to this date have nev- er found them unkept. As to the overall appearance of this school, we feel the remarks were unjust and unfair. Thanks to a very dedicated Principal and an effi- cient hard-working custodian the teachers, pupils and parents can be very proud of their school. Sincerely, Barbara Dougherty Betty Doherty 4 4 4 Dear Editor: Re: Article published December 6, 1989 - Report names Precious Blood school. As a member of the staff of Precious Blood School, i was shocked to read that the school "was criticized for its 'unkept' overall appearance". Nothing could be further from the truth. The school is extremely well-maintained. I have had am- ple opportunity to be in the building before, during, and after classes and I have yet to find any area in the school that could be considered to be "unkept". Furthermore, at no time has the safety and well- being of our students been compromised as was im- plied in the article. Every precaution has always been taken to ensure that our students are in a cheer- ful, sanitary and safe environment. The comment that the school is "unkept" was not substantiated with specific facts and leaves a great deal up to the reader's imagination. Anyone who has never been in the school could quite conceivably visualize the worst. The reputation and integrity of the school has been undermined by subjective com- ments. I would think that the committee should be required to substantiate all comments with specific facts. What is most; infuriating is that both the commit tee's report and the article have publicly brought to question the quality of our custodian's work. He has always done his job and has done it extremely well. Any requests for assistance have always been met with a cheerful and positive attitude. Any concerns requiring maintenance are handled immediately. In fact he not only meets the requirements of h` 'ob description but has on more than one occasior. k - led tasks that were above and beyond our board's ex- pectations. I do not question the community's • right to be made aware of the committee's report. However, in light of the damage that this report has done to the school and to an individual's reputation, I would think that this issue warrants further investigation. Sincerely, Elaine Coxon. Dear Sir: Concerning your article reporting on Precious Blood School in last week's T.A. I would like to in- form you I have never worked in a cleaner, better kept school. We have a wonderful custodian, Brian Hodgins who keeps our school spotless. Brian does a tremendous job and is always willing to do any- thing to make the school a better environment for the children. Obviously you have not inspected the school yourself or you would not have been able to publish such a report. The soap dispenser that was reported leaking has been ordered to be replaced but has not arrived yet. This was the only criticism yet the arti- cle made the school appear to be very unkcpt. This is just not true. Come and see for yourself. Sincerely, Anna Marie Cook Grade 2 Teacher Precious Blood School Dear Sir: We are writing this letter in response to the arti- cle. Report Names Precious Blood School, pub- lished in last week's Times Advocate. As executive members of the Precious Blood par- ent -teacher association, we are frequently in the school and at no time have we found the school un- clean. In fact, we had commented on several occa- sions, how immaculate the school is kept. Mr. Brian Hodgins is an overly dedicated and conscientious custodian who always goes far beyond his duty in keeping the school in top shape. Your statement that Precious Blood School. was "unkept in its overall ap- pearance" is an extremely unfair and untrue state- ment. The principal, Mrs. Nelson and her staff have worked very hard in building up their high standards of education and your article has been a real set back for all they have worked so hard for over the past few years. - Possibly, in the future, before publishing " such damaging statements, a member of the Times Advo- cate should take a little extra time in researching the situation first, before printing such articles to the public. Yours truly, Barb Dietrich, Donna Overholt, Deb Regier, Su- san Czypha, Deb Revington The Precious Blood Parent-Teacher Executive V 4 4 Dear Editor. Precious Blood School is as clean and tidy as any school in the area. Some elements of construction and appearance may not be new and ascetically pleasing, but they are clean. The mirrors in the washrooms do need to be replaced and the soap dis- penser does leak, but both have been on back -order for months. To have the Public Institutions Inspection Panel report these superficial observations as "unkempt" was very unfair. (The Health Inspector had already given the school a good report.) The custodian has worked hard to maintain the school. We want to congratulate him on a job well done, not hurt him as last week's report in the T.A. managed to do. Dear Sir. I wish to comment on your December 6, 1989 Times Advocate article dealing with the Report of the Public Institution's Inspection. Panel of this area. - Of the three buildings listed for an adverse report, why was the Precious Blood School singled for a headline on the front page of your newspaper? Any building that receives over a hundred active children travelling through it, will obviously leave some evidence behind. This is cleaned up several times throughout the day. As for an original mirror and soap dispenser, they .might be out -dated after 20 some years of use. I un- derstand that these items are on back order since June, 1989. Even if parts of Precious Blood School building are 27 years old, I have found that the building is al- ways serviceable, safe and extremely clean both in- side and.out. To the people who have never been inside of Pre- cious Blood School you have given them an entirely erroneous perspective of this well -kept school and dedicated staff, both teachers and custodian. Stu- dents have developed pride in their school. The above mentioned article does nothing to help. Sincerely, Marg Inson, Exeter, Ontario Sylvia Beierling, Ray C. Scierling 4 4 4 . 