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Times Advocate, 1998-04-15, Page 9( up to 50% off ) *From the Principal's desk By Deb Homuth South Huron District High School Althoug education, all over the world, is becom- ing mottentralized in some ways through the crea- tion of common standards and expectations for stu- dent learning and through the use of standardized testing, at the same time, schools are becoming more responsible for their day -to -Jay management and for achieving quality standards on their own. Perhaps we could view this situation as just one of the paradoxes of the times in which we live that the more global we become the more we focus inwards on our own place or situation. It is clear that the existence of school councils encourages us as teachers and principals to reach out more often to our wider school communities to share, to seek advice and even, on occasion, to defend what it is we do in schools. A by-product of the process is that those of us who work in schools are required to clarify what it is we do and why we do it and that's a good thing. At South Huron, an active school council exists, under the direc- tion of the chair Kathy Hayter. Recently, a constitution was adopted which required an annual meeting each spring. This year's meeting will he held on May 12 at 7 p.m. in the, school library. At that time, nine parents will he elected to the council. Parents are encouraged to • attend the annual meeting to hear the reports of the council and to consider becoming actively involved in September as a council member. On Saturday, April -I8 a series of workshops are being held at South Huron for all School Councils members in this school hoard. A great deal of planning has gone into the event which is promising to be a worthwhile experience for parents who arc presently part of -I their school councils. The theme of the day is "Strengthening our Partnerships" which is really what lies at the heart of the relationship between a school and its school advisory council. The common denominator in; the work (i.e. parenting and teaching) is that they are both predominantly emotional activities. Both parenting and teaching involve intense amounts of emotional labor. Not just acting out feel- ings superficially like pretending to he disappointed, surprised, angry or enthusiastic but actually experiencing all of it. • Andy Hargreaves has written a great deal about the positive aspect of the emotional labor involved in teaching. He argues that we need to pay attention to this fact for three reasons: First, we will he better prepared to create workplaces for teachers (schools) that promote , positive, even passionate -emotional relationships to teaching, to _learning and to improving schools, Second. we will be Netter ahlc to protect teachers from the negative results of their emotional labor i.e. burn out or cynicism. Third, we will pay more attention to how we implement educational reform agendas. For example, if you don't pay attention to how people feel about the changes they will only �. "re-enter the change process through the back door...festering resent- 'rnent undermines rationally -made decisions." Lists of performance scores don't motivate teachers from the schools at the bottom to improve but they do shame and humiliate them into greater demorali- nation. Excessive change demands don't motivate teachers to work faster, they create confusion and frustration. •If we pay attention to the emotional labor involved in the work. schools will be stronger and kids better off. Truly great teaching often comes when there are lots of emotions actively working - exhilaration,'creative break through, humor and even frustration. Like parenting, it's a labor of love. Classrooms and homes would be boring places without it. The reality is' that schools and their school councils start from a'common place. When that becomes the focus of ' the work, ever bod wins. Deb Homuth CQMMiiiI[TY Times -Advocate, April 15, 1998 Page 9 You say tomato... In bloom...or not? Lucan Reeve Robert Benner, left, ac- cepts a tomato seedling from Deputy Reeve Harry Wraith outside Benner's home on Monday. Benner, a notorious non green thumbed individual, will try to grow the seedling this spring and summer as part of his contribution to Lu - can's campaign to join the nation's list of beautiful centres in the Communities In Bloom program. The joke is an awareness raising move so Lucanites can start thinking green and help beautify the village through cleaning up their properties and planting flowers. Easter breakfast served at Hensall church By Liz Sangster Hensall correspondent HENSALL - For tickets to the United Church supper on April 22. call Marg Cole at 262-2304. • At Hensall United Church, Chuck Mallett( was organist for the Maundy Thursday service and for the morning worship. Lillian Bccr was the•grecter for the special Easter, service. Ann Marie and Steve McGregor were the ushers. Hilda Payne was the lector. Julia Godholt was the guest soloist. Nancy Fraser is.the minister at Hcnsall United. Tracey McIntosh. Ann Marie .McGregor. Susan Mann and Pearl Riley were welcomed into the church family. Flowers in the sanc- tuary were in memory of Glendon Christie by his family Audrey, Catherine. Dan and Christine O'Neil and in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Fee by the Fee estate. Steve and Ann Marie McGregor organized the Easter morning breakfast. A belated 60th anniversary party was held at the Hensall Community Centre on April 5 for Doreen and Emerson Anderson. Over 100 guests attended from Michigan, Sarnia, London, St. Thomas, Hamilton, Ancaster and Bluevale. The Andersons have a family of three - Marilyn Campbell, Ron and Gary, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Weekend guests with Homer and Marilyn Campbell were Ruby and Gord Freeman. The Freemans were guests at the Anderson party. Cornerstone 9nn Q (Shop Corner of john and Andrew Streets, Exeter CLOSING Thursday, Friday & Saturday, April 15,16,17 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Irish Linen, Victorian nightgowns, tea books, John Halland's works, jams, jellies, vinegars, etc., etc. Don't,miss it! ANNOUNCEMENT Sandra Mohr, R.R.T. Horizon Pro Health is pleased to announce the addition of Sandra Mohr, R:R.T. to our health care team. Sandra is a Registered Respiratory Therapist and a long time resident of the Mitchell area. Sandra brings with her a wealth of experience, most recently as a Respiratory Therapist at the Grand River Hospital (formerly Kitchener -Waterloo Hospital). Horizon Pro Health Inc., was established in 1996 in a joint venture between Stratford General Hospital and Professional Respiratory Home Care Service Corp. (a division of the Trudell Medical Group based in London, Ontario). 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