HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-18, Page 11Backs......
• from page 7 handled in such a way that
or four to University levels. high school students can deal
In order to provide for such a with them. Margaret
Lawrence's , book "The
Diviners" is used only at the
grade 13 level and only in an
advanced course taken by
students with`a high aptitude
for the study of literature.
The issues raised by
Lawrence do require a degree
of maturity but young, bright
adults in secondary school
are ready to deal with these
issues. The construction of
this novel requires a dege ee
of academic ability and
maturity that is present only
in good grade 13 students
thus, the book would not be
used below this level.
Not all students are ready
for literature that is classical
and universal. Hence .it
becomes necessary- to use
well written but, never-
theless, non -classical
material. It is also important
to use contemporary works
dealing with contemporary
issues.
To sum up two of the three
books in question have been
used in schools for years.
Indeed, a friend who attended
a rigid and rigorous convent
school used these same two
books. The third book, "The
Diviners" has been used for
two or three years because it
is one of the best novels
written in Canada in recent
years and because it looks at
contemporary issues in the
Canadian context.
The motion passed by
Council. not only' insults the
Board, the Teachers and the
Students of Huron County but
also insults three award
winning -and outstanding
novelists. Your motion insults.
a world renowed Nobel prize
winner in literature and a
winner of the Governor
General's prize for literature
range the English Depart-
ment selects over 125 books
for use in the various courses.
The same situation applies to
the other county secondary
schools.
Clearly, then, it is not
surprising that two or three
books might produce a
reaction from some people
who may find some of the
language or descriptions
offensive. But the author has
chosen that language or those
descriptions for a purpose.
The purpose is not to titillate
or be offensive or obscene.
The author has produced a
work which must be judged in
its totality. The, words or
passages in question are
words appropriate to the
scene, to the characters and
to the " development of the
characters and the issues.
Clearly, the words and
passages serve the author's
purpose. It would be wrong,
however, to conclude that
such words and descriptions
are dwelt upon by the
teachers and it would be
equally wrong to conclude
that students are corrupted
by seeing such words or
descriptions on the printed
page. When one reads the
works in question the words
or passages which upset some
people don't leap from the
page and form an impression
that this is, major aspect of
the book. The reader is
caught up in the total book
and finds such words and
passages to be quite normal
and natural in the setting. It
is • only when one selects
phrases or descriptions from
a piece of liteeature, sets
them down. in isolation on a
single page, 'totally out. of
context, that they seem, to be
offensive. This is what has in Canada. However,, I'm
been done with three books sure that you did•not intend to
used in English courses, not do this. As American writer
only in Huron County but in Kurt Vonnegut says"
many. Ontario schools.
The three books,
viz.,
Margaret Lawrence's "The
Diviners", Salinger's
"Catcher in the Rye", and
Steinbeck's "Of Mice and
Men", need no defence. They
stand in defence of them-
selves. Salinger's "Catcher in
the• Rye" has been suc-
cessfully used in high schools
for 10 to 45 years with grade
11 and 12 general level
students. It has been used
because it speaks to the ex-
periences and thought of
young people. It may• he
argued that it is not "ex-
cellence" in literature but we
cannot "bring excellence too
soon" or bring too much
classical literature too soon.
In dealing with young 'people
and their education _in
literature we must move in
stages; One stage is the in-
dividual or personal stage.
Some non -classical, but,
nevertheless, well written
hooks are used because these
hooks appeal to the high
school student who has dif-
ficulty identifying with
anything beyond this per-
sonal stage. This is why
"Catcher in the Rye" is used.
Some hooks deal with. issues
that young people are ready
to grapple with. Social issues
are raised by Steinbeck and
"We are most destructive,
God knows, when we are most
mistaken about what is really
going on. It is my experience
that human beings invariably
want to be honest. If they
none the less stray...it is
possibly because they haven't
understood what is really
going on."
I suspect that your motion
was a result of ndt knowing
what is really going on. I
further suspect that if all of
your members read the hooks
'in' question and considered
what I have said here you
would reconsider a motion
that is seriously destructive,
totally negative and insulting.
Young people in the schools
are ready to confront .and
discuss issues. I'm sure•that
some of them would be
pleased to accompany me to
meet with you if you would
care to discuss the matter
further.
I apologize for the length of
this letter but the issue is
serious and deserves your
serious attention.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
J.L. Wooden
Principal
South Huron
Secondary School
Op�ning ors
Lto
small
business
BIII Lichti
one of our representatives
will be at
The Bedford Hotel, GODERICH
on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month
Tuesday, May 213rd
If you require financing to start, modernize or
expand your business and are unable to
obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and
conditions or if you are interested in the
F't3DB management services of counselling
and training or wish information on
government programs available for your
business, talk to our representative.
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
For prior Information call 271-5650
or write 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford
Mr. Hanna's Grade 4 class at Robertson Memorial School played their recorders at the
spring assembly held at the school on Tuesday afternoon. The Adventures of Peter Rabbit
was also performed at the assembly as well as songs and poems by the Grades 5 and 6
classes. (Photo by Joanne Walters)
GODERICH NAL STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978 --PAGE 11
._. SIG_.,,....
