HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-10-21, Page 52French class volunteer
`loves' helping students
• BY MRS. SUSAN CHAN
On behalf of Canadian Parents For
French, I've been asked to write about my
experiences as a volunteer in a french class
at Robertson, ,
First of all,.I admit_to being biased. I hap-
. pen to love French! Volunteering in Mrs.
Dyck's french classes is a privilege,
whether my job is marking papers, or giv-
ing some students a little extra help, or just
listening 'as the teacher gives a lesson.
Learning french:or any other language, is
an enriching, as well as a humbling ex-
perience. Here in North America, it's easy
to believe that English is the onlynecessary
language in the world.
Imagine you're in a situation whether a
classroom, a foreign country, or someone's
home ► where the language you speak and.
understand isnot the. one being used around
you: Suddenly you're no longer in the com-
fortable majority position and have to strug-:
gle to make your needs known. If you have
some knowledge of the other language, or if,
`as is usually the case, the others there know.
someEnglish, there is little problem. But
how rewarding it is to be able to corn-
' municate in the other language and to
understand what the people around you are
saying.
I still remember my first few weeks.and
months in Switzerland as I tried, often in
vain, to say what I wanted to say in French
and to be understood'. It was a frustrating
struggle, but one of the most rewarding of
my life.
Knowledge of a second language can help
teach tolerance to our children, certainly a
trait that needs to be encouraged if our
young people are to grow up promoting
world peace. In a world of wars and war
toys, violent movies and racial prejudices,
teaching tolerance of others is no small
task!
Here in Canada, where French is one of
our 2 official languages, we have an oppor-
tunity, and I feel, an obligation, to learn
more about the french language and
culture.
Canadian Parents For French is an
organization whose name really states its
purpose. We are parents who promote
French!
We have organized a French Activity
Hour at the' library, and a series of three
french programs for the 87-88 seasons
{Theatre Pour Vous). We also try to invite
- interesting speakers to our meetings — and
we are always eager to have new people at-
tend any of these events.
We are very fortunate here in Goderich to
have both an Inunersion and a Core French
curriculum -in our schools, and to have
highly skilied teacher's in both programs.
fin really pleased, in my small way, to be
involved!
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Heather Zurbrigg 8C
Keri Davidson 7B
Mrs. Jane ttmdmarsh, a volunteer parent,
is busy making a chart. Volunteers do a
great deal to help students and teachers at
Robertson.
P.D. Days not just holidays for teachers
BY B. LIVERMORE
"Not another holiday for those teachers!"
This may be what some parents think when
their child comes home with the notice that'
Friday is P.D. Day, but most professional
. development days are very informative and
beneficial to the teacher.
In Huron.County, the elementary teachers
have nine days which are designated as Pro-
fessional Activity Days in 1987-88. Several of
these days are called in -school days where
teachers have meetings with their own
staffs, have time to.do planning or prepar-
ing for upcoming events, or meet with
parents to discuss their children's progress.
Other days may be county -wide where
elementary teachers from all over Huron
County meet together to tear special
speakers or meet in interest groups to pool
ideas. -
Last year two memorable P.A. Days
stand out in my memory: One was in Exeter
last October when- the theme was
-Agriculture in the Classroom." All aspects
of the topic Agriculture were discussed and
teachers went back -to the classroom fired
up with enthusiasm .and loaded with infor-
mation to relay to their students about the
importance of agriculture.
Another first for Huron County was the
P.A. Day held last May at F.E. Madill
Secondary School in Wingham. It brought
together every employee of the Huron Coun-
ty Board of Education. The theme was
Public Relations and it was a very . in-
teresting day.
Efforts of volunteers are a
Many Professional Development Day
Programs are open to parents or other in-
terested people in the community. Non -
teachers who have attended P.D. Days have
found them informative and certainly not a
waste of time.
The Professional Development Commit-
tee in Huron County works very hard to plan
useful and topical professional activity
days. Such has been true in the past and I'm
sure it will continue to be in the future.
BY MRS. A. MCDOWELL
• Bringing home to school and school to
home; bringing school to community and
community to school; take this major task
and sum it up in two words; "Adult
Volunteers'. "•
Adult Volunteers are a group of people —
parents, interested citizens, or senior
students — who are willing to give their
time and their talents to the students and
predated
staff at Robertson. Volunteers assist in
field trips, theme days, classroom activity
time, the school resource room, safe ar-
rival programs, and the list goes on and
on.
Volunteers aid teachers or students in a
variety of ways. Their assignments range
from full days, half days, or single classes,
as their time permits.
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