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Clinton News-Record, 1980-12-24, Page 441 4 L ON NViT,S-R CORD, WE tivon-wroord 4 poirii04041 *oat t 104, 404 " Clitifetto ONforfe., '14. Tel.; 4102444$. Date:, 1W. COW** 44.011Per IOW 9.14.41.44Ntdrl.'S.0.100flfolde NESDAY,DECIVIBUR 24, 1980 is is nni1iterv4 Iocona Ow hy Oast Oka tpricir tho pin** litvivoinv Th trewit-**card lotoorparetsli i 11124 fifie 11400ro 0146,01:41,004, ft1411141111 k Is$41, 114'04 The Onto, How Prir# 11,4prolod TOW PM/ NI* LOW write letters Clinton News -Record 4PC A MEMBER "JAMES E4fITIMERAID - Editor SHELLEY McPNEE - New* Editor GARY HAM"- Advortising Manager HEATOOR ORANDER - Advertising MARGARET L. G1188 - Office -Manager .011.4 AOC CD Wil 'express your concerti MEMBER Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Nate Card No. 11 effective Sept, 1, Mt amermorommeammatille Metric is annoying by Peter Trueman Global News I'm leary of getting into another argument about the wisdom of con- verting to the metric system. Before, when 'I have protested, I have been scolded by people who say that it's a much more logical and efficient system of measurement, and that if I oppose t, I am a thoughtless lout. But I don't think logic and efficiency in this instance constitute the acid test. I am, I admit, slowly getting used to kilometres and celsius. But I know that a lot of our older citizens, who have ,lived a lifetime with miles and Fahrenheit, are not. They don't know how fast they are going or how cold they are anymore. We are, after all, a quantifying kind of society. As a group we tend to. care less about quality than we do quan- tity. Our news services, in particular, are getared to quantity - millions of this and billions of that. But in news terms, metric measurements are merely an an- noyance. People are upset, even furious when Percy Saltzman, Global's ,weather man, gives the temperatures only in Celsius. Others are mystified when Canadian press reports, as it did not long ago, that 1980 has been the worst year on record for forest fires. Up to the end of October, CP said some four point' eight million of them, whatever they are. But it isn't just annoying when the local service station changes the gauge -On the air hose to give readings in kilopascals rather than pounds per square inch, it's downright dangerous. It means that inaddition to all the other uncertainties that assaili us in the 1980's, most of us are going to have to go back to looking at tires and perhaps kicking them, to see if they're flat. That's not news, but that too is reality. Hockey protection Hockey is the most dangerous sport, says the Canada .Safety Council. Documentation of the thousands of injuries to children which are treated in hospitals reveals that hockey has higher injury frequency and severity rates than any other sport. - If you are buying protective gear for a young player be very selective in your choice of head protection. The head is the most imporiant part of the body and very vulnerable. Look for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) mark on hockey helmets and face protectors. The CSA Standard requires manufacturers to stipulate that the face protector has been certified for use with the appropriate helmet. Make sure that the face protector is suited to the helmet. DO NOT DRILL HOLES in the helmet in order to at- tach a face protector. Do not put paint or gummed decals on a helmet. The chemicals could cause cracks. If the helmet or face protector cracks as a result of a blow discard it immediately. It has served its pur- pose. Even if they have not been subjected to an obviously severe blow they should be inspected before each wearing and if a crack is detected the item should not be worn. CSA certified face protectors marked Z 262.2 are suitable for for- ward and defense positions and those marked Z 262.2 - M78 are designed for all hockey positions including goaltending. Snowy farm lane remembering our past 5 YEARS AGO December 24, 1975 Crokinole and card parties are always , popular this time of year. In Varna, last Wedensday, De-cernber 17, the Stanley Township Recreation Committee held a senior citizens; crokinole and card party. Santa Claus came later on to the Stanley Township hall and distributed prizes. A very successful December Fellowship Night was held in the Auburn United Church on December 12 with ap- proximately 100 sitting down to a pot luck supper. Mrs. John Pollard, as chairman of the Fellowship Night, arranged the evening with Mrs. Margaret 'Whyte acting as hostess and Mrs. Sandra Westerhout in charge of the kitchen. 