4 V Editor's Note: The statements in last week's arti- cle were quoted directly from the Public Inspection Report from the Sheniffs office. The Times - Advocate's policy is to allow the reader and commu- nity to decide whether or not such reports are valid. We do not pass judgement on them ourselves. Our wain concern was that this report, which both praised"and criticized local buildings, should come to the attention of the public. IL tting things ready - Bernice Long, left, and Marie Brunzlow, are busy taking clothes donated by people of Exeter to the Huron County Christmas Bureau, out of boxes and putting them onto ta- bles, in the basement of the Exeter United Church last week. The Bureau recieved several boxes of clothes and toys for the needy as it does, everyyear. Christmas donation Ross Long, of the Exeter Optimist Club presents a 3500 cheque to Helen Roorda, volunteer co-ordinator for the Huron County Christmas Bureau last week at the Exeter United church. The cheque will be used locally by the bureau. Supporters very upset Continued from front page School Board, said no wpy of the report currently under discussion had been received at the Board's Dublin headquarters. Reports have been received in the past from Perth County, but he can not re- member any being sent to his office from the Huron County inspection panel in the past. "We are open and receptive to such reports. We appreciate valid observations and constructive criti- cism. But negative comment without basis in fact seems to have generated out of this report... I probably wouldn't be as concerned if this didn't reflect so directly on individual members of the staff," Eckert said. Public Health Inspector CJ Munn had inspected Precious Blood two months ago. He returned after the report was published. He explained that one of the soap dispensers had been turned to the side to make it easier for small chil- dren to use. Any spills were cleaned up each day. The mirrors, though not perfect, were "no health hazard". "The school is in very good shape as far as sanitation is concerned. The janitor is quite capable of get- ting things done," Munn said. Eckert noted the Board has put in an allocation asking for a grant of over one-half million dollars to replace the portables at Precious • Blood. He added that "it would be helpful if the Public Inspection Panel could help with that'. The project will be part of the Board's 1994 capital budget. Beware of giving credit card number LONDON - Many western Onta- rio consumers are familiar with the post card which announces a "Fabulous Florida Vacation is be- ing held by the contest division of Vacation Award Centres." Better Business Bureaus have long warned consumers about giv- ing their credit card number over the phone, especially if they are unfa- miliar with the person or company on the end of the line.. Nothing in recent years has brought home this point more strongly than the increase in mass mail travel clubs, mainly Florida based, who offer prizes of unrealis- tically priced travel packages. The pressure to give your credit card number to these companies has in- creased and on occasion, unethical practices are used. Credit card companies will take no responsibility for cancelling these charges and consumers can also be subject to additional and un- authorized charges. Redress under the law can only be obtained through U.S. law, which may differ from ours, and most carefully, any loss will not be cov- ered by the Ontario Travel Compen- sation Fund which covers "going - out -of -business" and bankruptcies of the travel purchased from Ontario companies registered with the Mini- stry. ini- s Three companies and their presi- dent, all Florida based, all familiar to residents in this area, have been charged by the Federal Trade Com- mission of: (a) deceptively marketing travel related services (free travel) (b) failure to provide refunds when promised (c) making unauthorized credit card charges (automatic annual re- newal) (d) violating the U.S. Truth in Lending Act (did not credit custom- ers' accounts when cancelled) These companies arc Vacation Travel Club Inc., World Travel Club Inc., and World Cruise Inc. A temporary restraining order was issued on September 25, 1989 which freezes the companies' assets. The Better Business Bureau has reason to believe that these post cards could continue to arrive, as these companies avoid the F.T.C. ruling by mailing the cards and/or doing business outside the U.S.A. bbr all the people on your list.. Stories are open until 9:00 p.m. nightly