HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-10-29, Page 5PD DAY NEWS
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Stress
in agriculture is affecting children
they pay a tremendous amount of taxes in
the system and those operating on farm
sales of $100,000 to $200,000 probably pay
more than 90.percent of what people who
work on salaries pay.
The Lambton farmer also noted that there
has never been a time where there has been
such a spread in net farm incomes and it has
created two classes, one consisting of those
who have established marketing structures
and those, such as cash croppers, who cur-
rently sell products at less than production
costs.
He said cash crop farmers who expanded
and bought $3,000 per acre land and have
now seen it drop to $800 "are technically
bankrupt".
The audience was advised that changes
can't be undertaken without spending
money or changing the market structure.
Wilkinson said it was "nuts" that a box of
corn flakes can cost $3 while the farmer
receives four cents for the corn that goes in-
to the product.
"Farmers are going broke producing food
for you," he said after explaining that Cana-
dian spend only 16 cents of every dollar for
food, while in Europe aid other countries
the cost is about 30 cents.
He then likened the farmers' current
plight to that experienced by teachers some
decades ago when they were paid "a couple
of hundred bucks" for their services and
were expected to serve the community.
That situation was absurd, and teachers
are now rewarded relatively well, he
commented.
EXETER — Huron County elementary
school teachers has poignant evidence of the
stress being experienced by some of their
rural students and their families when they
met for the professional development day in
Exeter.
Theme of the event was "agriculture in
the classroom" and the morning session's
keynote speaker was Jack Wilkinson, Se-
cond Vice -President of the Ontario Federa-
tion of Agriculture.
Near the outset of his address, while ex-
plaining how the stress being experienced
on some farms is affecting children, Wilkin-
son became extremely emotional,: and
following a long pause in which he wiped
away some teats, he had to walk off the plat-
form and went outside the South Huron rec
centre to regain his composure.
"I think this speaks for itself," com-
mented co-chairman Brenda McIntosh, as
®she went to the microphone to speak to the
ushed audience.
The Huron Federation of Agriculture
member, obviously moved as well by
Wilkinson's emotional display, said in a
choking voice, "I think you know what's go-
ing on out in the country".
She said many farm situations are totally
deteriorating.
Wilkinson then re-entered the hall and
continued his talk, telling the teachers they
have to help farm families who are facing
many financial and emotional problems.
Explaining that the situation is causing
many children from troubled farm homes to
behave in uncharacteristic fashion, he said
teachers have an opportunity to detect those
changes.
Wilkinson suggested there were some "in
credible pressures" on children as they ex-
perienced the worries of losing their farms,
their homes and even their families.
Acknowledging that similar pressures
were experienced by those who faced the
Teachers
loss of their job, he said it was heightened
for farm families because many had no
trade to fall back onto to seek employment
elsewhere.
"It's important for you to detect that
stress," he continued, advising the teachers
they should enlist the aid of other farmers
and professionals in the community to get
stressed families into counselling sessions.
It was noted that many families experien-
cing problems do not like to air themin
public and are hundreds who still refuse to
admit they have problems.
"Do something as quickly as you can so it
doesn't destroy the educational potential of
the children," he said. "It is up to you to en-
sure that doesn't happen."
In opening his address, Wilkinson had
highlighted one recent stressful situation in
Oxford County where 20 RCMP had march-
ed down a farm lane with guns on their
shoulders to aid in a foreclosure.
"Farmer after farmer is going broke," he
advised, adding that while people appeared
to know how to treat the symptoms of the
stress, "not too damn many people are wor-
ried about solving the problem."
The teachers were told that on farms
where income was over $50,000 a year, over
half that came from off -farm income and
the average farm income in Huron was
$5,500 and $7,434 in Oxford.
"I bet you people make more," he com-
mented. "It's not big money and it causes a
lot of stress."
He also noted that the debt crisis has in-
creased "horrendously" for farmers and
there is no relief yet in sight.
Wilkinson also rebuked a suggestion that
During a question and answer session, the agricultural community would be better
Wilkinson answered the "yeah, but they served by eliminating family farms and
don't have to pay any taxes" comment that moving to Corporate operations.
is often aimed at farmers. "We don't need a city of five million peo-
He explained that the percentage of hid- ple in this province, we need a population
den taxes paid by farmers is high and in fact spread around the country."
study personal and educational renewal
CLINTON - Huron County's secondary
school teachers met here on October 24 for a
daylong Professional Development Day.
The theme for the seminar conference was
Renewal and Motivation.
