HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-03-19, Page 1424 000$14,1014, MO AL.5PAft,
UR;SPAY, MARCH 19, 1970'
• p
With -Shirley,
. Keller
Woman to Woman.
I: -struck a responsive chord I got some reaction from a suggest. or plan something more
last week. • few
eteenagersg in town. , totheir liking. - ••
For •.'.. the, first . time since At „fit they. were reluctant This watri't the first time I ,
coming, to God'ericr I have, had
an avalanche• of comment about
a. subject opened in this column
..: and it was the bit about the
teenagers •and their "recreation"
Rroblems_that did it. •
All . ;ay Thursday I talked to
people by telephone, on‘ the
street, in their homes, in my
home and at their businesses,
concerning the charge that
teenagers in Goderich don't have
anything to do in their leisure
«hours.
I listened . to . a variety of
viewpoints but through it. all I
heard very few solutions to the
problem •:. and EVERYONE is
agreed that there is• a problem,
though there is some
disagreement just what the•
problem,- really is. •
To give you some idea of the
cross-section of Goderich
citizens to which 'I spoke, I will
report on just four
conversations. I won't betray
their confidence by giving their
names. That mustbe my secret.
- One conversation was_with_
-.mother who has •a couple of
teenagers as well as several other
children growing, up and fast
approaching those difficult years
of decision. .,
This particular mother takes
her responsibility seriously. She
tries to be a good mother and to
provide 'the best possible
influence for her children while
they are at home. But the
moment the ' children step,
outside :her door, they " are in
another world` and ripe for. all
the temptations that go with it.
This . mother doesn't mistrust
her own children, ' or 'even
— teenagers.. teenagers. in ge`tieraL -• She just
feels, • that boysand girls,
particularly those ,between the
ages of 13, and 17, need all the
help ° they can get ' to navigate
that period as easily ..;and as
pleasantly as ,possible.
an opinion on any --had ward a. similar complaint
organized youth program in front a youth worker. Just a
town. L imagine this is because month or so ago, I talked to a
they are afraid it will be nothing woman who`hook her head in
more than "extra -curricular disgust at low-energy teens who
regimentation", ... • just an have to have everything planned
extension of school. ' and carried out for them.
J One lady , &aid • , there. was
But when I° explained to ,the plenty of organization geared to
kids that I saw this thing as a • the teenagers but• she 'wasn't sure
program to permit them to do whether it was the right kind of
SOME of the 'things they really organization . and wished 'the
like to do right here in beautiful young people would come
Goderich, they began to ask forward with sone constructive
questions."
and workable alternatives.
What kind of a program r.
would it be? 'Would there be * ° *
supervision? Would they be able
to do their own thing? When '
'would it be open? Who would be
Then there was the wife of a
mechanic who called me to tell
`eligible to attend? me that her husband spends a
Of course, I didn't have any few hours most every•night with
answers, How could I? teenagers who, drop in at his -
But I did tetitheni something service statjon just to talk about
that I--think-should_ be repeated:
here ..• and mothers, -please ,go These aren't bad kids, she
get your teenagers so they can told me. They , are good,
know this too. • clean-cut average .young men
,If the teenagers in Goderich who really "dig" cars and
want -a Youth Centre or a youth everything that goes with them.
program of any kind, they • must Her husband, she said, enjoys
show some interest ... and the the kids and kids seem to enjoy
- right - kind -,-,of interest.- They her husband's . company. They
should be prepared to meet
must. They - keep coming back.
parents and other interested She suggested there were
adults at least 1 if way by taking probably lots of other boys and
some initiative to prove that all girls who had interests that
teenagers are not • irresponsible weren't so easily satisfied.
drug -shooting, Sex -driven If you are interested in cars`,
•
maniacs whose only desire iS to you can hang around a service
make lifer miserable as possible station if you -find one where the
for anyone older than 30 years. owner likes_ kids and manages to
'Teenagers should be ready • to find time for them. But- what
sit -down and talk sensibly for a about the youngsters who have a
few minutes with their parents, love for.guns or boats or sewing
with their teachers, with the or. music ,or • ,drama or
town council, with the service hairdressing or' judo or .. well,
you use your imagination and
fill in the blanks.
, Where do these kids go,
particujarly if their parents don't
share the same interest. Or
maybe their parents really' don't
care too much in the first plabe.
This caller believed these kids
would enjoy and benefit from a
Youth Centre if there was one in
Goderich.- She thought it was'a
capital idea and urged me to
press the issue.
clubs, 'with anyone who . will
listen, about what THEY, THE
KIDS, will contribute to this
thing.'
Teenagers have to -find some
ways~to inspire 'confidence in the '
older generation, . and then to
back that up with plenty of
good old-fashioned follow
through. If the kids say they will
She 'wants her - teenagers off use a Youth 'Centre.,' if provid,ed,
the streets and out of the with respect and for`;the purpose
restaurants, notbecause there` is it is intended, they should live
anything particularly wrong with up to their word.
these places but because these :
spots were not
•'. second home for teenagers away their ideas known. If there is no.
.from'home. • communication. between The
^She wants her teenagers to be : Establishment and The Now
actively engaged in something Generation,_how can there ever
that will take their Interest off be a solution? It is not wonder,
the little habit-forming sideroads' that some folks say teenagers are
some young people -often follow_ lazy and apathetic when
arid focus their attention onto teenagers • themselves seem to
something that , will broaden. 1,4 „no effort at all to solve
their horizons and give their lives • their problems by the regular
new excitement. tried and proven routes.