10 YEARS AGO December 31, 1970 . Royce Kelletis of William Street in Clinton got a better Christmas present than he expected last week when his ticket was drawn from the hundreds of thousands of tickets turned in by Clinton shoppers during the Christmas period. It took two men to turn the drum before the lucky winner was chosen because somewhere befween 350,000 and 400,000 entries were deposited. Bill Smith, president of the Clinton Retail Merchants Association presented him with the cheque. On Wedensday evening, December 23, Londesboro United Church was the scene of a happy evehL when Robert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Shaddick and Donna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Riley were united in marriage by Rev. Stanley McDonald. What is rotten Well, the presidential election, the constitution, and the dog-fight over energy have been thoroughly probed and massaged and turned upside down and inside out by the media. So what's a poor weekly columnist have to turn to that hasn't been beaten to death? It's a rotten November .day and I have --a rotten, unshakeable cold, so I -121-1 have a few -words -about what - is rotten in the state of education. And there's plenty. First, let's look at teaching. ,The post-war baby boom, a natural phenomenon after four or five years of sex starvation, is long gone. Immigration has slowed to a trickle. As a result, along with the pill and wives who want to work rather than procreate, enrolment in our -schools is dropping rapidly. Many of those red- brick shoe factories built so lavishly and triumphantly by the government in the 50's are standing etnpty. Others echo hollowly, only half-filled. A direct result of Os, along with the stupidity of the government, has made a teaching profession a very hairy one. Those who chose it as a career are almost stopped in their tracks. chance of promotion for the young person who wants to rise in the profession, The others, who don't give a diddle about being a department head or a vice-principal, but like to eat and couldn't make a living at anything else, are clinging grimly to their jobs, looking over their shoulders to see where they stand on the seniority list, and lying awake nights thinking about the dread statement, "You have become sur- plus." Becoming surplus these dayir, is almost as bad as becoming pregorit used to be, for a woman teacher',Oor a man, it's even worse, if he has a frimily, a mortgage, ear payments, and is near the bottom of the list. For the young teacher, emerging from teacher's college, it's a night- mare. There's a solid line of older teachers, holding hands, to hurl back anyone who wants to get into the charmed circle. .1 can think at the moment of three young men, graduates of Univers rf Toronto's Faculty of Educatirt: r ;c has an honor degree. . One is te.,v mg in Newfie, another in the interior of B.C., and the third at an end -of -rail, village in Northern • Ontario. Ten or tgigke_years ago, these bright girls would have been beating off hot -breathing principals who wanted to hire them sight unseen. And yet, the government still churns out dedicated young'teachers who will face nothing but heart -break and frustration, as they try to get a job'. It's a vicious circle, and partly4o blame are the teachers' unions. Long without much political clout, they now have quite a bit, and because of the past, they have an obsession with security. Ask a principal. It's almost as difficult to fire a teacher as it is to fire a postal worker. As a result, and I don't care if they keel -haul me for saying this, the profession is riddled with teachers who are incompetent, emotionally or mentally. But it would, require a Hercules to clean out this particular. Augean stable. And educational leaders are not exactly built along Herculean lines. More like Mickey Mouse. So what have we? Teaching staffs that are getting smaller, older and scareder. Some atmosphere for great teaching. Solution? Dangle a couple of years' salary in front of everybody over fifty-five who would retire volun- tarily, and accept a smaller pension. Many who are hanging on by their toe- nails, emotionally, would leap at it. That would open the sluice for fresh blood, young ideas and new en- dispensed by bill smiley thusiasm. It would be -a real shot of adrenalin for education. Now we come to the students. They are not getting the best, because of the suggestions I've presented: tired old blood teaching tired old courses in a tiring old way. But they're not giving the best, either. Many, many students are clinging to school as desperately as Turn to'page 5 • OMAF photo a look through the news -record files Mailmen begin delivery of $20 million of cheques to Ontario farmers this week. The cheques result from the October 6th 1970, announcement by the Ontario government of a Farm Tax Reduction Program, designed to reduce the burden on municipal and education taxes on farm property. Each farmer will receive a cheque equal to 25 per cent of his net property taxes. 25 YEARS AGO December 29,1955 Grant Stirling of Goderich Township has purchased another tractor with a loader on . it which will be a great help in his work. Magistrate Dud. -ley Holmes, of Goderich, presiding at court in Exeter, last week, indicated in a warnipg to bootleggers that their penalty would be stiffer than usual if they are caught selling beer to minors. The Young People's Union of Goshen and Varna United Churches held a Christmas social. Carols were sung at the homes of shut-ins and the group returned to the basement of the church for crokinole played in charge of the recreation con- venor,- Ivan McClymont. Refreshments were served by Miss Lola Chuter and her committee. 