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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-16, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR. WEDNESDAY I'm sure every parent has gone through the perilous process of discussing pets with their offspring.. —' Lt appears to be one of the mandatory aspects of the job, just, like changing diapers, getting up in the middle of the night, groping to find answers to billions of queries and coining to grips with your own inadequacies as a parent. Kids aid animals are natural partners in crime and sooner or later the inevitable question arises; "He just followed me home, dad. Can we keep him?" That somewhat erroneous statement can generally be translated to mean: "I dragg- ed this furry thing home against its will; I don't know who it belongs to; I w nt some kind of a pet and can we keep it?" I have absolutely nothing against pets an \ have fond memories of a boyhood replete with frolic with dogs and cats sand furry awmimmionswasmimm DAVE SYKES things. Our family had a Boston Terrier un - the family doctor suggested this scribler was allergic to the animal. Technically, it was my sister's dog and she still holds a grudge. µy . Sisters tend to lack a senge of humor until they have children of their own who want pets. To this moment, my two young children haven't dragged anything home against its will, but the subject has been cropping up with frequency. I fear a confrontation over the pet issue is imminent. I must admit that during momentary weaknesses, the prospect of a family pet is not altogether displeasing, but I have reasoned that with a wife and two children, ,.my wildlife quota has been satisfied. And a pet, I have reasoned further, is .More demanding than a child. My five-year-old son has been carefully throwing out feelers on this pet business over the past several months and, to his credit, formulated a plan that ahnost had this dutiful dad hooked. He cornered me at lunch knowing my time was limited and that if he blurted out the plan quickly while I was watching news, Imight just say yes without having.heard whathe said. The text of the conversation has not been altered in any way. "I was just thinking dad," he approached one day in that sincere tone of his. "Maybe now that I'm five' we could get a pet. And I thought, if it's not too much money, we could get a horse." "A horse?" the father questions in- credulously, his eyebrows raised in disbelief and his heart racing at prohibitive speeds. "You thought we could get a horse?" "Well, yeah, dad. I thought we could get a horse," he says trying to look responsible beyond his years. "A horse would be yeas fun and we could ride him and I would take care of him dad. I really would:" "Just. where exactly would we keep this animal?" the father asks while trying, with great difficulty, to conceal laughter and deal with the issue responsibly. "You can't just keepa horsip In tnnlm "nil Irnovy," "Well, we could keep him in the shed," the child offers while nudging hisglassesup a notch. "And if he got too big maybe we could put him In the basement." "You can't just keep a horse in your shed or basement. And, besides, there are pro- bably laws about that sort of thing," I counter. "And what would we feed this horse anyway?" "Well dad," he says rolling his eyes in disbelief. "You feed them carrots and oats." I should have known, carrots and oats. I feel so Inadequate at times. "Well, to tell you the truth pal, I „don't think it would workout. A horse is just too big. You really need a farm for that kind of pet." "You're right dad," he responds with resignation. "Probably just a small puppy would be big enough for our house. Nice try kid! Opinion s". THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE '1848 theBT ALL ROUND COMMUNITY Na W.PAPaR IN CANADA ion 3 45001C C A Butter Newspaper Compautlon 1980 o e ri.c 5IGNAL-STAR P.O. BOX see° HUCKINB BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 4BB PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL; STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In i8 iarand-publi hid-evory4fdedneeday atCyou'e. Ic1, Ontario. Member of th© CORM end ®CNA. Subscriptions payable In advance seems, iaenlor (Citizens I:619.00I privilege card number requirsidi In Canada, 1306O.O0 to U.B.A., 060.00 to ell other countries, Single copies BOA. Display, Notional and Classified advertising rates available on request. Pleeae sok for Rate Card No. 16 effective October 1, 1965. Advertising is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous Item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for butthat balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of s typeprephlcel dvertlaing geode or services at a wrong price, good. or services may not be sold. Advertising le merely an offer to sell, end may be withdrawn et any time. The Signed -Star 1s not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used for reproducing purpoeoa. General Manager Editor Advertising Manager '''SHIRLEY J. KELLER CAVE SYKES DON HUBCK Publier: Jocelyn A. Shrier FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone (619)624-2614 Second class mail registration • number 0716 Member: eiA Entertainment is tops While Huron County has enjoyed the distinction of being one of the richest