The conference included morning and
afternoon workshops as well as presenta-
tions made by keynote speaker Rosalie
Wysocki
Teachers from the county's five secon-
dary schools met at Central Huron Secon-
dary School in Clinton for the PD Day. The
morning session began with a presentation
made by Rosalie Wysocki, or Wysocki and
Associates Inc. This firm deals in personal
development and the topic for the speaker's
address was "Motivation, Potential and
You."
Teachers then broke into smaller groups
to take in one of the six morning workshops
that covered a range of topics including, co-
operative education, planning personal
priorities, superannuation interviews,
retirement planning; enrichment activities
within the regular curriculum and the
teacher and the law.
The luncheon speaker was Dick Dodds,
Director of the East York Board of Educa- '
tion. His topic "Reaching Out To the Com-
munity" dealt with improving the school
image.
Five afternoon sessions saw the con-
tinuation of some morning programs as well
as additional seminars on redefinitions of
adolescence, strategies for teaching
students with low -functioning abilities, the
ABC's of stress and a teacher panel
exchange.
CLINTON NEW$ -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986—Pa ie a
Stanley Township declares itself a disaster area...
• from page 1
Nine people from Snowden Acres attended
the meeting to obtain information regarding
rules and restrictions governing installation
of steel groynes on their lakefront
properties.
Wilfred and Madeline Hauck of lot 9, Plan
101 and Mr. and Mrs. John Young, lot 19,
Plan 111, came to the session to discuss
drainage problems in their area. The
possibility of installing a drain by backhoe
at the back of their properties on Ken Bran-
don's adjoining lot was raised. Road
superintendent Bill Taylor was instructed to
investigate further.
Council rejected a tender of $2,650 from
Joan Sibley to purchase the property where
the old township hall. was once located. It
was the only tender received. Council
agreed to set a price of approximately $6,000
for the property.
Harold Gibbings and Wayne Dolmage
presented a plaque on behalf of the Huron
County Road Superintendents Association in
appreciation for Stanley Township hosting
the 1986 Supplier Trade Show.
Members -of council stated their
unanimous opposition to any changes in the
Ontario Municipal Elections Act to change
to an earlier polling date and require can-
didates to provide deposits and nomination
papers signed by 50 electors.
Personnel from the ministry of the .en-
vironment will attend ,the next regular
meeting to discuss the ion of the land-
fill site. Council will invite landfill site
supervisor Harvey Hayter to also attend.
The write-off of 1986 taxes totalled $469.29.
Tile drainage loans amounting to $25,200
were approved, as was $19,700 in shoreline
protection loans.
Children who dropped into the Clinton Library on October 24 were in for a treat as Lynn
Marcotte from the African Lion Safari was there as a special guest for Ontario Library
Week. These three children (left) Andrew Ball, (right) Ryan Macaulay and Shelley
Speed were given the opportunity to meet Lynn's friend Peter the Celebese Maqual
before all of the other children. (David Emslie photo)
Divines test knowledge
By Christine Kemp
CLINTON - On October 23, in the Jewitt's
home, the Udderly Divine members met for
their fifth meeting. They opened with the
4-H pledge, then the roll call.
Next the members tested each other's 'Ice
Cream I.Q.' followed by some ice cream
history. Then they learned about store;
bought ice cream and lame -made ice
cream. The members also discussed other
frozen desserts such as sorbet, ice milk and
frozen yogurt and their nutrient values.
The members enjoyed sundaes covered
with chocolate sauce. The next meeting will
be held October 30 at the Jewitt's home.
Beginner's class proposed.
• from page 3
porters on their new rights and respon-
sibilities, the Huron -Perth Board stated that
beginning 1987, separate school supporters
for the first time in history will pay educa-
tion taxes for Catholic secondary school pur-
poses to the Separate School Board rather
than " the Public School Board from
Kindergarten through Grade 13. These
ratepayers are encouragaed to cherish and
retain your rights to be a Separate School
supporter, whether or not you 'have children
in public secondary school or no children in
either an elementary or secondary school.
At the last meeting of the Board a steering
ittee was formed to further in-
v9e tigate the feasibility of Catholic Secon-
•
dary education in Huron County and report
findings by Mar. 1, 1987. Monday the board
named three parents to serve on the com-
mittee — Jane Gillespie of St. Joseph;
Louise Martin of Kingsbridge and Jack
Flanagan of RR 1 Dublin, after the trustees
changed their minds and named three
rather than two parents. Two pastors are
yet to be named.
Peter Edwards was hired as a custodian's
helper for eight hours a week at St. Mary's
School at Goderich.
Trustees Vincent McInnes of Wingham
and Louis Maloney of Dublin were named to
the Workload Planning Committee.
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