HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-05, Page 75GSS/Wednesday. Nov. 5, 1986
Cat
lie
in Huron Go
Ile
Catholic education in Huron County dates continuously back to the 1850's, at which time
the Lake Road (Sable Line) opened for settlers wishing to move inland from Lake Huron's shores.
A small, lug school house was constructed in the newly established French settlement, IOt far
front the present community of St. Joseph and the present-day site u1 Ecole Ste. Marie and St.
Peter's Church. Until 1870, the French and German people of this wilderness area used the same
schoolhouse as a church.
A Catholic school was also in operation at St. Columban, then known as lrishtown, by 1858.
Catholic schools were subsequently established at Kingsbridge (1861), St. Augustine (1864), Mount
Carmel (1862), Hullett Township (1863), Goderich (1870), Seaforth (1902), Zurich (1958), Clin-
ton (1959), Wingham (1960), and Exeter (1962).
In 1873, the first convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph, of the Diocese of London, situated just
outside of London, was established in Goderich. Teaching Sisters of this order continue on staff
today in Goderich and Zurich. The Sisters of St. Joseph also, at one time, taught at Kingsbridge
(1911-1942), Mount Carmel (1979-1982), Seaforth (1913-1983) and St. Marys (Town till 1984).
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Catholic education in Huron County. Their periods of teaching and service to Catholic educa-
tion in the County are remembered: - St. Columban/Union School, McKillop and Hibbert
(1926-1975); Mount Carmel (1924-1978); Dublin/Union School of Hibbert, Logan and McKillop
(19154978) and Ecole Ste. Marie (1941-1970).
Even from the late 1800's, minor attempts had been made to consolidate school sections. The
pale of consolidation increased greatly during the 1960's. Through consolidation of the then ex-
isting school sections and the formation of new boards, which at once became part of newly
combined boards, Catholic education in Huron County grew until, by 1967 only 10 Catholic school
boards existed in Huron County with a combined teaching staff of 53 teachers responsible for
the education of 1,272 students. Education in Ontario was restructured into large organizational
units in 1969 and all of the Catholic schools (Il) in Huron County were combined with those
in Perth County (nine) to form the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board.
The new board replaced the then existing 15 Catholic boards of the area.
The Huron -Perth Catholic Board now operates 18 elementary schools providing a Catholic
education to the 2,700 students in its care. The first Chairman of the Board as it is presently
structured, was Vincent Young of Goderich, elected in 1969. The difficult support task of help-
ing 15 boards to reorganize into one, tell to the then inspector of Separate Schools, W. Bulger.
In 1970, the further task of helping the new board make the consolidation work, became the
responsibility of the first board -appointed superintendent of education, John Vintar: The cur-
rent chief executive officer of the board and director of education is M. William Eckert.
Fourteen trustees sit on the board representing Catholic school ratepayers from the 51
municipalities in Huron -Perth and bordering townships. The board meets every second and fourth
Monday of the month to set policies and to tend to the financial and educational needs of the
schools. Current chairman of the•Board is Ronald Marcy of Stratford.
Along with the formation of county school boards in 1969, came a further consolidation
of schools into fewer but larger units. Two-thirds of the student enrolment now requires school
bus service. This involves 120 vehicles travelling a total of 6000 km per day. Responsibility
for the development of programs and supervision of schools has also shifted from the provin-
St. Mary's.
Goderich
Precious Blood. Exeter
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cial to the county levet. Roman Catholics living in Huron and Perth counties enjoy the benefits
of a publicly financed Catholic educational system. Every area of the counties has access to
clone -nary schools serving the educational needs of Catholic children. September, 1986, has
brought Grade 9 classes at St. Michael Secondary School, Stratford. A phase-in of an addi-
tional grade every year will make available a complete Catholic secondary program by the
year, 1989, in Perth County. The Board is currently studying the feasibility of establishing.
a Catholic secondary school in a central location in Huron County. Goderich and Stratford
were selected as Early Total French Immersion sites. Currently, Immersion classes are available
from Kindergarten to Grade three. A phase-in of an additional grade annually will take place
with the entry point limited to Kindergarten for students being introduced to French Immer-
sion for the first time. New programs have also been developed and implemented in Core French,
religious education, family life, and social and environmental studies. Special education pro-
grams that provide greatly improved, specialized services fur children with learning disabilities
is a proud accomplishment of the Board and enrichment programs and resources have been
'••:>:,i;lished. A library Of educational video-tapes has brought a fresher approach to classroom
instruction. Investigations over nee last 7`:rs •..-tt-«seat lav o.a, 1pug Iukiltial and
—
ultimate impact that recently developed micro -computers may have on the classroom of the
future. During the 1986-87 school year, all schools in the jurisdiction will have access to com-
puter Tabs providing a minimum student access to computers of 50 minutes per week.
In a recently completed co-operative evaluation of the Huron -Perth Catholic School System,
it was said that "the system is small in population but large in geographical size; however,
it has the will to improve itself '. There is clearly a commitment, by the board, to Catholic
education and the future of our children.
The board knows that it is important to maintain an historial perspective and is ever -
appreciative of the sacrifices made by so many in the past for the cause of Catholic education.
The Board attempts to operate from a sound philosophical and planning base that leads to
positive action and ever -better in -classroom programs for all- students.
Board of Trustees
Ben Brown of Ellice; John Devlin of Stratford; David Durand of Hay Twp., Zurich, Hensall;
Gerald Groothuis of Seaforth, Tuckersmith, Stanley; Arthur Haid of Mornington, Listowel,
Milverton, Maryborough, Peel, Wellesley, Elma, Wallace; Louis Maloney of Hibbert, Logan;
Ronald Marcy of Stratford; Michael Moriarty of Clinton, Goderich, Goderich Twp., Col-
borne, Bayfield; Bernard Murray of Downie, N. Easthope, S. Easthope; Ronald M. Murray
of McKillop; Vincent E. McInnes of Hullett, Grey, Brussels, Wingham, Morris, Turnberry,•
Kinloss, Culross, Howick; Michael Ryan of Stephen, McGillivray, Exeter, Usborne, Biddulph;
Ernest Vanderschot of St. Marys, Mitchell, Blanchard, E. Nissouri, W. Zorra, Fullarton; Ber-
nard Van Osch of Blyth, Ashfield, E. Wawanosh, W. Wawanosh.
Executive Council
Bill Eckert, Director of Education; John McCauley, Superintendent of Education; Gaetan Blan-
chette, Superintendenbof Education; Jack Lane, Superintendent of Business & Finance; Randy
Brown, Asst. to the Superintendent of Business & Finance; Edward Rowland, Plant Supervisor.
' St. James, Seaforth
K ingsbndge
Wingham
Goder' h
Huron
County
St.
Josephs,
Kingsbridge
Sacred
Heart,
Wingham
Our Lady
of
tflt. Carmel,
"41. Carmel
Exeter
ount Carmel
St. Josephs, Clinton,
Huron -Perth County Separate School
Board Office, Dublin .
St. Columban, Sl. Columban