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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-10-20, Page 6PAGE 4—GODERiCH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1982 DAVE SYKES Mrs. Sykes has been casting longing glances lately in the vicinity of the living room that was, for several years, occupied by a grandiose upright grand piano. It is no longer there, giving the missus cause to reflect with misty eyes, over the hours of enjoyment that emanated from the Gerhard Heintzman. To be honest, next to the little guy and this scribe, that piano was Mrs. Sykes most prized possession in life. And for good reason. While it was large in -stature, the 80 -year old instrument was decorated in a most ornate but visually,pleasing fasllien. There was enough lumber in the old girl, I had frequently suggested, to build a family room. Admittedly, I would have to• plead ignorance on the subject of the special bond or affair that exists between a musician and the insturment. ` The missus and the over- weight Heintzman,I would submit, nurtured such a bond. With relative ease she was able to coax responsive and melodic chords from the piano while oblivious to the surroundings. When the missus was at the piano, the world stopped. Perhaps, such a relationship can be compared to men and their cars. There is substantive evidence supporting the theory that men have such a relationship with vehicles. To a woman, a car is simply a means of transportation between point A and point B. Men treat their machines with more respect and recognize the moods, volatility and sensitivity of the car. Women don't understand. But,I suggest, it provides a compelling analogy. The piano injected a certain joie de vivre into the missus but, at the same time, it was the source of much jocularity on my part. There are many stories behind the piano, I would like to regale readers with THE STORY. The story has been recalled and recounted numerous times with much flair, I might add, but Mrs. Sykes has accused this raconteur of embellishment on each oc- casion. e-casion. To set the story up readers should be aware of the fact that the piano, on the word of an authority, is the heaviest piano known to man. With that information in mind, picture this scribe attempting to move`said piano. The year was 1979 and in the height of a February blizzard, four truculent colleagues and myself set out to move the monster into the new house. The task was a formidable one, we realized, but our spirit was undaunted. The piano, it should be recognized, was so heavy that it was most difficult for the four gentlemen to even lift it, let alone drag it into the house. The truck was angled to the front door and we began the gruelling task. After expending all of our energies to get the piano to the front door, we came to the horrific conclusion that it would fit. As the wind and snow howled around us, we dragged the monster to' the back door, elated in our exhaustion to have ac- complished that. Again, the monster would not fit. Our only alternative was to push, pull and cajole the piano, across mounds of snow, to the back yard. There, the patio dodrs were removed, and the monster was hauled in the house and set in place as snow whipped in through the gapinghole. The piano was placed in the living room and I cautioned the wife that it would remain there until the weight caused it to plan reset into the basment. She was not amused. Neither were the fellows who helped move the monster and they suggested, if the piano was ever again to be moved, they would all be out of town. Together, I presume. I too have cast longing glances in that direction lately, remembering the melodic sounds Joan produced and the enjoyment Bradley got from pounding the tarnished ivories, But there were times I wished my wife had played the accordion or violin. €NA BLUE RIBBON AWARD Second .class mail registration number -0716 SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Pounded in 1141 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA end OWN*. Adver. Using rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '19.90 In Canada, °50.00 to U.S.A., '60.01 to all other count - tries, single copies SOc. Display advertising rates available on request.. Please ask for Rate Card No.19 affestive Oc- tober 1, 1912. Second class mail Registration Number 0710. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the irroneous Item. together with reasonable allowance for signature. will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will M paid for et the ap- plicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price; goods or services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star 1s not responsible for the lou or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or other materials used for reproducing pur- poses • - PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIEIj-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor • P.O., BOX 220,e HUCKINS ST. t®eY INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH N7A 4B6 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524.8331 Play a vital role When Ontario voters go to the polls this November to elect their 1001 school board trustees they will beelecting leaders of active institutions busy every day with the running of local schools, school amenities and educational resources. A month in the life of a school board might include such responsibilities as: awarding a contract to an excavating company for work on one School;, approving a 'list of textbooks for use in the elementary. schools in its jurisdiction; authorizing 200 pupils to .participate in an educational field trip; recycling school buildings that have outlived their usefulness; studying reports for the modernization of several existing school buildings and implementing a provinee=wide guideline for Canadian ' Studies: \ Boards run the school system and use local public :ad- vice to ensure their goals reflect the community's.Courses 'of study are often developed to meet these local needs. The great variety of local needs is the main reason why school boards are out there in the province and not cen- ., tralized in one place. • Here is an example of how school. courses are tailored to fit local requirements. In developing a course of study for Toronto students, teachers keep in mind that these students may need instruction in learning about