Peter Rabbit (Jody Carter) has an encounter with Farmer McGregor (Kelly Allen) in the
Adventures of Peter Rabbit performed by the Grade 4 class at the spring assembly held at
Robertson Memorial School on Tuesday afternoon. Peter almost meets the fate of his
father who became rabbit stew. (Photo by Joanne Walters)
Holmesville girls wind up 4-H club
by Irene Cudmore
Achievement Day
Achievement Day for the 9-
H club Focus on Living was
held on May 12 in the Ontario
Street United Church,.
Clinton,. with three dubs from
this immediate area par-
ticipating.
The Holmesville I club, the
Busy Bees had an exhibit
called Leisure - a creative
experience, Mary Jane.
Ridder and Cheryl Thompson
were . the commentators,
Mary Jean Betties was the
speaker for the slide
presentation.
The Quilting Bees, the
Holmesville II club put on a
skit entitled, Sitting Wrong.
The Taylor's Corner club,
the Knit, Picky Knitters also correspondent 482-3383
had an exhibit on leisure.
Commentators were Lynne
Hildebrand and Karen
Rodges.
Congratulations go to
Nancy Heykoop from the
Holmesville II club for ob-
taining her county honors and
also to Karen Rodges and
Marjorie de Boer from
Taylor's Corner for obtaining
their provincial honors.
The fall club is called
Essential Edibles and
features breakfast, lunch and
dinner.
a poem and Mrs. Stoner
wished everyone a nice
Mother's Day.
The president, Mrs. Isobel
Sturdy conducted the
business portion of the
meeting.
An invitation to attend the
Brucefield UCW meeting on
Tuesday, June 6 was read by
the secretary Mrs. Verna
Lobb. A pamphlet from the
Holmesville
news
Blanche Deeves,
UCW meet
The UCW group met in
Holmesville United Church
on May ...9_with Mrs.- -Betty
Stoner and her group in
charge of the program.
Mrs. • Alice • Pc rter told
about Mary, the mother of
Jesus; Mrs. Kaye Harris,
Jesus' Aunt Mary, wife of
David; Mrs. Betty Stoner, the
mother of Judas and Hannah.
Mrs. Bessie Townshend read
Mission Services, London
explaining help rendered
when •needed was read. An
invitation from— tte Clinton"?
Hospital Auxiliary to attend„
the Hospital Tea on May 10
was received and a thank you
letter ' for the gift to the
group's foster child was read.
A letter was also received
from the foster child along
with his progress report.
It was noted that the UCW
members knit 12 pairs of
mittens for the Family and
Children's Service.
Plans for the ham supper
on Thursday June 8 were
discussed and the next UCW
meeting Is to be held on
Tuesday, June 13. Members
are asked to being their
pennies.
It was decided to send a
letter of protest, regarding
"literature pornography" in
the schools.
A successful plant and
talent auction was held and
the May group served a their classes..,. Rev,
delicious lunch. Articles for Oestreicher talked to them
the bale were brought in. about the church family and
their families.
Brian Riddell and
Thompson received
collection,
. Family Workshop
service -
The Christian Family
Workshop service was well
attended on Mother's D'ay,
M'ay14. _
Flowers were plac$d in the
sanc,tuary by the family of the
late Mrs. Dannie Gliddon.
The following members had
their church membership)
transferred to Holmesville
United Church: Mr. and Mrs.
Murray Lobb, Mrs. Garry
Prerscator, Mrs. James
Stoner and Mr. and Mrs,
Frank Thompson.
The junior girls from the
Sunday School sang and
before the children went to
Baha'is
study role
of parents
Several of the Baha'is of the
Goderich area attended a
conference at the University
of Western Ontario this past
weekend on the Role of
Parents in the Education of
Children. Similar con-
ferences sponsored by the
National Spiritual Assembly
of the Baha'is of Canada were
held in thirty-twoother
regions throughout the
country, keeping in mind that
1979 has been declared "The
Year of the Child" by the
United Nations, and that the
people who are now children
will he adults in the year 2000.
Everyone's getting ready for
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"641
84 KINGSTON STREET GODERICH
524-9671
M1iYiirtarCh4610
Bob
the
Personals
Mr. and Mrs. Don Duff
attended the funeral of Mrs.
Duff's grandmother, Mrs.
Edgar Richards. of Tara last
Thursday.
Shirley Norman of Kit-
chener visited with her
parents last weekend.
Jim Riddell visited his
mother and Brian on the
Mother's Day weekend.
Get well wishes from the
community are extended to
the Holmesville news
correspondent, Blanch
Deeves whom at the time of
writing is a patient in the
Clinton hospital.
Men and machines are busy
working on the land east of
Holmesville purchased by the
township for recreational use.
LDK WHATS SPROUTING
SPBIN6 • •GARDENING SPfC1A(S.
GREENERY
• TROPICAL
PLANTS
• GERANIUMS
• BEGONIAS
• SPIKES
We have a wide variety
of
BOX PLANTS
Now Available
ALL TYPES OF
FLOWERS
VEGETABLES
HIUSSER'S GREENHOUSE
156 ELDON STREET
OPPOSITE RACE TRACK
GODERICH 524-9649
ing into spring-
'1-
Honda.
Honda announces an extra
$50.00 Off
the following models if purchased
before June 10:
Z-50 C170 XL75 XR75
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Most other models also in stock. Fully licenced bike shd'p.
LYNN HOY
ENTERPRISES 357.3435
WINGHAM ONT.
Highway 86,
justeast of Wingham