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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-05-06, Page 4PAG 4 —CODER ICH SIGNALSTAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6,1981 clave sykes ! Some of the lead offerings of your favorite -weekly--offer—$etailcd accounts- of- the - monetary aspect of the education system in this county. And if my Grade 12 mathematics is adequately committed to memory, education is,a costly bpslness. Over the past week, the Ontario press has applied ample ink to a Secondary Education Review Project, a study that suggests students could possibly function in a con- tributory manner within our society without Grade 13. Wouldn't ya' know. The study- was authored by Duncan Green who recommended the abolition of Grade 13 so Ontario would be on a par with education systems of other provinces. He also Suggested that compulsory subjects be increased, that students be trained to live and work in the real world and that morals and values become part of the school curriculum. Mr.Green would obviously like to inject some lofty ideals into the education system and provide students with practical-, real world experience. But It would have to be jammed into only 12 years of study. To be honest, I don't believe Ontario students could function properly with less than 13 years of schooling behind them. I have problems passing . myself off as a functioning member '''of society despite partaking of the broadening experience of Grade 13. Perhaps I missed some key in- struction and guidance along the way. , But our scholars would have to adapt to a new way of life within the school system if a grade was arbitrarily abolished and established a new pace. Students, for the most part, have their school life orderly planned over a 13 -year span and simply snatching a full year from the program would create a serious imbalance. Naturally, I judge the system on my own impeccable, and inimitable school career that now vaguely resembles an old movie. And perhaps; considering the time lapse, the comparison is an unfair one. If Green had examined the education system, and Grade 13 particularly, during my ,school career, it would have been ob- vious that morals,' values and poractical real-world education was an important part of the every day agenda. We simply didn't go to school. School administrators, at that time, made the grave mistake of treating students as reasonable and responsible adults And subsequent to the theory that Grade 13 students were on the brink of adulthood, we were responsible for our own affairs. Which meant students were able to write explanatory notes for absence from school for a day, week, month...whatever. Now I won't admit that students abused the priviledge of explaining away their absence from school but, I did have my Cha re of maladies. Truly it was a difficult year for me. I contracted several diseases, broke most of the bones in my fragile bod without requiring binding casts, relented to minor surgery on an infrequent basis and of course was forced to miss the odd day of school due to severed limbs and other minor stuff. The administration accepted my feeble explanations knowing this scribe was either on the golf course or in the pool room trying to supplementa.modest part-time Income. In fact, I think they just threw their hands in the air as a desparate gesture and let me handle my own fate. The real world experiences are outside the classroom though, and a great deal of learning was gleaned from those ex- periences. I bet the principal still chuckles over my notes. BLUE RIBBON AWARD Second class mail registration number -0716 SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Pounded In 1440 andpublished every Wednesday at Cioderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. Adver- tising rotes on request. Subscription payable In advance 97.30 in Canada. -33.01 to U.S.A., '33.N to all other coun- tries. single copies Sr. Display advertising rotas available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 16 effective Oc- tober 1. 1466. Secant class mall Registration Number 6716. Advertising Is accepted.on the condition that In the event of typographical error. the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Nem. together with reasonable ailowance for signature. wili not be ciwrged for but than balance of the advertisement will be paid far at the ap- plicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at o wrong price. goods or services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to Well, and may be, withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing pur- poses. PUBLISHED BY:S!GNAL-STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220, HULK. LNS ST. INDUSTRIAL. PARK GODERICN N7A 4B6 • EON BUSIES -OR EDITORIAL OFFICES gime phone (519). 524-$331 .._ Education takes a big chunk It is blatantly obvious that the cost of education is taking a bigger chunk of the tax billeach-year: Last Tuesday, the Huron County Board of Education approved its 1981 budget that boosted expenditures to $28.6 million, an increase of 13.2 per cent or $3.3 million, • over eapendituresin 1980. The oudget is something of a paradox, although reflective of an economic climate and age when the only sure guaranteesare increases in prices and taxes. And the education budget is ensuring- that, those guarantees Maintain a lofty position. Remarks on the education budget may come across as disparaging, but the position of the board is not unique. Everyone faces rising costa in every aspect . of every, budget. But a good paint to reflect on is that county taxpayers are paying more each year to educate less students. Declining enrolment is one the major contributingfactors in the cost of education