50 YEARS AGO December 25, 1930 The News -Record Christmas Cheer Fund, since its inception a fortnight ago, has met with steady support and as paid to us or to Chief Strong treasurer, has been handed over to the Welfare Committee of the Home and School Club, who are kincliy expanding it to bring cheer and a breath of Christmas to homes which need it in the town. _ The merry sleigh bells were heard again on Saturday, after Friday's snowfall, and are still in evidence. We are fortunate in having both sleigh ing and wheeling. The Street Lighting ComrOttee of the village are putting on an old time dance in the Community Hall, Londesboro on Dec. 3Ist, New Year's Eve, in aid of the street lighting. The admission will be: Gen- tlemen, 50c, and all ladies are requested to please bring lunch. Allen Orchestra to furnish the music. 74 YEARS AGO December 27, isps That but little itarest is shown in the municipal affairs of Clinton is to be regretted, for upon the personnel of the council much of the progress of the town depends. Economy is all right in its place and is to be commended, but when it degenerates into cheese -paring it ceases to be a virtue. What we need in our council is progressive men and nine imbued with that spirit would be capable of doing much for Clinton inithe year of Our Lord 1907. Mr. John Al-exander of Goderich Township has put a cement floor in his cattle stables and is re -stalling it throughout. He will do the same with the horse stables next year. The Salvationists had a Christmas Tree and entertainment in the barracks on Christmas night, and, as is customary at such gatherings of the S.A.'s it was a hearty and well -sustained affair. In addition to a long program of readings, music, etc., Miss Mountcastle gave one of her Selections which im- mensely pleased the audience. 105 YEARS AGO December 30, 1875 A green youth - On Friday last, a young man went into one of the jewellery stores in town to procure a wedding ring for the lady of his choice. He spent about half an hour viewing the different kinds, but when he came to purchase one, he found(he had neglected to learn what size she wore and the youth hastily departed to "get her measure." On Saturday morning last,* on awakening, Mr. Andrew Bailey, of this town, was astonished to find his wife, who was lying by his side, dead, she having retired in her usual health, the night previous. Deceased was an 'old -resident, having came here many years since, and she was the mother of 19 childregi several of whom reside hereabouts at present. On Christmas morning three or four youths were going about town in a state of intoxication, using very profane language and otherwise misbehaving themselves. A few hours in the lock-up should have been their portion. Most of the stores in town had tastefully dressed out their windows for Christmas, and many in the evening, took the op- portunity of strolling.through the street to vkiitness the beautiful display. The groceries of the brick block were made very attractive to the sight -seers, and were a credit to their owners. Mr. Fulton of Goderich, was robbed of the sum of $1,500 by his own son, who has disappeared. A large sum is offered as a reward', for his capture, and already detectWes are on the track of the delinquent. Part of Christmas You say you and the kids spent half a day decorating the tree until it .'sparkled like a work of art and you were proud of yourselves. But when you turned your back, the dog chased the cat up the tree and your work of art came tumbling down. One kid held the dog; the other cradled the cat protectively; and both - assured you the three shattered or- naments would never be missed. They promised to turn the tree around. That way it would lean into the corner and no one would notice. You say you and your husband were shopping the other night and you casually brought to his attention a jacked in a store window.. "I don't like that," he announced. How was he to know it was exactly the same as the one you've had laid away for hi m fora rironth? You say you finally spied the Star Wars contraption Junior's been raving about for two weeks. It was the last one on the shelf and before you could reach it another shopper got her hands on it. You asked the saleslady for another, but she said that was the last one. The other customer smiled apologetically but wouldn't let go. r, You say you carefully packed and wrapped the kids' .parcels, muffling every telltale rattle and covering every letter on the boxes. They begged" you to tell them what was inside. You said, "Guess!" They did. And they were right. You say you hurried to the super- market to buy those last minute goodies and essentials. The store was packed. Everyone in town seemed to have'the same idea. Halfway through your shopping, you realized you had picked a cart with a stiff wheel that persisted in heading left when you wanted to go right, and the three people you bumped into didn't seem in the mood to hear your excuse. You say you got to the checkout lane and realized you have 1 slightly un- derestimated the cost. As you counted out the last $1.61 in change, you could only smile sheepishly at the clerk and the other shoppers waiting in line. Wouldn't you know it? They wetthe same ones you bumped into earlier? You say you • checked and double checked your gift list but you still wake up in the middle of the ifight in a cold sweat wondering What you've forgotten. You probably won't sleep oi$ Christmas Eve, either. You'll be afraid you won't wake up early