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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-12-15, Page 88 Exeter Times -Advocate Opinion&Forutn Wednesday, -Decembsc'is, 1949 Remember when... On June 30 to July 2, 2000, South Huron District High School will celebrate Its 50th Anniversary. The Exeter Times Advocate would like to join in the celebrations by sharing articles or pictures which have appeared over the years. HI HIGHLIGHTS — 1979 - 1986 SH ends field hockey season with best record in history The girls field hockey team from South Huron District High School completed their best season ever Saturday by finishing fifth in the all -Ontario competition held in London. This is the best performance to date by any South Huron sports team at the Ontario Secondary School level. Earlier, the South Huron girls won the Huron - Perth championship and placed second in WOSSA competition. An indication of the talent on the South Huron team this year is the fact provincial selectors hay e asked for two team members to attend team trial Asked to try out for the all -Ontario team are Barb Rader and Karen Brand. Although they placed fifth overall in provincial competition over the weekend, the South Huron Panthers were one of only two teams in the tour- nament with no goals scored against them and had the fourth best goals for average. The OFSAA tourney started in London, Friday with the 16 top teams in the province in atten- dance. In their first start South Huron held Toronto area champions from Stephen Leacock school to a scoreless tie. Next came a 4-0 victory over St. Catharines with Bonnie Keys scoring all four goals. Saturday Bonnie Keys scored the only goal in a 1-0 South Huron win over Gloucester of Ottawa. After, three games South Huron was tied with Stephen Leacock of Toronto in their pool. Goals scored were then reviewed and the Toronto team advanced because of two more goals scored. The South Huron team wrapped up the Huron - Perth schedule with 14 out of a possible 16 points and won the conference tournament held in Stratford. In WOSSA competition, the Panthers brought home silver medals on the strength of three victo- ries, a tie and one loss. The only WOSSA loss was to the eventual cham- pions from Central Elgin. The other teams were North Middlesex, Lord Dorchester, St. Marys and College Avenue of Woodstock. The girls played 23 league and exhibition games during the past two months. They won 14 times, lost only two games and ended in a tie on seven occasions. They scored a total of 37 goals and allowed only eight goals against. Bonnie Keys was the leading scorer. H'•:: '. .�'i:�/jC/' :':C•j tit H -P FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPS -The South Huron District High School girls field hockey team recently won the Huron -Perth champi- onship and finished second at WOSSA. Back, left, Patricia Rader, Patti Willis, Corinne Weernink, Carla Soloman, Karen Brand and Bonnie Keys. Centre, coach Jim Workman, Sheila Edwards, Catherine Patterson, Cheryl Cann, Donna Prout, Darlene McBride, Leanne Dillon, Pauline Brand and Brenda Brand. Ront,Teresa Van Raay, Ruth Ryan,Anne Marie Brand, captains, Liz Scott and Barb Rader, Pauline DeVries, Usa Hamacher and Marilyn Brand. Missing were Marg Pryde and Angela Wraight, FOR tklORB INFORMATION ABOUT THB SHDHS "Au. -YEARS REUNION" oorrracr KENDRA ARTHUR 235-4006 OR Par Rowe 2364167 Christmas spirit dampened GP!NiONS AND LETTERS Dear Editor: Today I bought some toy trucks to donate to the Christmas Bureau, and took them to the United Church. I was surprised by the reception I got. A lady challenged me the moment I stepped in the door, and said, "What have you got? Food, clothes?" I was taken aback. The impression I got was that I was suspected of trying to sneak in and steal something from their hoard. I said, "Toys." Immediately, a man swooped down on me, seized the bag I was holding, and with a perfunctory "Thank you" whisked it away from me. It was clear that I was not welcome, and was being encouraged to get out. This somewhat dampened my Christmas spirit. No doubt the United Church volunteers are very busy. But they might have contrived to be ordinarily civil. Yours truly, Doucius FRAME Writer challenges Helen Johns Dear Helen Johns: As I review the fundraising for the Stephen Township Arena expansion for the Last four or five months, the major "face-off" picture with yourself and MP Paul Steckle heads the file. Pictured there are enthusiastic youth, energetic volunteers, and politicians from three levels of government all seemingly striving to achieve the same goal. This fundraising is by no means a small undertaking. We here in Stephen Township and the surround- ing areas are supporting this endeavour. and I now challenge you, Mrs. Johns, as Minister of Culture, and your government, with hockey playing such a major role in our Canadian culture and heritage, to financially -support us in our fundraising endeav- ours by the end of this calendar year. Sincerely, DREW ROBERTSON, Chanan, Stephen Township Arena Board cc Editor Exeter Times Advocate cc Editor Lakeshore Advance cc Editor Parkhill Gazette Old standard is not tion. : : , the alternative schools very often come out on top! That la no easy feat because contrary to what you imply, these schools pay their teachers far less than the salaries paid out in our public system. Nor are teachers found working in alternative schools considered "the cream of the crop". It is too early to tell if our current provincial government is on the right track in trying to improve the