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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-03-03, Page 88 C CNA %ter- Times -A' dvocate Wednesday, March'3, 1990' Editoriai&Opinion [T1MES-)VOCATE J PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Don Smith General Manager Production Manager • - r peb Lord Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited 424 Main Street South, P.U. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL Tough love 1et'shope it works WHYYE, ITISTHESFOPJS ILLUSTRATED SWIM SUIT Dfl1OL —q5 C0PICER$ED CANADIAI4g, IT'S OUR PwrY To SEE wI1r 11415 'MAGAZINE ILLC-65' FUSS 15 ASL iWoLrrs' By taking self -described action as "a dramatic response" South Huron District High School principal Deb Homuth has demonstrated she will not tol- erate bad behaviour, even if it is only from a few students.Comments we have heard this week indicate a mixed response to the principal's decision. Some believe the cancellation of all stu- dent council activities is a blanket punish- ment on the entire school population when the problems were actually caused by a small minority of students. The last straw was a fight at the school's Valentine's dance where it took four police officers to settle things down. Homuth said the students were acting like a mob. Other opinions we have heard back Homuth's action. Supporters of coming down tough on students believe Homuth had no choice. Doing nothing, while not condoning violent behaviour from students sends a message that a scene like this could be repeated with no repercussions. Obviously this would be an abdication of responsibility by school officials. But there are more problems at South Huron than fighting at dances. According to Homuth, behaviour at the school has generally deteriorated this year. She told the T -A last week "the bar for behaviour has dropped and we need to bring it back up to where it's supposed to be". Perhaps Homuth is thinking the majority of students who do not contribute to bad behaviour will exert enough peer pressure on the bad apples to convince them they must improve. This principle is used by the US Marines. When a Marine breaks a rule, the entire squad must do pushups, or some other punishing activity, to pay for the mistake. It seems to work, at least in the movies. Whether behaviour in general improves at South Huron remains to be seen. If it doesn't, Homuth's decision will be justified. If it does, it will be seen as the right move. Either way, something had to be done. Fly the flag with respect As Canadians, we're not much for boasting about our country. That's probably one of the things people in other countries like best about us. On a trip to Europe a few years ago, we never heard a Canadian boast about how our maple syrup is the best in the world or how our climate is the most interesting or even how our government has more integrity and wisdom than the rest of the G7 combined. (Oops, my tongue's caught in my cheek.) But Americans were diligently enlighten- ing more than a few Europeans about how everything from American fish and chips to sunsets were so magnificent. We have a way to go before we become as 'patriotic' as Americans. Yet, we need to take pride in our country and symbols of Canada. I've got two peeves this week. As winter wears on, Canadian flags flying in our communities are also wearing thirl. These weary flags are a disgrace. Some are in tatters, worn through .the red bar with the maple leaf being eaten away. Take down your worn flags today. NOW. Canadian Heritage identifies the proper eti- quette of disposing of used Canadian flags. When a flag becomes tattered and is no longer in a suit- able condition for use, it should be destroyed in a dignified way by burning it privately. The same respect should be shown for provincial and other flags. Canadian Heritage has a brochure and Web site dedicated to rules for flying the Canadian• flag: www.pch.gc.ca/ceremoni- al-symb/Etiquette . While I'm on the topic of respect, our national anthem deserves respect.as well. I'm appalled at the behaviour of ath- letes and fans during the playing of 0 Canada at sports events. Can people not stop talking for two min- utes? Can athletes not spit for two min- utes? Is it too much to expect people ,to stand at attention for the national anthem? It's time we raise the bar of acceptable behav- ior. Show some respect for our country. KATE 'MONK KATE'S TAKES About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. 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