enough to stuff the turkey and get it into the oven on time. 0, You say you think you're coming down with a cold, probably due to the hours - of running around in snow storms andplodding through drifts. You hope someone gives you h new pair of boots, because during all your shopping you discovered your old one leak. But you'll probably get a pair of blue slippers that will look lovely beside the pink pair, the green pair and the yellow pair already in your closet. „ You say you're not! sure you're ready for Christmas, but it's too late now. Your head pains, your back hurts, your feet ache and you think you may be too exhausted to enjoy the day. Cheer up! It's all a pall of Christ- mas. And in some momentbefore the celebrition is over, you'll know it was all worthwhile. Maybe you'll hear it in the Merry Christmas wish of a stranger you meet on the street. Or maybe you'll feel it in the handshake of an old Mend. Maybe it will happen in the singing of a Christmas carol by candlelight on Christmas Eve. Maybe you'll see it in the eyes of children as they open their gifts on Cl\tristmas morning. And maybe you'll know it by the hug that says Thank You, I Love You and Merry Chrlstrri arr. Dear Editor; The time has come for all members of parliament with traditional COP, victions and deterrninatiOU tO Unite as one politkal pro-life groap, or party, to restore social justice in the J402-41111) Christitin tradition, One glance =Os our American border dernonStrates him 0 -well-intentional Charter . of Human Rights has been manipUlated and translated into a Charter of Criminal, Rights by an anti.Christian Supreme Court which has • been politically appointed for life, Canadians must consider what has happened tin Canada over the past 11 years to the common good of our society. In 1969; the federal govern- -abolished—laws—of—common— decency which were instituted by our forefathers for the protection of in- nocent life and the preservation of the family unit. Consider how the MP's whom we elected in 1968 destroyed those laws for the sake of selfish, pleasure -seeking individuals. . Many of those MP's are still around and still at it, holding the famous banner of Human , Rights while they bankrupt our nation both morally and financially. They have shown no regard whatsoeyer for the basic' traditional human valyes of a predominantly Christian society. Leading MP's, Christian in name AIL only, but Anti -Christian in action, rule WI: Christendom only to destroy it. The worst is yet to come, should they succeed in entrenching a charter - Ot*Human Rights in our constitution which does not restore Christian family and the right to life of preborn children. The good people in society will be further taxed to support abortion and broken families and taxed to fight more crime, yenereal diseases, mental disease, social unrest, etc. The devil, the left wing socialistand the despiritualized humanists know what else is in store, or, don't give a damn! People should write to the Provincial Premiers and MP's to express their concern. Yours truly, Louis J. Matte 813 Victoria Street, Prince George, B.C. V2L 2K7 Without fear or favor Dear Editor, The number of people who will read this letter will be very few. Probably a few will disagree with my ideas and beliefs, but, to me, this is something I have to get off my chest. We are constantly being brain- washed by television and radio, and now is a lessor manner by our local papers, asking for donations to be sent to a central depot for distribution to help the needy in foreign Countries. May I respectfully point out, we have our own Canadian organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army which have been in operation a long time and have been doing a splendid job. May I also stress, that they charge less for administrative fees (13 per cent) as against others as high as 35 per cent. I must now forcibly point out I am not a Grouch. I may be called by some as a Belly Acher, but, if anyone is in need, r will give of myself and money (providing it goes directly). In closing I would bring your at- tention to an article in the London Free Press, dated November 26, 1980. The Story, from Winnipeg was headlined "Pleas Ignored Over Children." The opening paragraph read, "A man who has watched children _join the Salvation Army's soup line said Tuesday, local officials have been indifferent to his pleas something should be done. "Capt. Bruce Guthrie said a photographer from the city's social planning committee visited the centre about a year ago and took pictures of children in line. Guthrie said children began joining the soup line about 18 months ago, between 10 and 50 children were from 3 to 13 -years -old." Dammit, this is Canada, not India, Pakistan or Nigeria. And this has been going on for well over a year. I strongly suggest we first look to our inner selves and help our own lost and needy. And then we can give monetary aid to other countries and help teach them to help themselves. Written in all Sincerity, Fredrick Jackson, Clinton. Do you have an opinion? Why not write us a letter to the editor, and let everyone know. All letters published, providing grey cast ba, authenticated, and pseudoraysiuk allowed. All letters, however, aresubject to editing for length or libel.