educa- tional standard in our public system, but that some- thing should be done, was obvious to many, albeit few working in the system itself, and few writing or speaking in the media. Ontario taxpayers should accept nothing less than the "quality" of education in Japan, or in the industrialized countries of Europe. If that means we must first dismantle our ailing system, which itself does not realize it is ill, then so be it! After all, there is already a less costly and well proven alternative system to model after. I find it interesting/how one can almost detect an underlying fear whenever I read a media defense of our public system. If the system is so good, and doing such a great job, why all the fear and con- cern? I suspect the concern all boils down to...fund- ing! Should alternative schools get access to even a portion of'our tax dollars, these schools would over- come what presently bars most parents from choos- ing a school with higher educational standards...the extra cost. Yes indeed, all those who now choose alternative schools, first pay their tax dollars to fund the public system, and then pay once again for the school of their choice! Even busing costs • have to be paid a second time! Now tell me, is that fair? And then consider that this inequity only happens in Ontario! (The other provinces, for the most part, offer at least some form of assistance to alternative schools.) It seems obvious to me that many fear the public system would disappear if alternative schools should be allowed to lower their cost barriers. Again, take a look at the other provinces. They still have a well run public . system, while at the same time offering partial funding to alternative schools! Why would we expect a different outcome in Ontario? Let's stop the fear mongering, and correct a very long held error in equity for Ontario taxpayers. And let's all raise the quality standard of education. We should all expect something better than the status quo from our public system, and we need to allow some time ,for present efforts at improvements to work and take hold. Your editorial implied that the old standard was quite acceptable, but I really doubt the majority of your readers would agree. JERRY DE BOER, Exeter acceptable Stephen Twp. arena goal is within reach Dear Editor: The editorial regarding private schools cannot go unanswered. (Private Schools to Get Public Funding in Ontario, Dec. 1/99.) Your comments regarding alternative schools are somewhat typical . of com- ments made by many others, all in defense of our public educational system. All persons so inclined are entitled to their opinion, but they should only do so in public forum after first doing some research. Your comments regarding the quality of public edu- cation here in Ontario touched a cord with me. To say that our public education system in Ontario "has been one of the best in the world" may have been true at one time, but you forgot to stress the "has". It may have been true in the past, but not any more. Are you not exposed to, or have you not hired "a product" of our educational system of recent years? I expect you have. And you are satis- fied with the skills of our graduating high school students? If so, you either set a low standard for our students, or you believe that other systems (in other provinces or countries) also produce a mediocre "product". You and I obviously differ on how one should, run an educational system which takes such a large share of our tax dollar. You say our public system was never broke; and then our government shat- tered it. Give me a break! Why not do some further research andalso inform your readers of the aver- age cost per student educated in an alternative school, as compared to the average cost per student in our public system. Need one guess who does the better job of educating, at considerably lower cost? And as you already touched on in your editorial, these alternative schools do not presently receive a single penny of our Ontario educational tax dollar! There is siso no question as to which students do better in their first year of post secondary educa- Dear Editor: Our goal is within reach. It has been a long road but at least we're close to our destination. In March 1994, it was decided to begin fundrais- ing to make some much needed improvements to the Stephen Township Arena. The newly -formed arena board along with the Centralia -Huron Park Lions Club were dedicated to seeing this project completed. I can't say enough about those two groups of hard-working community -spirited individuals who together have continued to raise money by what- ever means possible. These volunteers want to see Stephen Township have an' arena which would not only provide the services needed but an arena which the community could be proud of. For the last few months, the Stephen Township Arena Expansion committee has organized a cam- paign where donations could also mean extra benefits to the donator. For every $100 donated to the Stephen Twp. Arena Expansion Project, the donator would have a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.. Donations must be received by December 18 to be eligible for the draw as the winner will be announced at the Stephen Twp. arena on December 19. Please give to this worthwhile cause. Let's work together to help the youth in our area and provide recreation for years to come. Tis the season for giving, what better way for your gift to touch the greatest number of people then to donatetowards this special project. Yours in recreation, Roe FUNSTON. Stephen Twp. arena manager