agricultural areas in -North America, it has never rated very highly in the area of, cultural and entertain- Easy Riders ment-affairs: There's little indication -that the agricultural -designation will fade, but there's a growing awareness that the county is gaining rapidly in the area of cultural events. That's due primarily to the energetic work of the many people involved with the two sum- mer theatres located at Grand Bend and Blyth, although it would appear that Huron residents have been slow to take advantage of the excellent entertainment on their doorsteps. The Blyth Theatre and Huron Country Playhouse are off and running again and both have had their initial offerings given high praise by the critics and theatre -goers dire. The Grand Bend production of Carousel is undoubtedly the best musical ever staged at the Playhouse and the singing talents displayed in the numerous well-known songs are excellent. - Both -theatres are also staging .productions_ that . should be on the "must see" list for anyone with even a minor association with agriculture and rural Ontario. Letter from Wingfield Farm at Playhouse II at Grand Bend is nothing short of hilarious and it's doubtful that you won't recognize a neighbour (or perhaps yourself) in the one-man show which has delighted audiences from coast to coast and even as far away as Australia. In Blyth, the season opener of "Another Season's Promise" takes a thoughtful, and at times, humorous look at the plight of many farmers and will probably follow other Blyth productions to stages elsewhere. ' ' ° The openings bode well for the season at the two theatres and both deserve the support of area residents. You won't find better entertainmnet anywhere! A lethal dose of ,drugs 9 The recent deaths of two young athletes in the United States provides fresh evidence that the so-called "civilized" countries are facing a crisis in their apparent inability to control drug abuse. Both these young men, among the most promising in football and basketball, were headed for careers which would have made them millions of dollars within the next • few years. However, a relatively new and much stronger type of cocaine ended both of their lives tragically. An autopsy performed on the body of Len Bias, the basketball player, indicated that he had absorbed about five times the cocaine dosage which would cause death. As far as is known, he was not a regular user of the drug, but when he attended a party to celebrate his signing of a contract with the national championship Boston Celtics, he did use the cocaine and Raid with his life. Drug abuse by professional athletes has become a major problem, one which is being ' combatted in several different ways. Not only is drug addiction a dangerous and criminal act, but to some degree at least, constitutes a deception paid for by tie, millions of sports fans who watch the games these, men play. Who now knows when the b liant performance of an athlete on the playing field is a demonstration of his own skill, or the "high" under which he is performing? The greatest tragedy connected with drug use is that it has already invaded the ranks of children. Recent studies have disclosed evidence that youngsters of elementary school age in the larger centres have access to and actually are using drugs, thus subjecting them to a life of misery and sorrow. Nor is it possible to reassure ourselves that in small communities like our own the youngsters are in no danger. It doesn't take long for such dangerous prac- tices to spread. Parents and teachers would be well advised to learn all they -can about the signs of drug abuse in children and move quickly when such signs become evident. (Wingham Advance Times )' The Signal -Star welcomes your lette to the edi� 1y, Sivan, Hun igr,1mark `Go for it' are words to the wise By exposing the pleasant occurrences of the past, memories build a perspective on . 'the future. Triggering my reflections has been the re- cent spate of Grade 8 graduations in the local area. Witnessing a few of the giddy commencements restores some semblance of pride, and at the same -time; -a -certain melancholy comes over me when thinking back on the good old days of public school. For Grade 8's facing the future today, it must Teem like a formidable task. They're supposed to adapt to changing their careers about seven . times In their lifetime. With breakneck speed graduates thrust themselves into high school where a myriad of opportunities for success and failure exist. Even though I graduated nine years ,ago, from my alma mater of Robertson Memorial, I'm wondering if a certain Science teacher is still using the technique of jumping off his desk to .prove the earth's gravitational pull. One never forgets things like Mr. Bogie's leap for educational enlightenment. Those were the days when gum chewing was outlawed, when talking back to your teacher was called insolence and not teacher -pupil feedback, and when learning - the French vocabulary held about the same importance as knowledge of computer lingo does today. Things really haven't changed much. Habits formed in public school will be put to the sternest tests and trials in high school, to by Mike Ferguson be used to form the basis of one's life. Upon reflection of those school years, I'm confident many