She knows it is a large older
and he knows it will not be
intended to be a ` And teenagers should make
s
accomplished overnight.
his mother reminded me
that not every teenager has the
amount of money t� spend that
some national - magazines and
television shows would have us
believe. Therefore, any'
organized plan for G.oderich
teenagers should not be too
costly for the kids (or for -the
.. taxpayers)
She recognized the problems
entotrnt-e`re ,,.—,.by 'every
organization to get responsible
people who are ready, willing
aria able to give of their time to
work on various projects, ,and
she knows it will not be a simple
matter to enlist the services ,of
:men and.women who -are suited
to work with teenagers on this
basis. • '
Yes, she had some
suggestions. She counted several
gymnasiums in : town that she
felt should be opened one or
two evenings a week to young
people who want to wrestle or
play badminton or " toss a
basketball.
She would like td -see a club
room. somewhefe . hi town that,
could be opened two or three
knights a week to. the kids. Maybe
they would want to sit around
alnd. platy records', maybe they'd
just like to have . a glass of pop
and; talk; Maybe rbe° : theytd ^ l ke-'t o
dance a . little; could ' be' some
would enjoy a game of cards or
an evening of Scrabble. YVho
knows what'it would be? "
Naturally, , volunteer , adults
',Would have to be on hand' to.
supervise these kind` of actb4ties.
there world be problems,
disappointments*, , frrustrations,
lre'tr'taes - But -the -teenagers of
Coderi�ch.au'e,worth �ihisitirid iaf
rlce, she feels.,; Apd'�;whats,
ore,e if .somebody would, back.
her 'upt ahe'd be the, first to
vo1uhtee her " i k !
* *•
And_ 'there are charges of
laziness. Thursday I spoke to
one man whoclaimedhe had no
.sympathy for the teenagers of
Goderich �(or any other place for
that matter) 'because . the kids
were doing nothing to deserve
sympathy. ti
This man has worked .with
young people and has found
them to be ungrateful for the
time and effort expended by
adults on their behalf; too rude
to say "thank you".; and too;
lazy to take enough interest to
o
* * *
Local
or hostess
namid niodeLfor others
the "111 Neighbor" Conference
held in London recently, where
Qoderich's special, brand of
`Face-to=Face Friendliness' was
cited as an example to other
centres, and Betty a model for
aspiring Hostesses.
The three Fs Face-to,Face
Friendliness -- characterize
hostesses with• the Hi Neighbor
Welcome Servi .s...Mildred
Richardson, • its. executive
Nice -president. •
A Calgaty • resident, Mrs.
.Richardson was in Ottawa
recently for regional meetings of
her organization,
"We call ori new families who
have moved^ into the cities or
Well, I'm pressing the issue
and • I'm ' . inviting more
comments, • especially from the
teenagers. My telephone number
is in the book and my door is.
open. - .
There are rlihnors that a
Youth. Centre is in the planning
stages, but `I' know very little
more than that. If a . Youth
Centre is'in, the making, it
should be carefully set, up . so
that. it doesn't fall flat right at"
the start. It will have to be the
right kind. of environment to
attract the teenagers, and' unless
the `teenagers accept it, it is of
no real val_"ue at_all,-
That's why I'm concerned
that teenagers, parents. and all.
interested„ . persons make their
ideas about a youth centre
known to .the public:.. Use this
column or simply• talk it up
among your friends. Either way,
the word will e, around to
provide , a'-'�wl er —., base ' for
decision-making officials.
towns we're in, ,and we try to,
Blake them feel as welcome as
possible-,” she said in, an
interview: ----
coming,
_
"Our service is Canada's very
own. It started 14 years ago; and
we now have 200 branches
across the country with
a pproxima_tely 300 _ .hostesses."
A new family
family : is usually
presented with a folder
containing a letter of welcome
from the mayor and the
president of the Chamber of
Commerce.
It also contains information
about local churches,
recreational organizations,.
hospitals, • •schools and local
businesses. No samples are
offered at the initial meeting.
"We try ' to keep in , close -
touch with the new families to
see if we can orient them in any
other way." Mrs. Richardson
said.: "On, the average, . our
hostesses .wilt sperid about half
an hour on each Call,"
Later on, When the newcomer
is more settled, the hostess will
introduce her to the managers of
local business firms who present
her with a welcomirig,gift. �.
The service, supporteft by
businessmen in each locality,
doesn't go into an, area unless
invited by an organization such
as the local Chamber of
Commerce or board of trade. a
It • . is not, operating in the
United States,, but four branches
are being: openndii -Australia. �--,
Mrs..` Richardson has been
with the organization from the
start. Her background in public
relations in_�'_oronte--to-prior to
her marriage made her. a natural
for the job, and she is. current
president of the World Hostess
-Association
- She says prospective hostesses
have to be .mature; motherly
types `because many calls are
made to young girls and, believe
• it or not, when they move to a
new city, the person they miss
most is their Own mother."
Mrs. Richardson , says the.
hostesses . are often the first
person New Canadians get. to
know, and they ,must project
' C ,nada's image.
Mrs. Betty :Reid, -- Goderich
Hostess, took a leading part in
A
Midical secretaries
hoId-.'meeting -
The regular, monthly meeting ,
of ' the Huron County. °:Iviedi 1
Secretaries Association was held .
in the . Auxiliary . Room of the
Alexandra- Marine --and- 3eneraf-
• Hospital, Goderich, on March 4.
Correspondence received
from the Ontario M.S.
Association, TorOntp, was
passed .,,around to . be read
each, member. ,�.
Mrs. Madeleine • Naftel,
Clinton, was appointed to look
after the scrapbook
Ron Tucker, Hoescht
Pharmaceuticals, was present
and gave a very interesting
showing of slides and film on
Africa and Europe.
Congratulations to Miss
Pauline Dorking, Clinton, on her
recent engagement.
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5 SHOWN IN THIP AD EFFE `CIV tHROUGA SATUR ►AY, :,MARtCH 21', 1970.