rocks and minerals, for example, whereas children from Sudbury or Timmins, who grow up in an area where rocks and minerals are an. integral part of local geography and industry, would require much less. Similarly, children from Ingersoll would benefit from 6... visit' to the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, while children from Ottawa eould learn a great deal from seeing how cheese is'made in Ingersoll'a world-famous factories. In a wider context, the function of school boards is to assess and meet particular local needs: for example, language instruction for New Canadians,, special classes for gifted or handicapped younsters, kindergarten classes' or summer -school courses. To get even closer to the everyday responsibilities of boards, here are some of the many functions they have to perform as part of the running of Ontario's schools: they build and maintain school facilities, classrooms,. offices, sports facilities; they hire principals, teachers, teaching consultants; caretakers and other • staff needed to run schools. They also maintain and supervise Local playgrounds and provide school, supplies, books, paper, chairs, desks and everything needed. They 'establish school libraries andprovide special activities, and services like, summer schools and evening classes for working people. They provide special education for gifted and handicapped children and instruction in French. In addition to, such diverse tasks and challenges that arise out •of . constantly changing needs •and cir- cumstnnces, school boards have to •meet certain "routine" obligations. For instance, each school board in Ontario is required to raise a: certain percentage of the money needed to operate the schools within its jurisdic- tion and to allocate these funds, in such a way that will provide comprehensive educational opportunities for 'those who live in the area served by the board. Thre money is raisedthrough local property taxes collected on the board's behalf by the municipality with the balance provided by provincial grants: In Ontario, there are two publicly supported • school systems - one comprising the non-sectarian public schools open to all' children, regardless 'of religious denomination, and one comprising the Roman Catholic separate schools. In both, trustees carry out, their. .._..responsibilities__within_the .framework of the Education Act • of 1974. - As a focus for community educational concerns and a fountainhead of ideas, policies, programs, courses; school boards have a lot to offer the average parent with a vital stake in education. It's one thing to discuss opinions and ideas for education with friends and neighbors but another to become actively involved by speaking to local, school -board officials through telephone inquiries, visits to board offices or attendance at board meetings, open to the public. Carriers recognized The young citizens of our community who are respon- sible for bringing this weekly newspaper to yourdoorstep each Wednesday, deserve some overdue recognition. ' Perhaps, their task can be likened to that of the letter carriers of Canada Post who promise delivery through all types of adverse weather conditions.. That type of 'dedication and integrity, we 'suggest, is apparent among the newspaper carriers of this town. . Delays will always be a part of the delivery system, but, for the most part, those delays are occuring at this end of the production line. The week, of October 16 to 22 is National' Newspaper Carrier Wek, and this newspaper is proud of the dedicated weekly service these young citizens provide our readers. Their service, we trust, is accomplished in a responsible and prompt manner regardless of conditions. And for those' reasons, we pay tribute to the numerous young people who act as your carrier. Weighty decisions "'Itisatti ft n'o�erl'+'i'dfactati'iinitipaleledtionUlric, that people in many t tario municipalities are elected as hydro or public utility issicners. This confusion may arise because utilities are local boards whose 'financing is ultnhately guaranteed by the miniicipalities, ' Even so, hydro and public utility commissioners are responsible_ for such. matters as setting local°hydro and water rates and for practices regarding collection of payments from customers and when cut-offs should take place. They also make decisions about capital projects, such as their administrative office buildings, and construction or extensions of local hydro, Water and sewer systems. Included in this are decisions by the commission, on the financing of capital projects and how mach of the cost of such work should be borne immediately by loyal rates or over the Ringer term by borrowing. These elected positions are not on the ballot in every municipality, however. When they are not, this reflects the close relationship of the utilities to other municipal responsibilities Hydrocommissioners are appointed by municipal council in a few cities and in some of the -regional municipalities where local hydro restructuring has recently taken place. In addition, there are no elected commissions for sewer and water purposes (just for hydro -electric services) in Metropolitan Toronto and the regional municipalities. So check which 'isthe case 'in your municipality, and when you vote on November 8th, take advantage of the opportunity on the ballot, where applicable, to participate in determining who sits on your hydro or public utility commission. Last leaves 1)1.1ve Sykes DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KEL.LEI Following last week's column about the law student -wife -mother whois having, difficulty getting an opportunity to article with a legal firm in this province, came some hot comments from a few women I know. It appears some of the old wounds were reopened by that column, reminding a few' working women of the injustices they have en- countered in a man's world of business. But one far more interesting viewpoint came from a mother and grandmother living here in Goderich. This lady suggested that while prejudices may indeed exist in men . against working women, i leve ace' evidences -as -welt of -- prejudices in working women against women who 'choose to make a fulltime career of homemaking and child raising. It's an excellent..point. In this modern world where two -salary families are a national in- stitution, there is, definitely a change in, the at- titude