today and the forecast holds little promise. So declining enrolment means that while the board receives less in provincial grants per student, the costs escalate at an increasing rate. Teacher's salaries account • for more than 70 per cent of the total budget and this year salaries and benefits amount to $20 minion. Inevitably, it means that, it will cost more to teach each student. This year salaries increased an average of 15 per cent and coupled with a decline of two per cent in the student population, that translates into an increase of 17 per cent for the cost of teaching. The provincial funding rose by almost 11 per cent this year but with a budget increase of over 13 per cent, it is obvious that , the taxpayer will pick up the discrepancy. Last year $7.9, million of tax money was pumped into education and this year ratepayers will pay $9.4 million, an increase of 19.1 per cent. Nobody likes to see course options deleted from the schools because ofcost and declining enrolment, but perhaps unless taxpayers are willing to pay the price, deletion of courses may be a practical necessity. The costs .of building maintenance, utilities, tran- sportation, renovation, administration and salaries will continue to increase every year. And it seems that the board is resigned to that fact, accepting rising costs with an air of resignation. D.S. Community challenged to help The Board of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital has handed a challenge to the people of Goderich. The challenge is to raise $455,000 to construct and equip a four bed critical care unit and improved day care surgery facilities at the hospital. Tyre seems little doubt the need for these services has been proven. The Ontario Ministry of Health has acknowledged there is a place for such facilities at AM&G. Its problem is a lack of funding to complete all the needed projects around the province. The board of AM&G has agreed there is a growing and immediate need for these facllities; at the hospital. Its problem is a lack of money to undertake the project, despite the increase of about 11 percent in the hospital budget for 1981.82. The doctors and staff at AM&G know there is an urgent requirement for the new facilities at the hospital. Their problems are day -today ... giving the very best care to the critically ill under less than ideal conditions, and providing proper accommodations for all patients in all areas while maintaining a high level of medical care in tight quarters. Evidence at a recent board meeting was that if a four - bed critical care unit and an improved day care surgery 1 facility could be constructed at the hospital, many of the day-to-day plapt difficulties at A.M.&G. could ,tie eliminated. With the board, such construction is tap priority. It is now up to the eel- muizity to show whether or not it is prepared to support a fund raising campaign. Indications are the community is strongly in favor of maintaining a quality medical facility in Goderich. -The time may now be here when the people of Goderich will have to backup their platitudes with some hard cash. It has been done in the past. Fora community the size of Goderich and area, it should not be impossible even in today's economic market, to raise $455,000. . But it will be vital for everyone to take the hospital project as a common goal, believing it is a necessary program that will make this community better for today's citizens as well as for the citizens of tomorrow. If you can accept that as true and are willing to take on the challenge, speak to one of the steering committee members to make your feelings known. The committee includes Isobel Sully, Jo Berry, Anna Melski, Gerry Zurbrigg, Jean Adams, Bob Shrier, lain' Bain, Bob Dempsey and Gordon Crabb. Any one of them will be glad to hear your comments and concerns. There's nothing that can't be.done when this community is of one mind and single purpose. - SJK EAR BY SHIRLEY J. YELLER As everywhere else, it is spring in Goderich. It's a time when everyone is gearing up for a busy summer ahead by throwing off the dull leftovers of winter. It's a time for painting and fixing, for cutting and trimming, for picking up and tossing out. It's generally a sprucing up time, and all around the community there are signs of this kind of activity. Whether it's a house or an apartment, a store or an office, a driveway ora street, a beach or a garden, spring is the ideal time to go through the checklist to make certain your spot on the municipal map is up to snuff. And it needn't cost money. It's always nice if there's money to spend on paint or something new, but it isn't necessary. Quite an improvement can be made sometimes by simply picking up the clutter around the premises, straightening a slouching shutter or a sagging sign, and trimming a hedge or repotting a win- dowbox. Have you ever driven into a community and been greeted by a unkept used car lot? Or a few houses where the steps are falling away from the front door? Or a park where the swings are up to their seats in straggly grass? It gives you a mighty poor impression doesn't it? Each of us has our particular pet peeves I expect and mine has been well defined through this newspaper in the past few years. What is happening to society? What is happening to Goderich? I mean, I am not one to launch pettycriticisms at people. No names will be mentioned for fear of making social outcasts of certain in- dividuals. We have a serious problem here, folks. And it is time something is said about it, in a constructive manner of course. Since the warm weather has come, I have noticed several people wandering around The Square consuming ice cream cones. Your prudent columnist has become shocked, dismayed, outraged, and