would acknowledge the key to success and fulfillment is summed up in one word: communication. Perspective will graphically.show just how brief our prin- cipal learning years are, and we don't have much time to appreciate it as a result. Hopefully the new influx of public school graduates will not hesitate to grasp, lunge, and otherwise hurtle themselves into their increasingly pressure -filled teen lives. The urgency to succeed, however, must be tempered by an appreciation of the blunders that are sure to come. Communicating in the classroom is the simplest form of expression, and it still shocks me to realize how much of a scary chore it was for some. There must be nothing worse for a teacher than spewing forth well -thought out questions only to be met by stunned silence. The ability to communicate effectively will always draw respect. Every year at GDCI for the Student Council elections, a certain awe was shown to. those running for positions. After' all, they could present themselves in front of the whole student body. They were leaders. In an election campaign or in an interper- _sopal relationship, communication is the key. That is the main objective any school strives to teach, and it's a shame how many students rip up this ticket to success, not recognizing that school years are among the best one can ever live. Peer pressure is that bloodthirsty and car- nivorous beast which preys mercilessly on young people's unsuspecting psyches. Rather than lurching courageously from the path of the tried and true, most are content to follow the simple and easy route. It's surprising to realize that any wise ad- vice for new graduates has stayed the same. Throughout years of Depression, war, pro- sperity and good times, the song remains the same. My memories have given a perspective allowing me to wholeheartedly agree with that oft -used phrase of "Go for it!" Even though it has become incredibly commercialized, it still retains its effectiveness. Anyone, students in.,particular, would be well-advised to go for the gnsth, be different, and not to be afraid of extending yourself past the stifling limits of ` peer pressure. With a worthy goal in mind, rear back and go for it. Who knows, you just might succeed. Midwives are expert specialists in normal childbirth experience Dear Editor, In, January of this year the Minister of Health the Honorable Murray Elston stated that midwifery will be legalized in Ontario and to this end established a Government Task Force whose mandate it is to recom- mend to the Minister of Health, and the Honorable Greg Sorbara, Minister:of Col- leges and Universities a framework for how midwifery should be practised in Ontario and how midwives should be educated. • There are a great deal of myths surroun- ding midwifery. So often- when the word midwifery or midwife is mentioned there"is an immediate response; Ohl That means homebirth. It does not. Midwives are train- ed to work in a variety of settings, in bir- thing centres, homes, and In hospitals. Today's midwives are highly trained pro— fessionals, working With doctors and nurses, all members of a healthcare team, in many countries, They provide continuous care, as primary contact professionals for normal pregnancy and birth. They are trained to also recognize any medical problems, any nom'plications of pregnancy or labor and make the appropriate refer!rals,, to the LETTERS 0191661111910016.11119210151.. woman's doctor. The midwife in such cases continues in her role as a support person for the birthing family. The ability of midwives to accurately detect abnormal conditions and make refer-, rals, results in the efficient utilization of Medical expertise. In a- Midwifery based system, obstetricians are used for high risk births where their skills are necessary.. As specialists' in normal hhjldbirth,midwives can effect sizeable savings to ,the 'health care system: Midwifery is a. recognized and subsidised part of health care systems all over the World. Governments support mid- wifery•programs because of their excellent record of safety and'. their CQst4 effectiveness. in the lastt0 years, consumer dernai d for midwifery ' ore has snewbaled. The Governments ask Force on the lemen- Cation of Midwifery responsii ie to"'Murray Elston has one year to compile its recom- mendations and report to him. The Task Force is visiting Holland, Britain, Denmark and various jurisdictionsin the United States to 'study their midwifery systems. The Task Force is committed to finding a model for midwifery which will meet ,On- tario's"needs. You need to let them know what kind of midwifery care will benefit you. Write, let them know how you feel. The Ontario Task Force on the Implementation of Midwifery, 700 Bay Street, 14th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Z6. Also in the fall of this year the Task Force will hold public hearings across Ontario to allow •:extensive public participation in creating a Midwifery profession which will meet the needs of child-bearing families. If you Would like More information on midwifery'or be part of asupport group con- tact Jeanette, Harris 523-9509, Carol Cardiff 0, or Jean Schoebl 357-1019 of '"The Mltdi a �y`, 'Support. 'Group" sponsored by " omen Today"., Jeanette Harris forMidwifery Support. Group Midwestern Ontario.