of people cohcerning-what is an acceptable role for the woman. Many working women of rliy vintage can easily remember when they were the exception to the rule. As pioneers in their time, these women can attest to the disparaging looks and comments from their mothers, grandmothers and friends when they joined the work -a -day world outside the home. Working mothers were blamed for all sorts of problems with teenagers, especially those which reached a peak in the late '60s and early '70s. And many working mothers carried with them a severe guilt complex as they grudgingly ac- cepted the responsibility for their children's premature exploits into sex, drug and alcohol abuse, and general immorality. D But society has done an about-face now. Whereas 15 years ago working women were looked upon as misfits whb wantonly abandoned their families in favour of the almighty dollar, today's working women are revered, as in- telligent and totally fulfilled beings who are superior to their lesser sisters who clean house, cook, sew curtains and wipe chocolate cake batter from tiny faces and fingers. There is no doubt that the working wife and mother is here to stay. Our world is geared up for them with new protection for womenin the. work force, new legislation for periods of pregnancy, -_--new--oppor-tunities._for_improveeL_babysitting-_a_. services, • new work agreements which favour mothers, new tax laws for two -salaried families, new appliances which facilitate hot meals in minimum time .... on and on it goes. • • And :probably more . importantly, the work ' force requires women. Canada's economy would grind to an agonizing halt if all the working wives and mothers in this country decided tomorrow to stay home acid let their men take care of them. But it has to be a sick society that scorns women who make a conscious decision to spend all their hours being exclusively wives and mothers. • Surely there is no higher calling for a woman ,Surely be an able help -mate to her husband, a skillful domestic engineer who fills a home with love and laughter, a devoted mother who gives unselfishly of herself for her children. Do these special duties ever go out of style? It's a possibility that much of the prejudice against such women stems from jealousy on the part of women who are caught up in, a career. There is something sensual about being a wife and mother - first; last and always. There is in every woman the dream of being pampered, of being cherished and protected, of relying . completely on the man in her life for all she is and has. That isas basic as breathing. What's more, every man has the desire to be master of his household, to be the provider and the defender for his woman and their children. That too, is natural instinct, But society has supressed these human needs ` 'I• so. long it now seems to have lost some of its perspective concerning them. Many have grown -,so confused.about_their_.rightf,il...roles_.and-the.- .—. gratification, to be found in them that 'they assume the majority behaviour. is the proper behaviour - the only behaviour. It should be a matter of personal satisfaction when a.woman makes her choice to work outside the home - or to stay inside it and be the heart of it. Each woman must decide for herself the route she will take. Each will have a different goal. But each woman must also respect the other's right to choose. No woman who is doing what she believes to be best for her and her family; should be made to feel she is of lesser importance than someone who is earning $50,000 a year and maintaining a schedule that would kill a horse. Speaking very personally, 1 have worked outside the home for 20 years. 1 have enjoyed every moment of it. But 1 have never lost the, hope that one day, _1 will find peace and con- tentment at home fulitime with my family. In my opinion, a woman who is.happily doing what she does best - in the work force or out of it - is a' woman to be admired. She's my kind of woman. ector offers ambitious programs Dear Editor: It is with a sense of delight that I like -to commend and thank our Recreation Director, Miss Jane Netzke, for the ..excellent work of organization connected with bringing the Shaw Festival to Goderich to perform The Desert .Song that gave us in the audience such pleasure and fun. - Miss' Netzke had an en- thusiastic and eager group of local helpers, but knowing the very long list of most detailed requirements for which she was responsible long before and after the performance, I want to express my and the com- mittee's appreciation, particularly as the Shaw Festival crew has done the same. The regrettable delay at the beginning was beyond local control, as the actors arrived rather later than planned after a long trip from Kingston. The audience was patient and un- derstanding and - rewar ded. Itis to Miss Netzke's credit that while she does not neglect the traditional ac- tivities, she has expanded the Recreation Depart- ment's interests to include a variety of new, different and more ambjtious programs, truly trying to give something to every interest group. The delighted reaction of the Desert Song large audience on Sunday proved again that she is on the right (track and that her direction is keeping in touch withthe times. This is also 'an opportunity to thank the Ontario Arts Council for the financial assistance in bringing the Shaw Festival on its delightful tour. And many thanks°to the performers and technicians- who gave us such a lovely evening. Sincerely; Elsa Haydon. Chairman, Cultural Activities Committee Goderich Recr. Boad Festival was great Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to express a sincere thank you to all. the people involved in helping to make the Shaw Festival presentation of "The Desert Song" a huge success!! First, let me thank the Town of Goderich, the Recreation Board and. the Ontario Arts Council for -providing financial -assistance', for this production. ' A special thank you to Mr. Phil MacMill an, drama teacher at GDCI and all of his students for their endless effort and work in helping to put the stage together and taking it apart, Also, thank you- to. the students whb collected tickets and ushered at the performance. Thank you to the Goderich Recreation Department and Parks Department staff who gave of their free time to help organize this event. Thank you to Mr. Bob Cornish who volunteered as Turn to pale 5