disgusted at the manner in which the people of Goderich jam these cold treats down their throats. Perhaps they do not know that there is a proper etiquette involved and I shall give them the benefit of doubt. I shall also provide for there, free of charge, a list of rules concerning ice cream cone eating. First of all, I have seen the odd person walking about eating a vanilla ice cream cone. You should never order a vanilla ice cream cone. Not only is vanilla boring and ugly, it is an insult to the vendor who has provided you with a large choice of flavors you would normally not have in your own freezer. The second decision to make after you have purchased your treat is to choose a location to eat it. Cars are a no -no. People who eat ice cream canes in cars are trying to hide. Be proud! Sit right down on a bench in front of everybody. If you have long hair and it is a windy day, this may pose problems for you. Choose a bench where the wind will be in your face, thereby blowing your hair backwards. Once ready to dig your tongue into the ice cream, give your full attention to the task. Do not be nonchalant about it and watbh cars and people. Attack your cone with gusto! Eating an ice cream cone requires the logic of an engineer and it must be examined and analyzed after every lick. Which brings us down to the nitty gritty. Licking procedures. There are a few dif- ferent acceptable 'ways of licking, the most common being the circling technique. This involves holding the cone on a slight angle and turning it around while the tongue remains motionless on the ice cream. This keeps the cone neat looking. However, if it is a hot day and you are a slow eater, you may prefer the upwards licking motion technique. This method is enjoyed by those artistic types who like to maintain a pointy tip on their cones. ' If you happen to have an abundance of facial hair, you may employ the method which involves popping the whole top of the cone in your mouth and slowly pulling it out. Sometimes this can be dangerous, not to mention embarassing, if the whole lump of ice cream comes unattached from the cone. REA D ERS I hate to see faded, torn flags hanging limp from flag poles or on the side of buildings. When I see what used to be a flag flap- ping around with shreds flowing in the breeze and the colors hardly recognizable to anyone, I have the feeling the owner of that property doesn't care about much. When the flag went up, it was quite likely beautiful to see - sharp colors snapping to attention each time the wind blew. That's a sight that can bring a lump to the throat. But after one, two or more years atop a flagpole, the bunting . is past its best. It deserves to be taken down and laid to rest. It is much better to see an empty flagpole than one carrying a sorry exiruse such as I''ve just described. We sometimes never quite know what makes a poor impression on people. Or a good impression for that matter. Just this week I was talking to a downtown businessman who was saying how much he appreciates the beauty of the community. I'm certain this businessman isn't alone. I believe Goderich truly is one of the prettiest towns in Canada .... but it doesn't come without some expense and a whole lot of work. I would suspect that most people ap- preciate pleasant surroundings such as we have all over Goderich I know for certain that visitors to Goderich each summer love the wide clean streets, big shade trees, little parks and parkettes filled with flowers, the unique This brings us right down to the cone part. Once you have consumed the ice cream down to that part, it is necessary to start biting into it. Small chomps should be taken all the way around in a methodial manner, then more ice cream can be licked, and so on. When about half the cone is eaten and ice cream stf remains in the lower portion, bite off the bottom point of the cone. Then suck the ice cream out of the hole. This prevents messiness when you are down to the last few bites of cone -ice cream com- bination and the cone crumbles leaving ice cream in your lap. Once finished your treat, you are left with the inevitable problem of sticky fingers. A dry napkin will not solve this problem. Simply spit an your hands then wipe with the pre -obtained napkin until clean. Make sure you deposit crumpled napkin in your companion's coat pocket by Cath Wooden Shoppers' Square with its pretty bricked sidewalks and flowerbeds, the floral touches throughout the community that say the people here rely care. I know too that people are often im- pressed with the bevy of lovely old homes in Goderich, many of them well main- tained and looking especially marvellous this time of year. I'm certain that people enjoy driving through the new subdivisions-Ao see some of the really exceptional properties there that are so nicely groomed. Fortunately, Goderich just doesn't have any really rundown areas. There just aren't any slums in this community. For the most part, property owners in Goderich are responsible people who take pride in their homes and business, their streets, their town. And that's another good reason why Goderich has earned the title of The Prettiest Town in Canada. But it isn't something that can be done once and forgotten. It takes constant at- tention to duty and an ongoing effort. And sometimes it just takes a reminder that we don't always see ourselves as others see us. Yes, it is spring and a time for new beginnings. It's the best time of year to take a look round your place to see what you can contribute to the total Goderich scene. If you haven't already done it, why not peruse your domain this week? Maybe a little pickup or some minor fix -up will mak e a big difference for everybody. cath wooden efflOMMININSOISIRRIMMI)